SHIFT Invest

Knowing where not to use your technology is its own kind of strategy.   Niek Savelkoul studied in Wageningen before founding Scope Biosciences B.V., which makes CRISPR-based diagnostic kits that detect crop diseases on-site - early enough to act before losses spread.   The part of his interview that stayed with us was about restraint. Scope was offered the chance to apply its technology to disease detection in the livestock industry, and declined, because the team didn't want to support intensive factory farming.   He puts it plainly: as the founder, you know your technology best, so you can trust your own read on where it should, and shouldn't, be used.   Read the interview, and more about impact at SHIFT in our 2025 impact report here: 👉 https://lnkd.in/eP-7c49   Turning investments into impact

🚀 Exit! From a student project to acquisition by one of world's largest engine manufacturers. Proud to share that Aiir Innovations — one of our MIF portfolio companies — has been acquired by Pratt & Whitney.   When we came on board as the first investor back in 2019, AIIR was a young, diverse team of five AI students from the University of Amsterdam who built their first proof-of-concept at KLM Royal Dutch Airlines maintenance division, automatically spotting engine wear to cut downtime and make more efficient use of assets.   In 2023 we welcomed Borski Fund and Hearst Ventures to grow AIIR further with a rich combination of international customers. Under Pratt & Whitney's wings, AIIR can now roll out its technology worldwide.   This is for us a textbook example of innovation in the Dutch ecosystem: breakthrough technology from university, a corporate that dares to experiment, scaled by venture capital and backed by Netherlands Enterprise Agency   Huge congratulations to the founders, it was a pleasure to be on your journey Bart Vredebregt Miriam Huijser Cassandra Loor Steve Nowee Fritjof Büttner Read more about this exit: https://lnkd.in/eWzT_tKb Royal Schiphol Group Port of Amsterdam Nederlandse Spoorwegen Het Financieele Dagblad Mainport Innovation Fund

It's easier to ask people to buy something greener if it's also more beautiful.   Mijke van Ballegooijen spent 13 years in aviation before becoming CEO of BYBORRE, the Amsterdam textile studio that produces responsible fabric on demand - with full transparency. What stands out in her interview is how she frames the job. Sustainability alone doesn't move customers; the product has to earn its place first. It's the carrot and the stick: make something beautiful and built to last, then ask people to rethink how they've always bought textiles.   Read the interview, and more about impact at SHIFT in our 2025 impact report here: 👉 https://lnkd.in/eP-7c49   Turning investments into impact

🌍 𝐖𝐞'𝐫𝐞 𝐡𝐢𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠: 𝐈𝐦𝐩𝐚𝐜𝐭 𝐀𝐬𝐬𝐨𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐚𝐭 𝐒𝐇𝐈𝐅𝐓 𝐈𝐧𝐯𝐞𝐬𝐭 Are you passionate about accelerating climate and nature solutions? Do you enjoy combining analytical work with hands-on engagement? Then we'd love to hear from you. At SHIFT Invest, we back innovative startups that contribute to a more sustainable future in food & agriculture, energy, industry and mobility. With the launch of our new fund and a growing portfolio, we are looking for an Impact Associate to help us strengthen and scale our impact work. 𝐈𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐫𝐨𝐥𝐞, 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐥: ✅ Support impact analyses and ESG due diligence for new investments ✅ Coordinate impact committee meetings ✅ Organise impact reporting  ✅ Work directly with portfolio companies to strengthen their impact and ESG practices ✅ Help communicate impact insights and inspire our ecosystem 𝐖𝐞'𝐫𝐞 𝐥𝐨𝐨𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐬𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡: • At least 2-3 years of relevant experience in impact, ESG, sustainability • Strong analytical, communicative, and project management skills • A genuine interest in technological climate and nature solutions • Fluency in Dutch and English 📍 Amsterdam 🕒 Part-time (3 - 4 days per week) 📅 Start date: September 2026 Interested, or know someone who might be a great fit? Please share this opportunity within your network. You can find the full vacancy and application details here: https://lnkd.in/ejzSEmfH Please submit your application by the 3rd of August.

