Our Mission and Approach
Our mission is to support the transition towards a more sustainable society and environment in an urban context.
In the EU alone, 75% of the population already lives in urban areas and generates close to 85% of the GDP. The increasing share of the urban population makes sustainable urban transformation central to achieving the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, the Paris Climate Agreement, and the New Urban Agenda.
Our Sustainable city vision
We believe that sustainable urban development provides unique new investment opportunities and requires dedicated investment flows into innovative technological solutions.
Venture capital is a powerful instrument for unlocking the innovation potential in the urban technology field. It provides the essential combination of financing and business development support, both crucial for a fast and efficient scaling up of early-stage companies.
We have identified two investment themes that contribute to improved urban quality of life.
Our Investment Themes
Impact approach
Our approach combines achieving market-rate returns (‘profit’) alongside a measurable material positive social and/or environmental impact (‘purpose’).
The impact creation potential of our investments is aligned with the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
Core impact
Achieve measurable positive contributions to 5 of the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) that are core to the sustainable transformation of cities in Europe.
Additional impact
Achieve measurable positive contributions to the SDGs related to gender equality and the promotion of inclusive economic growth and decent jobs for all. Prioritize investments generating impact to underserved communities and/or inadequately addressed environmental challenges;
Negative impact
Screen for material negative outcomes, resulting from the investees’ activities, in any of the 17 SDGs, and try to reduce them to ultimately achieve a net positive change for the stakeholders (people and/or planet).
Our Impact Framework
2022 Impact Report
Sustainability Risks and
the Investment Process
the Investment Process
A sustainability risk is an environmental, social or governance event or condition that, if it occurs, could cause an actual or a potential material negative impact on the value of the investment of UIV.
In its decision making UIV pays close attention to all identifiable sustainability risks at each stage of the investment process.