Our ESG policy

Environment, social and governance (“ESG”) issues can have a material impact on financial performance and the communities in which C4 Ventures’ funds and portfolio companies operate.

Our mission is to find and select the most promising startups and deliver the strongest possible returns to our investors, while promoting the following environmental and social characteristics: Carbon footprint, Profit sharing with employees, Cybersecurity and GDPR, Diversity and inclusion, Impact of products and services.

We are fully committed to working with our portfolio companies to integrate ESG considerations into business-as-usual practices.

We have conceived processes and tools specifically to support portfolio companies of our funds classified under Article 8 according to the current Sustainable Finance Disclosure Regulation (SFDR).

We strive to implement these same processes across all our funds and are working towards their gradual implementation.

During the pre-investment phase:

  • A sectorial exclusion policy, to exclude target investments based on sector, products or services, or certain behaviors that we as investors deem undesirable for moral reasons​
  • A pre-investment ESG questionnaire, to ensure the targeted investment complies with C4 Ventures ESG specific characteristics and the exclusion policy, but also to identify any potential sustainability risks and principal adverse impacts generated by the portfolio companies
  • An ESG clause in shareholder agreements whenever possible

During the holding phase:

  • An ESG questionnaire and annual reporting to
    • Analyze and monitor sustainability risks and principal adverse impacts
    • Evaluate the investments’ ESG performance and the progress made in terms of ESG characteristics promoted
    • Identify good governance practices
  • Discussion of ESG topics at the board at least once a year

The partners and staff of C4 Ventures will, to the best of their ability:

  • Comply with applicable regulations governing the protection of human rights, occupational health and safety standards and labor, environmental and business practices of the jurisdictions in which C4 Ventures conduct business.
  • Adhere to the highest standards of conduct intended to avoid unfair or corrupt business practices. Instruct the investment team in the identification and management of ESG risks and opportunities and provide them with appropriate support and assistance.
  • Identify ESG risks and opportunities prior to an investment in a portfolio company.
  • Aid in establishing appropriate ESG policies and practices for their portfolio companies.
  • Assess and track the ESG progress made by portfolio company.
  • Distribute this policy and related ESG information to all C4 Ventures employees.
  • Encourage dialogue on how C4 Ventures can accommodate ESG issues in a way that is consistent with their funds’ limited partners’ initiatives in these areas.