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illuminem, Andres Calderon, Andreas Kyrilis, Andrea Maggiani, Antonella Socci, Bastian Larsen, Carlo Rossi Chauvenet, Christoph Grobbel, Cristiano Rizzi, Daniele Candela, David Cohen, David Hamilton Nichols, Dimitrios Kofodimos, Dimitris Maroulis, Duco Sickinghe, Emanuele Torlonia, Federico d'Annunzio, Frederic Vecchioli, Filip Van Innis, Gianmarco Iannello, Giovanni Strocchi, Giuseppe Bonaccorsi, Giuseppe Candela, Kadir S. Gugnor, Katharina Skalnik, Luisa Buche, Marcin Jędrzejewski, Marco Hirsbrunner, Marko Kirner, Markos Chrysikopoulos, Martin Fraenkel, Mason Lewis Dykstra, Matthieu Regli, Massimiliano Masi, Melanie Abadie, Morten Dyrholm, Nicolas Weber, Oliver Preisler, Otto von Troschke, Pierre Abadie, Pierre Ibrahimchah, Raphaele Leyendecker, Renat Heuberger, Riccardo Fisogni, Silvia Pugi, Stergios Anastasiadis, Thomas-Louis de Lophem, Timoteo Marra, Vlasios Voudouris

Jan 28 2026 · 3 min read

Illuminem Voices

Sustainable Finance · ESG

At illuminem, we believe that sustainability is not just a goal, but a journey. As we strive to create a lasting impact on the world, we are grateful to have a group of incredible investors who are not only supporting us financially, but also serve as trusted mentors along this way. Each of our investors brings unique expertise and insight to the table, helping us navigate the challenges of scaling illuminem and strengthening our mission every day.

To stay true to our commitment to transparency, we believe it's important for our community to know who is backing illuminem. That's why we're sharing the full list of investors behind illuminem. At the same time, it's important to highlight that illuminem maintains full editorial independence, with no investor holding more than 5% voting rights in the company.

Here are our investors listed alphabetically:

A

• Andres Calderon

• Andreas Kyrilis

• Andrea Maggiani

• Antonella Socci

B

• Bastian Larsen, representing Blackwood Ventures

C

• Carlo Rossi Chauvenet

• Christoph Grobbel

• Cristiano Rizzi

D

• Daniele Candela

• David Cohen, representing Techstars

• David Hamilton Nichols

• Dimitrios Kofodimos

• Dimitris Maroulis, representing Genesis Ventures

• Duco Sickinghe, representing Fortino

E

• Emanuele Torlonia, representing Eden Vetures

F

• Fabio Severino, representing Traent

• Federico d'Annunzio, representing Traent

• Frederic Vecchioli

• Filip Van Innis

G

• Gianmarco Iannello

• Giovanni Strocchi, representing Eden Vetures

• Giuseppe Bonaccorsi

• Giuseppe Candela

K

• Kadir S. Gugnor, representing Sustainable Impact Capital & Holding

• Katharina Skalnik

L

• Luisa Buche, representing Fortino Capital

M

• Marcin Jędrzejewski

• Marco Hirsbrunner

• Marko Kirner

• Markos Chrysikopoulos

• Martin Fraenkel

• Mason Lewis Dykstra

• Matthieu Regli

• Massimiliano Masi

• Melanie Abadie

• Morten Dyrholm

N

• Nicolas Weber

O

• Oliver Preisler, representing Blackwood Ventures

• Otto von Troschke

P

• Pierre Abadie

• Pierre Ibrahimchah

R

• Raphaele Leyendecker, representing Techstars

• Renat Heuberger

• Riccardo Fisogni

S

• Silvia Pugi

• Stergios Anastasiadis, representing Genesis Ventures

T

• Thomas-Louis de Lophem

• Timoteo Marra

V

• Vlasios Voudouris

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About the authors

illuminem's editorial team, delivering the most effective, updated, and comprehensive access to sustainability information. Follow us on Linkedin, Instagram, Youtube & Twitter. Track and compare the sustainability performance of thousands of companies on illuminem’s Data Hub™.

