BonVenture

BonVenture is a German impact venture capital firm and fund family that invests in social and environmental businesses. Founded in 2003, it describes itself as the first investment company in the German-speaking region to apply the principle of socially responsible risk capital, supporting social entrepreneurs and social businesses that aim to solve an ecological or societal problem while building a financially viable business. The firm operates from Munich and invests across the DACH region (Germany, Austria and Switzerland). BonVenture pursues a "double bottom line" or double-return approach: it seeks both a financial return for its investors and measurable impact for the environment or society. Its investment strategy is organised around four impact areas — digital health, equality and education, climate and nature, and sustainable consumption. It invests in founders who are described as authentic, driven and diverse, and it combines capital with advice, mentoring and network access, following a venture capital-style selection and support process. According to its own reporting, BonVenture has made more than 60 investments in impact startups, manages around €100 million, and points to outcomes including 1.3 million tonnes of CO2 emissions avoided and 8.2 million lives touched. Its portfolio has included companies such as Followfood (traceable frozen foods), Planeteers (ocean-based carbon sinks), ViViRA (a digital health application for back pain), Sira (decentralised childcare centres) and Fenecon (open-source energy technology). BonVenture is notable for its regulatory positioning: it is registered with the German financial supervisory authority BaFin as a European Social Entrepreneurship Fund (EuSEF), making it legally committed to the social impact of its investments. It has also contributed to the development of the impact investing sector, co-authoring the Social Reporting Standard published in 2010 and signing the Initiative Transparente Zivilgesellschaft (Transparency Initiative for Civil Society). The firm has raised a series of funds, most recently launching its fifth fund, BV5, after closing BonVenture IV in 2022 at €50 million — above its original target of €35–40 million — with both institutional and private investors participating.

BonVenture was founded in 2003 as a social venture capital fund, positioning itself as the first investment company in the German-speaking region to apply the principle of socially responsible risk capital to support social entrepreneurs and social businesses. From the outset, its model required that the enterprises it backed solve societal problems with innovative, scalable concepts while building financially sustainable businesses. The firm operates on the basis of impact investing and pursues a double-return principle: financial returns for its investors and impact goals for the environment or society. In line with the triple bottom line model, it aims for the greatest possible social, ecological or societal added value. Its selection and support process follows the approach of venture capital programmes, combining capital with advice, mentoring and network contacts. BonVenture has been active in developing the broader impact investing sector. It was among the co-authors of the Social Reporting Standard (SRS) published in 2010, which promotes transparency in the social sector, and it is a signatory of the Initiative Transparente Zivilgesellschaft. It is also registered with BaFin as a European Social Entrepreneurship Fund (EuSEF) — described as the only German fund company with this registration — which legally commits it to the social impact of its investments. Over its history BonVenture has backed a range of social and environmental ventures, including abgeordnetenwatch.de (a public online platform for exchange with politicians), Ashoka Deutschland (promotion of social entrepreneurship), Chancenwerk (better educational opportunities through an innovative mentoring programme in schools), Dialogmuseum (role reversal for the integration of visually impaired and blind people) and Followfood (improving transparency in fishing through the introduction of tracking codes). In 2022 BonVenture closed its new fund, BonVenture IV. Both institutional and private investors participated. The original target was €35–40 million, and €50 million was ultimately raised. The fund family subsequently grew further with the launch of a fifth fund, BV5, whose investment strategy, impact areas and track record BonVenture has publicised. By its own account the firm has made more than 60 investments in impact startups, manages around €100 million, and reports impact outcomes including 1.3 million tonnes of CO2 emissions avoided and 8.2 million lives touched. Its four impact areas are digital health, equality and education, climate and nature, and sustainable consumption.

• 2026

  Portfolio company Gardia closes an €8.5 million Series A with BonVenture reinvesting.

• 2022

  Closes BonVenture IV at €50 million, above its €35–40 million target, with institutional and private investors.

• 2010

  Co-authors the Social Reporting Standard (SRS) to promote transparency in the social sector.

• 2003

  BonVenture founded as a social venture capital fund in the German-speaking region.

• Launches fifth fund, BV5, expanding the BonVenture fund family.

High-impact venture capital with a double-bottom-line approach, legally committed to social impact as a BaFin-registered EuSEF.

• BonVenture IV (BV4)

  Impact venture capital fund closed in 2022 at €50 million.

• BonVenture 5 (BV5)

  Fifth fund in the BonVenture family, focused on the firm's four impact areas.

1. 1BONVENTURE I Impact Venture Capital I True impact and return I ENbonventure.de
2. 2BONVENTURE Portfolio Company Gardia Secures €8.5M to Scale Its Mobile Emergency System for Seniorsbonventure.de
3. 3BonVenture – Wikipedia (German)de.wikipedia.org
4. 4BonVenture – Wikidatawikidata.org