Rubio Impact Ventures, the Amsterdam-based impact venture capital firm, has secured more than €70 million in new commitments for its third fund, further solidifying its position as a leading investor in climate and social impact startups.
The fresh capital, backed by the European Investment Fund (EIF), Invest-NL, Oost NL, Brabantse Ontwikkelings Maatschappij, ING, and the NN Social Innovation Fund, pushes Rubio’s total assets under management to €220 million. The Dutch government’s RVO agency also contributed through an innovation loan under its Seed Capital scheme.
This new fund is expected to support around 30 startups that are tackling some of the most urgent global challenges, from climate resilience to social inclusion.
Rubio Impact Ventures was co-founded by Machtelt Groothuis and Willemijn Verloop with a shared vision to connect financial performance with measurable positive impact. According to Groothuis, the urgency of addressing climate change and growing social disparities makes impact-driven companies the most valuable enterprises of the future.
The new fund underscores how impact investing is no longer niche, it’s a proven, scalable model attracting institutional capital and demonstrating tangible results.
The firm’s investment philosophy revolves around three core themes: the circular economy, people power, and healthy systems. These areas represent Rubio’s belief that innovation and sustainability go hand in hand. Among its portfolio, Sympower is a standout example, using smart peak-shaving technology to enhance energy grid flexibility and reduce fossil fuel dependency.
NoPalm Ingredients creates sustainable palm oil alternatives that protect rainforests, while Olio’s digital platform helps communities share surplus food and cut waste. Renewaball, another Rubio-backed company, pioneers eco-friendly sports equipment, further proving that environmental impact and market success can coexist.
What truly differentiates Rubio is its robust impact measurement and governance framework, developed alongside the European Investment Fund. This model ensures that the firm’s social and environmental goals are tracked as rigorously as financial returns.
Rubio’s first fund not only met but exceeded its impact targets by 117% while delivering strong investor performance. Companies like Sama achieved a 400% increase in their impact score, coupled with a 630% rise in enterprise value, while Sympower’s technology led to over 300,000 tons of CO₂ savings as its enterprise value grew by 780%.
Looking ahead, Rubio plans to expand its reach across Europe and strengthen collaboration with mainstream venture capital firms to bring impact investing to scale. With more than 40 companies already in its portfolio, the firm aims to make impact-driven entrepreneurship a cornerstone of the European innovation ecosystem.
By 2030, Rubio’s goal is to establish impact investing as a mainstream asset class, ensuring that every acquisition or exit maintains the company’s core social and environmental commitments. Through this next phase, Rubio is not just funding startups, it’s building a future where purpose and profit grow together.
