Reinventing Capitalism: Moving from Profits to Purpose in Climate Tech (ft. Fabian Heilemann Founder & CEO of AENU)

On today's episode of the Climate Insiders podcast, we’re sitting down with Fabian Heilemann, CEO of AENU. AENU is an impact fund that focuses on seed and Series A investments in climate technologies, esp. energy transition and carbon economy, in Northern Europe.

Fabian shares insights into his journey from being an entrepreneur to becoming a venture capitalist with a focus on sustainable investments. Highlighting his experience of burnout post-Google acquisition, Fabian discusses how maintaining a routine involving physical workouts and meditation has been crucial for his mental wellbeing. This episode dives into how he and his brother pivoted their careers towards impact investing, driven by a profound commitment to addressing the climate crisis.

Fabian Heilemann is a serial-entrepreneur and investor from Berlin, Germany. He founded Heilemann Ventures together with his brother Ferry after the trade sale of his company DailyDeal, Europe's first couponing portal, to Google in 2011.

Since then he has been an early stage VC-investor, actively supporting companies in the digital sector. Meanwhile, Fabian and his brother Ferry set the fundamentals for their holding Sky & Sand. Currently it combines DailyDeal, which the brothers bought back from Google in early 2013, and the mobile-POS system provider pepperbill.

This episode delves into:

• Burnout Prevention
• Transition from Founder to VC
• Investment Strategies
• Role of VCs
• Impact vs. Branding

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(00:00) - Intro Hook

(00:58) - Intro

(02:37) - What’s the secret to avoiding burnout?

(05:40) - From Founder to VC: Is It a Natural Path or a Tough Trade-off

(08:21) - Should Entrepreneurs Turn Family Offices into Climate Tech Funds?

(17:08) - Would the VC World Benefit from More Former Entrepreneurs?

(20:33) - What makes a great VC?

(22:55) - Who are the top role models in the VC space?

(27:12) - Is It Time to Remove Barriers and Let More Professionals Drive Climate Investments?

(30:40) - Are Top VC Firms More Focused on Building Brands or Creating Impact?

(34:52) - Can Europe Catch Up to the U.S. in Funding Climate Innovation?

(36:43) - Can Climate Tech Survive Political Swings Like Trump’s Era?

(43:58) - Does Climate VC Favor Software Over Hardware for Long-Term Success?

(46:28) - Is a Software-Heavy Strategy Enough to Drive Real Climate Impact?

(49:26) - How Can Climate Funds Balance LP Expectations with Risk-Taking?

(54:28) - Do VCs Shape Startup Quality, or Is It All About the Founders?

(58:44) - Is It the VC's Role to Fill Gaps in Startup Teams?

(01:04:48) - How do you find happiness while watching the world burn?

(01:09:16) - Outro