Andres Calderon is Director of Portfolio Management, Investments & Strategy at TAQA Group in Abu Dhabi. He oversees asset management for the company’s international generation portfolio and has led major integration and restructuring initiatives within the energy sector. He chairs multiple boards, with experience spanning private equity, corporate and project finance, business development, and risk management.

Andreas Kyrilis is serving as Partner at Bain & Company and is a member of Bain's global Energy & Natural Resources and Advanced Manufacturing & Services practices. He has over 20 years of experience in management consulting and industry leadership. Andreas is recognized for his expertise in Energy and Industrials, working with top executives on high-impact initiatives. His focus areas include energy transition, digital transformation, and operational improvement.

Andrea Maggiani is a climate tech investor and the founder of Carbonsink, a leading advisory firm specializing in corporate decarbonization and climate risk management. His expertise lies in climate strategy design, carbon finance mechanisms, and high-integrity carbon project development. He is a member of the illuminem Leaders Cohort.

Antonella Socci is an expert in global marketing and innovation, with a focus on sustainability. As a Pre-Seed Investor at Vuala, she is supporting cutting-edge technologies for food waste recycling and carbon reduction. She is also the Founder & CMO at We Marketing, where she drives growth and brand development for B2B companies. Antonella is an investor in sustainable startups, including Notpla, and advises Women Who Tech on boosting women-led ventures in tech. She has extensive experience in B2B marketing and innovation strategies, including roles at Visa and Equiniti.

Bastian Larsen is the Chief Executive Officer of BlackWood and sits on the firm's investment committee. He previously worked for BlackRock in London, Geneva, and New York, where he co-led global product strategy for the firm's $10bn M&A hedge fund. Bastian has a Master of Business Administration from the University of Oxford, a Bachelor of Science from Copenhagen Business School, and was selected as a Forbes 30 Under 30 Europe 2023 - Finance.

Carlo Rossi Chauvenet is Partner at CRCLEX, specialising in IT, company, and privacy law. He serves as Data Protection Officer and expert in legal technology and digital business models. He is Coordinator of the Legal Clinic at Bocconi4Innovation, Adjunct Professor at Bocconi University, and Co-founder of Sweet Legal Tech and Iubenda. He also chairs the National Centre for IoT and Privacy and leads the Data Valley initiative.

Christoph Grobbel is the Co-Founder of South Pole and the Founder & Managing Partner of Terra Impact Ventures. He also serves as a Board Director at South Pole Holding, Executive Chairman of the Advisory Board at AIRMO, and member of the Stewards’ Circle at For Good Leaders. Before founding South Pole, he was a Senior Expert in Emissions Trading and Energy at McKinsey & Company. Christoph holds advanced degrees from the University of Pennsylvania, IFP School, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, and a doctorate in Economics from Oldenburg University.

Cristiano Rizzi is Managing Director and Senior Partner at Boston Consulting Group (BCG) in Dubai. He is experienced in management consulting across the energy sector, covering upstream, downstream, petrochemicals, power generation, renewables, and EPC markets. He has advised state-owned enterprises, international companies, and government bodies across Africa, the Middle East, Asia, Europe, and the United States, with expertise in market strategy, joint ventures, investment planning, and business transformation.

Daniele Candela is Managing Director in the Strategic Investments Group at KKR in London, where he focuses on structured capital solutions across the firm’s funds and portfolios. He joined KKR in 2015 after working with Oaktree’s European principal team on investments across the capital structure. Earlier, he was part of Morgan Stanley’s M&A department in London, focusing on the media and telecommunications sectors.

David Cohen is the founder and CEO of Techstars, the global accelerator network launched in 2006 that has supported thousands of early-stage companies and helped fuel more than 20 unicorns. Before founding Techstars, David founded and led multiple startups. He also serves on the board of several companies, contributing his knowledge to help drive their success.

