At Soulmates Ventures, sustainability is more than a commitment—it is the foundation of our investment strategy. Therefore, we chose to align our latest EUR 50 million fund with the Article 9 classification under the Sustainable Finance Disclosure Regulation (SFDR)—reinforcing our dedication to investing in startups that create measurable positive environmental and social value.
Although SFDR compliance is not mandatory for funds of our size, we voluntarily chose to align with Article 9 of the SFDR to demonstrate leadership and reinforce our dedication to sustainable venture capital. We firmly believe that venture capital plays a pivotal role to play in driving innovative solutions to global sustainability challenges.
Why We Chose Article 9 SFDR
Article 9 of the SFDR represents the highest standard for sustainable financial products, requiring that investments contribute directly to a specific sustainable investment objective. This alignment ensures that our fund invests in startups that:
• Contribute to Environmental or Social Objectives
Each investment must directly and measurably contribute to our defined sustainability objectives within our identified streams.
• Adhere to the Do No Significant Harm (DNSH) Principle
We implement robust due diligence processes to ensure that our investments do not significantly harm any other environmental or social objectives.
• Follow Good Governance Practices
We require our portfolio companies to demonstrate sound governance practices, including robust risk management, employee relations, and remuneration policies.
For us, aligning with Article 9 was a clear and strategic choice. Since our inception, we have focused on investing in purpose-profit driven startups that deliver transformative solutions across eight key sustainability streams: Air, Water, Energy, Mobility, Circular Economy, Food & Agriculture, Healthcare, and Education. By adopting Article 9 of the SFDR, we further strengthen our transparency, accountability, and alignment with global sustainability frameworks, including the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the EU Taxonomy. This step reinforces our dedication to sustainable investing and ensures our efforts contribute to a more sustainable future.
How We Designed Our Article 9 Fund
Building a fund that meets Article 9 SFDR requirements is not simply about compliance—it is about creating a structured, value-driven investment process that maximises both sustainability and financial returns. Here is how we approached it:
• Defining Clear Sustainability Objectives
Every sustainable investment must contribute directly to environmental and/or social objective(s) while following good governance principles and providing that the investment does not significantly harm any environmental or social objective. We focus on these objectives in our 8 sustainability streams – air, water, energy, food & agriculture, circular economy, mobility, healthcare and education.
• Comprehensive Due Diligence & Screening
We apply a rigorous due diligence process that integrates sustainability criteria at every stage—leveraging frameworks for materiality, ESG analysis, sustainability KPIs, sustainability risks and opportunities, and more to ensure that all investments align with Article 9 principles.
• Transparent Reporting & Active Engagement
Transparency is key to driving real impact. Our portfolio companies commit to regular sustainability reporting, ensuring measurable progress towards their sustainability goals. We actively support them through portfolio management, sustainability acceleration programmes, and strategic sustainability guidance.
What’s Next?
We are excited to be at the forefront of sustainability-focused venture capital and innovation acceleration, ensuring that every invested startup drives measurable value. In the coming weeks, we will publish relevant Article 9 disclosure and our Sustainability Policy.
📢 Stay tuned! These documents will soon be available HERE.
