Financing Breakthrough Cleantech
We are off-track in developing the technologies we will need to reach net-zero by 2050 in many hard-to-abate sectors. In this context, innovative financial mechanisms will play a key role as capital-intensive, long-term hardware developments require new approaches in order to receive the support they need. Our panelists will discuss some of the mechanisms that have worked and those that have not – casting light on what it will take.



Moderator: Peter Sweatman | CEO | Climate Strategy & Partners
Peter Sweatman has spent 30 years in finance of which 18 are climate finance and energy efficiency. He is the Chief Executive of Climate Strategy & Partners, a strategic consulting group in Clean Energy, Clean Technology Innovation and Energy Efficiency working with leading companies and policymakers in the global energy transition. Peter is also Chairman and founder of Energy Efficiency Capital Advisors an expert solution provider and finance structuring partner for over €60 million of finance for energy savings and on-site power in Spanish cities. Peter is the rapporteur for EU Commission and UNEP FI’s 500-strong Energy Efficiency Financial Institutions Group since 2013 and for five years was the G20’s EEFTG technical lead. Amongst others, he is the co-chair of Breakthrough Energy’s European Climate Innovation Hub, a founder advisor to the Climate Bond Initiative, and visiting lecturer at IIT-Comillas university.
Pippa Gawley | Global Renewables and Decarbonisation Leader | Zero Carbon Capital
Pippa is the Founding Partner of Zero Carbon Capital, investors in early-stage companies in the UK and Europe on a mission to fix climate change. ZCC supports deep science, hard-tech solutions that have the potential to make half gigaton-level reductions of CO2e at scale, and vision-aligned, ambitious teams to go with them. Zero Carbon Capital was founded in 2019 with the mission of alleviating the lack of funding for deep tech climate startups. Now, their portfolio is full of amazing climate startups that are tackling the climate crisis with science-based solutions. Pippa has previous experience in general management, business analysis, consumer-facing interactive user experience research and design, and iterative product development.
Tilman Kruse | Global Head Early Growth & Venture Capital | DEG
Tilman Kruse is heading DEG´s equity operations in the early growth and venture capital space across Asia, Emerging Europe, and Latin America. A seasoned business leader and tech investor with 20Y+ professional experience, his track record also comprises private equity and buy-outs in both emerging and developed markets. An M&A-lawyer-turned-investor by background, in his earlier career Dr. Kruse held senior positions at KfW Group (Frankfurt) and Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer (London, Munich, Frankfurt).
Nico Köllner | Director Business Developement | Investa Real Estate
Nico Köllner is an experienced Finance Executive with a broad Energy and Real Estate background paired with a strong value creation and management track record in business growth and transformation set-ups. Before taking on his current position as Director of Business Developement at Investa Real Estate, Nico spent nearly ten years at E.ON, where he last held the position of Director of Finance & Controlling B2B Solutions.