David Hamilton Nichols is an investor and strategic advisor at California Thermodynamics Inc. and Sokn Engineering. He has built a global portfolio in sectors such as renewable energy, blockchain, AI, and healthcare, advising early-stage companies worldwide. Named Global Impact Champion 2020-2021 by India Needs You and one of the "Top 10 Investors to Follow" by International Business Times, he is also a Fellow of the Royal Society for the Encouragement of Arts, Manufactures, and Commerce.

Dimitrios Kofodimos is the Executive Director and Head of Managed Investments at J.P. Morgan Personal Investing, their digital-first wealth management division. He previously held senior leadership roles at Nutmeg, where he led Product, Growth, and Managed Investments, overseeing its integration into J.P. Morgan following the acquisition. Earlier in his career, he held product leadership positions at PayPal and Paysafe Group. Dimitrios holds an MBA from INSEAD and an MSc with Distinction from the University of Surrey.

Dimitris Maroulis is a co-founder and partner at Genesis Ventures, where he invests in early-stage tech startups in Greece and Southeast Europe. He previously held leadership roles at Antler, Oracle, and McKinsey & Company. He holds an MBA from INSEAD and a Master’s in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Michigan. Dimitris is passionate about supporting founders to build impactful, innovative tech companies.

Duco Sickinghe is an investor and business leader at Fortino Capital, a growth and venture capital firm focused on European enterprise software companies. He previously served as Chief Executive Officer of Telenet, transforming it into a leading telecom and technology company, and later as Chairman of KPN. He also chairs Van Eeghen & Co, one of Europe’s long-established family-owned businesses, and advises companies on growth, strategy, and leadership.

Emanuele Torlonia is the Managing Director at Italian Angels for Growth (IAG) and Managing Partner at Eden Ventures, a leading international venture capital firm. He has a strong background in strategic thinking, business development, and investment, having held key roles at IAG, where he focuses on sourcing and managing investments in early-stage startups. Emanuele is also a board member at multiple organizations, including Startupbootcamp and Orienta Agenzia per il Lavoro, and an early investor in Kiwibot. He holds a Bachelor of Business Administration from IE Business School and Università Bocconi.

Federico d'Annunzio is a serial entrepreneur in innovation technologies. He spent the first phase of his career in the capital equipment industry. In 2020, he was awarded the S.A. Global Achievement award for Innovation. In 2019, he founded Traent, driven by the vision that relationships between businesses will be centered on transparency.

Frederic Vecchioli is the Chief Executive Officer of Safestore Self Storage, one of Europe’s leading self-storage providers. He founded the company’s French business, Une Pièce en Plus, in 1998 and later joined Safestore Group as President and Head of French Operations. He was appointed to the Board in 2011 and became CEO in 2013, overseeing the company’s expansion across the UK and European markets through acquisitions and joint ventures.

Filip is a Partner at Fortino Capital, where he leads investments in early-stage B2B tech and SaaS companies across Europe. Since joining the firm in 2016, he has led multiple successful seed and Series A rounds. His earlier experience includes roles at BCG and BNP. He holds a degree from the University of Oxford, and is an active figure in the European venture ecosystem, with a strong passion for scaling high-growth tech ventures.

Gianmarco Iannello is an Adjunct Professor at Hult International Business School, teaching in the Master's of Finance and MBA programs. Previously, he was a Principal at KKR, specializing in private equity with a focus on financial institutions and business services. Gianmarco also serves as a Trustee at UWC Adriatic and a board member for APRIL, France's largest wholesale insurance broker. He holds a BSc in Economics from University College London and has experience in private equity, having worked at both Permira and KKR.

