Biosolutions
Biosolutions
The pace that society produces and releases chemicals and other novel entities into the environment is not consistent with staying within a safe operating space for humanity. We invest in cutting edge biotechnology generating new materials that can replace key drivers of pollution and emissions.
We invest in new materials that can replace key drivers of pollution and emissions
Many of today’s materials and chemicals are incompatible with planetary boundaries. Biosolutions offer cleaner, nature-based alternatives.
Our investment thesis
We invest in the tools of nature to deliver novel bio-based materials and processes that replace fossil-based and highly polluting inputs across industries, while remaining commercially competitive.
What we are looking for
- Cutting edge biotech enabling greener solutions that were not possible yesterday
- Solutions with potential to scale and generate significant impact at cost parity with existing solutions
- Technologies ready to scale into existing value chains
Our investments within biosolutions
We have invested in solutions that are cutting emissions, protecting biodiversity, and proving that biology is one of the most powerful technologies we have for building a future worth venturing into.
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Octarine bio
Bio-based dye palette that replaces conventional synthetic dyes
- Biosolutionsabout /verticals/biosolutionsBiosolutions
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Cellugy
Biofabricating high-performance cellulose to replace petrochemicals
- Biosolutionsabout /verticals/biosolutionsBiosolutions
“Biosolutions allow us to redesign materials from the molecule up – with nature as the blueprint.”
Explore all our investment verticals
- Circular economy
- Built environment
- Biosolutions
- Climate tech
- Energy
- Food & agriculture
Explore all our investment verticals
Our current linear ‘take-make-waste’ system use 60% more resources than the earth can generate every year. We invest in solutions that enable reuse, upcycling and recycling of waste streams to enable a circular economy.
- Circular economyabout /verticals/circular-economyCircular economy
Come venture with us
Pitch us
Have a venture where impact and growth scale together? We invest early and work side-by-side powered by the whole Footprint Firm team.
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.