Axiom - MBA Programme der HWR Berlin

Institute of Management Berlin (IMB) Working paper No.33
Fachhochschule für Wirtschaft Berlin - Berlin School of Economics
Bibliographic note:
Alexis Figeac is a practitioner in the field of venture capital. He has worked both as an
investment professional in a corporate venture capital structure as well as in an independent
venture capital fund. His interest in sustainability and his personal experience of investing in
renewable energy since the mid-1990’s led to his launching Axiom Venture Capital in 2003,
an initiative to establish one of the first VC funds in Europe, investing solely in clean
technologies.
He holds a B.Sc.(Hons.) in computer science from the University of Hertfordshire, a
postgraduate certificate in Economics from Birkbeck College, University of London, a
“Diplôme Grande Ecole” from ESCP-EAP Business School and a postgraduate certificate in
Environment and Sustainability management from the Berlin School of Economics (FHW).
Alexis Figeac, Axiom Ventures GmbH, Bamberger Strasse 5, 10777 Berlin, Germany.
Email: af@axiomvc.com, Tel. + 49 (0)30 2363 1789
Abstract:
Socially Responsible Investors are concerned about social, ethical and especially
environmental issues in enterprises. They invest mostly through investment vehicles officially
labelled SRI funds, or if not, then with clear mandates to their investment managers to invest
responsibly. The investment universe of such funds and managers is usually limited to
publicly-listed enterprises. Yet innovation and especially those in the environment sector
occur in young, non-quoted companies. Venture Capital can play a vital role in financing
innovations in environmental and clean energy technologies. This is a departure from
traditional Venture Capital and is seen as such by the investment community, thereby
withholding allocations to such Venture Capital initiatives. Who better then, than Socially
Responsible Investors to provide capital to environment-oriented VC funds?
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