Giovanni Strocchi is a Venture Partner at The Techshop SGR and Managing Partner at Eden Ventures, where he focuses on early-stage investments in AI-driven startups. He has also been an active investor and board observer in multiple startups across the AI and SaaS sectors. Giovanni holds an MBA from Bologna Business School and a Master's in Electronic Engineering from Alma Mater Studiorum, Università di Bologna.

Giuseppe Bonaccorsi is a Managing Director and Partner at BCG with strong focus on the Energy sector and Digital Transformation. As a core member of Boston Consulting Group's Energy practice, he helps companies navigate energy transitions and diversify their portfolios with new strategies and digital technologies. With a focus on the GCC region, Giuseppe has supported major energy clients and played a key role in setting up digital startups and ventures in Dubai. His expertise includes Strategy, Digital Transformation, Sustainability, and Innovation.

Giuseppe Valerio Candela is a Private Equity Investment Leader at Partners Group, a global private equity and asset management firm. Prior to Partners Group, Giuseppe worked at RBC Capital Markets, where he specialized in European healthcare M&A, and at PJT Partners and Deutsche Bank. He holds a Master of Science in International Finance from HEC Paris, where he was awarded the prestigious Eiffel Excellence Scholarship, and a Bachelor of Science in International Economics, Management, and Finance from Università Bocconi.

Kadir S. Gungor is the founder and CEO of Sustainable Impact Capital & Holding (SICH), a firm dedicated to investing in and supporting social entrepreneurs who are committed to achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and the Paris Agreement. With SICH Kadir has invested in multiple companies and startups across various industries, emphasizing sustainability, innovation, and ethics.

Katharina Skalnik is the Head of Strategy & Transformation at MediaMarkt Austria & Switzerland, where she leads the Transformation Office, responsible for strategy, transformation initiatives, project and program management, and sustainability. Previously, Katharina was a Principal at Boston Consulting Group (BCG), where she delivered strategic and innovative solutions for clients in the media, telecommunications, and digital sectors. Katharina holds a Master of Science in Economics from the University of Graz, where she graduated with distinction, and a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from the same institution.

Luisa Buche is an Investment Manager at Fortino, where she joined in February 2025 to help build the firm's DACH VC team. With a background as a strategy consultant at Boston Consulting Group (BCG), Luisa brings experience across various industries with a financial focus. She has previously worked in the financial services and impact investment sectors, including in a Portuguese impact investment fund. Luisa holds a Master’s in International Finance from Nova SBE in Lisbon and a Bachelor’s in International Business Administration from WHU - Otto Beisheim School of Management.

Marcin Jedrzejewski is a Senior Advisor at Boston Consulting Group (BCG). His expertise focuses on the oil, gas, petrochemical, and chemicals sectors. Previously, Marcin held roles as Partner and Managing Director at BCG in both Warsaw and Dubai. Before joining BCG, Marcin worked at A.T. Kearney and Orange Polska, where he held leadership roles in business services and investment management. He holds a background in business and economics from the University of Calgary.

Marco Hirsbrunner is Co-CEO of Svarmi and COO and Co-Founder of Terra Impact Ventures. He co-founded South Pole, where he spent over a decade as COO. He is also co-author of The Carbon Paradox and an advocate for stronger carbon markets and nature-based climate solutions.

Marko Kirner is an Investment Professional at Valiant Asset Management, specializing in private credit and alternative investments. Previously, he worked as a Director at Värde Partners and has experience as a Distressed Debt Analyst at Manulife | CQS Investment Management. Marko began his career as an Analyst at PJT Partners and Zaoui & Co. He holds a Master of Science in International Finance from HEC Paris and a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from Harvard University.

Markos Chrysikopoulos is part of illuminem's founding team, where he served as Chief Product Officer. He has spent a decade as a strategy consultant at two of the largest sustainability consulting firms globally (BCG and Bain), as well as a technology project manager (Credit Suisse) and a software engineer (Infineon Technologies) across Athens, Dubai, New York, and London. He holds a Master’s degree in Electrical & Electronic Engineering.

