Sustainable funds
Sustainable funds
Building a successful impact fund today requires more than a strong investment thesis, it demands credible sustainability integration, regulatory alignment, and operational excellence.
We support fund managers on both fundraising and managing an impact fund
Raising and operating a fund under Article 9 means embedding impact into every layer of the strategy — from governance and due diligence to reporting and investor engagement.
As Article 9 fund managers ourselves, we understand this firsthand. We know what it takes to build and manage a fund that delivers real impact — and holds up to investor, regulatory, and market expectations. That’s why we work closely with fund managers to support both the fundraising and operational phases of launching and managing an impact fund.
Fundraising support
We help clients develop investor-ready materials, including pitch decks and supporting documentation that clearly articulate the fund’s sustainability focus and value proposition. This is backed by rigorous impact logic, market analysis, and Article 9 alignment. We also draw on our network to facilitate investor introductions and support clients throughout the fundraising process — from initial outreach to LP meetings, negotiations, and close.
Article 9 alignment and operationalisation
We support clients in designing robust frameworks that meet Article 9 requirements — not only for reporting, but also for how sustainability is integrated into decision-making processes, investment committee governance, due diligence frameworks, and portfolio engagement. Our work includes defining impact strategies, setting up data collection and management processes, and aligning fund documentation with SFDR expectations. We help ensure Article 9 is not a label, but a lived structure.
LP engagement and reporting
We advise on ongoing LP engagement from an ESG and impact perspective — including quarterly and annual reporting, disclosure obligations, and ad hoc investor requests. We help clients maintain transparency and strong governance throughout the fund’s lifecycle, while keeping reporting aligned with both SFDR and investor-specific expectations.
Sustainable Finance Disclosure Regulation (SFDR) 2.0
We support clients in understanding the implications of the upcoming SFDR 2.0. What does it mean to your current fund(s) and which documentation can you already start frontloading now?
Jakob Wichmann
Co-Founding Partner
“We help fund managers build what the market demands: impact funds that are credible, compliant, and compelling. With deep Article 9 experience, we turn regulatory expectations into strategic clarity and operational strength.”
Explore our full range of services supporting every step of the sustainability journey
- Private equity and investors
- Strategy and value creation
- Reporting and regulation
- Nature and resources
- Climate
We support investors across the full investment cycle, from fund strategy and impact priorities to Due Diligence, ownership and exit. Our work helps embed sustainability and impact throughout, unlocking long-term value and stronger outcomes.
- Sustainable fundsabout /services/sustainable-fundsSustainable funds
- Private equity servicesabout /services/private-equity-servicesPrivate equity services
Explore our full range of services supporting every step of the sustainability journey
We support investors across the full investment cycle, from fund strategy and impact priorities to Due Diligence, ownership and exit. Our work helps embed sustainability and impact throughout, unlocking long-term value and stronger outcomes.
- Sustainable fundsabout /services/sustainable-fundsSustainable funds
- Private equity servicesabout /services/private-equity-servicesPrivate equity services
Jakob brings extensive expertise as an investor, entrepreneur, CEO, and management consultant, combined with significant international experience. He has served as a responsible partner on more than 200+ projects. He has served clients in international organizations and the private and public sectors on a wide range of issues, albeit always at the intersection between sustainability, research, and strategy. Jakob also serves as a trusted advisor to several senior executives, especially in private equity. He has been heavily engaged in the Footprint Firm investment practice, playing a core role in establishing the Footprint Fund and serving as board chair in several start-ups (Agrain, Klimate, Legacy) as well as leading several investment processes.
He especially thrives in diverse cultural and professional environments, as he has worked as an advisor and investor across the world and across multiple industries, with governments, academia, civil society and international organizations.
In 2011, he founded his own boutique consultancy as a response to the democratic movements in the Middle East and Africa that erupted in step with the Arab Spring revolutions. The company was later merged into Voluntas where Jakob has served as CEO and co-owner, as well as working with the advisory and investment sub-brands contributing to building the organization, growing the business as well as initiating new start-ups and establishing new offices. In 2008, Jakob co-founded the purpose-driven and renewable-only utility Natur-Energi, a company that was sold in 2017 after having built a significant client base.
Jakob holds a Master of Public Theory from University of Essex and a Master of Science in Political Science from the University of Aarhus. His former positions include CEO and Co-founder of Voluntas Group, including Voluntas Advisory and Voluntas Investment, Co-founder of Natur-Energi and other work with the World Bank, DanChurchAid and Epinion.