EUVC E653 | Elisabeth Schrey, Deep Tech & Climate Fonds (DTCF): DeepTech & Climate Fonds
Nov 19, 2025
Dr. Elisabeth Schrey, Managing Director of the Deep Tech & Climate Fonds, leads a €1B initiative aimed at bridging funding gaps for European startups in deep tech and climate sectors. She discusses navigating the delicate balance of public funding without crowding out private capital. Topics include the co-investment model's advantages, the challenges of investing in policy-fragile sectors like hydrogen, and criteria for determining startup readiness to scale. Elisabeth emphasizes the importance of strategic investments at the right time to support Europe's future industrial champions.
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Pick Durable Verticals, Time Subcategories
- Focus on consistent verticals like climate, industry, computing, and industrial life sciences instead of chasing every hot trend.
- Monitor subcategories and wait to invest until market dynamics and deal structures become sensible.
Calibrate Readiness To Sector Context
- Tailor readiness-to-scale expectations to each sector; require granular production and unit-economics plans for industrial plays.
- Accept higher tech risk for deep tech where market emergence is expected within years.
Avoid Subsidy-Dependent Models
- Avoid business models that only work because of temporary subsidies; stress-test unit economics without policy support.
- Evaluate sensitivity to policy changes and prefer models resilient to shifting regulations.