Martin Fraenkel is a seasoned C-Suite executive who served as President (CEO) of S&P Global Platts. With expertise in ESG, Energy, Commodities, Data, Information Services, Exchanges, and Fintech, he excelled in M&A and regulatory compliance. Notably, he played a key role in multimillion-dollar acquisitions. He frequently appears in media and conferences worldwide, including CNBC, BBC, World Economic Forum, and Chatham House.

Mason Dykstra, PhD is the Chief Science and Technology Officer and Co-Founder of MinersAI, where he focuses on leveraging AI to assist mineral exploration companies in securing critical minerals for the energy transition. With a career spanning operations, exploration, and research in both academia and industry, Mason’s expertise lies in data integration, sedimentology, and petroleum system analysis. Prior to MinersAI, Mason served as Vice President of Energy Solutions at Enthought.

Matthieu Regli is the Lead of Group Strategy at Swiss Re, a global reinsurance company based in Zurich. Matthieu has a strong background in strategy, having previously worked as a Principal and Project Leader at Boston Consulting Group (BCG), focusing on corporate strategy and transformation projects. He is also a Board Member of the Trust Foundation at Augmedit. Matthieu holds an MSc in International Finance with Highest Honours from HEC Paris and a BSc in Economics and Business Economics from Erasmus University Rotterdam.

Massimiliano Masi is the General Manager of Magaldi Middle East. He is a veteran in the energy and renewables industry, with extensive experience in Italy and the Middle East.

Melanie Abadie is the founder and manager of Ô Potager des Candides, a regenerative farm dedicated to agroforestry and sustainable farming practices. Since 2024, she has expanded the farm’s activities to include corporate seminars, offering a unique environment for team-building and learning. Melanie is also a business angel focused on impact investing, supporting initiatives that promote sustainability and social responsibility.

Morten Dyrholm serves as Group Senior Vice President of Marketing, Communications, Sustainability, and Public Affairs at Vestas Wind Energy, having been with the company for over a decade. Based at Vestas Headquarters in Denmark, Dyrholm leads external relations and public affairs. His tenure includes three years in China focusing on business development and government affairs. He also contributes his expertise to the development of illuminem’s Data Hub™, helping shape its insights on sustainability, and he is a member of the illuminem Leaders Cohort.

Nicolas Weber is the Co-Founder and CEO of Voltiris, a company pioneering the integration of renewable energy in greenhouses. With a background as a strategy consultant at BCG, he has experience advising C-level executives across diverse industries. Nicolas holds a Master’s in Management and Strategy from LSE, where he graduated with distinction.

Oliver Preisler is the Chief Operating Officer at BlackWood, an early-stage venture capital firm backing founders across Europe. He previously worked in investment banking across New York, Switzerland, and Denmark, advising on cross-border M&A and capital raises, and later founded a fintech company focused on retirement savings. He holds a degree from ESADE and brings an international perspective shaped by living across Europe, Asia, and North America.

Otto von Troschke is the CEO and Founder of PRORSUM AG. He has experience in alternative investments and infrastructure, and serves on the boards of CalibSun, a leader in solar forecasting, and EOLOS Floating Lidar Solutions. With a background from EBS Universität für Wirtschaft und Recht, he is dedicated to driving sustainable energy solutions that will shape the future.

Pierre Abadie is Group Climate Director at Tikehau Capital and Co-head of the Group's private equity energy transition and decarbonisation practice. He has over 20 years of experience in the energy and energy transition sectors. Pierre previously worked at TotalEnergies for 16 years, most notably in the Gas and Renewables division, before joining Tikehau Capital and becoming Co-head of Tikehau Capital's Energy Transition private equity fund, which was launched in 2018.