In deep tech, the best founders are often the best translators. Claudius Jehle built volytica diagnostics out of his PhD on how batteries age. The company reads battery health in real time so operators know which packs still have life in them - one bus fleet kept 90% of its batteries running two extra years instead of replacing them. But what stuck with us from his interview wasn't the technology. It's how seriously he takes explaining it. He spends, in his own words, an "unreasonable amount of time" hunting for the right analogy, and finds it in unexpected corners like bouncers at the club.   Read the interview, and more about impact at SHIFT in our 2025 impact report here: 👉 https://lnkd.in/eP-7c49   Turning investments into impact

An impact leader told us the greenest option isn't affordable yet.   Erik Valks ran several PE-backed companies before becoming CEO of RABLE, which makes mounting systems that let solar panels go on roofs too weak to normally carry them - roughly half of all roofs in the Netherlands. In his interview he's refreshingly clear about a tradeoff most would gloss over. Switching to green steel would cut Rable's footprint significantly. But it makes the product 40% more expensive, and customers aren't willing to pay that yet.   Read the interview, and more about impact at SHIFT in our 2025 impact report here: 👉 https://lnkd.in/eP-7c49   Turning investments into impact

€17m Series B for our portfolio company Vertoro B.V.   Vertoro turns biomass waste, such as agricultural and forestry residues, into a flexible renewable oil, using a process that runs at low pressure and temperature without catalysts. One product, multiple markets: sustainable chemical feedstock today, drop-in fuel for maritime shipping next, and a pathway to sustainable aviation fuel ahead - all compatible with existing refinery infrastructure. The funds will be used to prepare for commercial deployment through a licensing model and future large-scale facilities, with partners including Raízen, the world’s largest sugarcane ethanol producer.   We welcome on board new investors Climate Tech Partners and Invest-NL that led the round together with A.P. Moller - Maersk.    We are also very happy that Dirk den Ouden joins Vertoro as CEO to lead the company into the next phase.    Congrats to the Vertoro team and our fellow investors! Read more here: https://lnkd.in/eNBz-nHe   Turning investments into impact Koen, Bram, Dr. Michael, drs. Tim, Panos, Joppe, TFN - Transition Finance Network #climatetech #renewablefuels #impactinvesting #SAF

Julie is on the ground in Paris this week at #VivaTech. It's Europe's biggest startup event, so if you're a founder or fellow investor, don't miss the chance to connect with her directly. 👇

Part of our portfolio since December, but yet to be properly announced: RESONIKS! 🚀 RESONIKS is active in AI-driven acoustic quality control enabling earlier and more accurate defect detection in manufacturing processes, reducing material waste, scrap, and energy use. RESONIKS is based in The Hague and was built through YES!Delft Last month, was an exciting one for RESONIKS, as they launched the QCFlex, their new standalone system that brings fully automated, AI-powered acoustic testing directly in-line to the manufacturing process.   We invested alongside Kvanted, Faber and Höcker Polytechnik GmbH   Read more on the round and founder story: https://lnkd.in/dUmchjcx

We look back at a succesful third edition of the Mobility x Energy drinks, hosted together with Rabobank and Move Energy 🌍 💚 It was great to welcome over 100 founders, innovators, investors, and ecosystem partners active in the mobility and energy transition space for an evening of networking, conversations, and new connections at the beautiful Haarlemmermeerstation 🚀 A big thank you to everyone who joined and helped make this edition such a success. We're excited to keep building bridges in the mobility and energy ecosystems and look forward to the next edition! 🌟 Peter Smit Marjolijn Veldkamp - van Noordenne Eline Peeters Thijs Gitmans Willem Poerink Janneke Bik Koen Hooning Rard Rijcken Sophie van Weede Turning investments into impact #MobilityXEnergy #EnergyTransition #Mobility #Innovation #Startups #Scaleups #Networking #Haarlemmermeerstation