Pierre Ibrahimchah is an investor focused on public markets and early-stage ventures. He is an early pre-seed backer of Dynamo, illuminem, and La Ferté. Pierre has experience in the family office sector, investing across a variety of industries. He holds a Master's degree in Finance from the University of Paris I: Panthéon-Sorbonne and has completed executive education in Family Wealth Management at Columbia Business School.

Raphaele Leyendecker Fabbri is an impact entrepreneur and investor currently serving as the Managing Director at Techstars Sustainability Paris. She is actively involved in discussions and initiatives related to energy, startups, climate tech, sustainability, and impact investing. Raphaele has a strong background in building ambitious new businesses within the Paris ecosystem and believes in shaping a future where sustainability and profitability go hand in hand. With her expertise and experience, she works closely with entrepreneurs to drive positive change and create a thriving sustainable ecosystem. She also contributes her expertise to the development of illuminem’s Data Hub™, helping shape its insights on sustainability.

Renat Heuberger is the CEO and Co-Founder of Terra Impact Ventures and Co-Founder and Senior Adviser at South Pole. He has been engaged as a social entrepreneur in the fields of sustainability, climate change and renewable energies since 1999. Before founding South Pole, Renat co-founded and acted as the CEO of the myclimate foundation. He also contributes his expertise to the development of illuminem’s Data Hub™, helping shape its insights on sustainability, and he is a member of the illuminem Leaders Cohort.

Riccardo Fisogni is a Partner at One Factory, specializing in venture capital, business development, and M&A advisory. He has extensive experience in investment strategy, having served as VP and General Manager at Eatable Adventures Group, where he led the creation of Foodseed, a foodtech accelerator. He also serves as a Managing Partner at Eden Ventures, investing in startups across diverse industries. Riccardo holds a degree in Management and Business Administration from Università Bocconi.

Silvia Pugi is a Managing Partner at Eden Ventures, an international venture capital firm investing in innovative startups. She is also a Venture Capital Partner and Non-Executive Director with expertise in sustainability and business innovation. Silvia serves as the Deputy Secretary General at CEC European Managers, an association representing over one million managers across Europe, advocating for business leadership in sustainability. Additionally, she is a member of the ESG Sustainability Committee at Alternative Capital Partners SGR Spa, focusing on closed alternative investment funds with high environmental impact.

Stergios Anastasiadis is a General Partner at Genesis Ventures, where he supports early-stage tech startups in Greece. He previously worked at Google and Shopify, specializing in product innovation and large-scale deployments. He is also an angel investor and mentor, helping to scale technology companies across North America and Europe. Stergios holds a B.Sc. in Computer Science from the University of Toronto and an M.Sc. from McGill University.

Thomas-Louis de Lophem is the CEO and co-founder of MinersAI, a startup providing AI-driven geological data solutions for the mineral exploration industry. With a background in Mechanical Engineering and Physics, he specializes in AI strategy, product management, and research leadership. Thomas-Louis also serves as a BSO Fellow at Wilbe and an Advisory Committee Member at Aliaxis Next, the corporate venture arm of Aliaxis Group.

Timoteo Marra, CFA, is the Vice President of Investment Portfolio Management and a Fixed Income/Rates Trader at ING, where he focuses on managing high-quality liquid assets and green bonds. Timoteo has been with ING since 2018, holding various roles, including Senior Analyst in Capital Management and Finance Trainee in the ING International Talent Programme. He previously worked as a Campus Ambassador and Summer Intern at Bloomberg LP. Timoteo holds an MSc in Finance & Investment from Rotterdam School of Management, Erasmus University, and has completed an MBA exchange semester at Shanghai Jiao Tong University.

Vlasios Voudouris is an AI and data strategy expert and senior executive. He brings expertise in AI/ML and quantitative analytics, having previously served as Chief Data Officer at Argus Media and Head of Quantitative Modelling & Analytics at Standard Chartered Bank. Vlasios holds a PhD in Informatics from City, University of London, and is a former Editorial Board Member for Biophysical Economics and Sustainability at Springer Nature.

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