Investor Profile: Systemiq Capital — Thesis, Cheque Size & How to Apply

Systemiq Capital is a London-based venture firm backing founders who are redefining the physical economy. It invests at Series A, plus or minus, across the UK, Europe and the US, focused on three themes: electrification, decoding nature and applied AI. It draws its edge from the wider SYSTEMIQ group — a certified B-Corp founded to drive systems change — giving founders access to specialist climate expertise, networks and market insight.

Investment thesis

Systemiq Capital targets big abatement potential with realistic scale economics, backed by deep technical diligence. The firm backs audacious founders building category-defining companies in systems it understands deeply: how goods are produced, how they move, how they are financed and how Earth's systems are stabilised. Its edge is understanding the market forces, industry dynamics and system conditions that shape a company's path to scale — and connecting founders with the specialist expertise to help them build commercially grounded companies rather than science projects.

Sectors and stage

The firm backs early-stage founders in Europe and North America, centred on three theses: electrification, decoding nature (combining technology and nature to act on information we have never had before) and applied AI. It invests at Series A, plus or minus, with particular depth in clean transport, sustainable food and materials, climate intelligence and climate restoration. For its second fund, Fund II, TechCrunch reported a $70 million first close, with the firm aiming to raise up to $200 million in total — a significant step up from the $30 million it had funnelled into 19 startups since 2018. Backers include Lombard Odier, the Grantham Foundation, Deutsche Post Foundation and former Unilever CEO Paul Polman.

Notable portfolio

Portfolio companies include ZeroAvia, the zero-emission aviation leader building a hydrogen centre of excellence in Scotland; Basecamp Research, the London biotech building a "digital tree of life" from genomic data; InnerPlant, a 2025 BloombergNEF Pioneer; Mixx Technologies, which the firm backed to deliver a transition in AI infrastructure networking; and eComID, whose AI identity layer for commerce raised a $17 million seed round led by Systemiq Capital. Earlier investments include climate data company Jupiter, shipping data firm Nautilus Labs and OpenInvest, which was acquired by J.P. Morgan.

Partners

Systemiq Capital is led by Irena Spazzapan, Managing General Partner (previously a Goldman Sachs commodities executive who built Systemiq's early-stage investment practice), alongside General Partners Jessica Stewart (Chief Operating Officer) and George Darrah. Its advisors include Paul Polman (former Unilever CEO), Jeremy Oppenheim (McKinsey climate-practice veteran and Systemiq co-founder) and former Actis senior partner Paul Fletcher.

How to apply for funding from Systemiq Capital

The firm invites inbound outreach: its site states that if you are building in its themes, investing alongside it or want to explore ideas, it would love to hear from you. Founders can reach the team through the "Get in touch" option on the official website at systemiqcapital.earth, where the team publishes deep research and investment theses — reading its reports before making contact is the best way to show you fit its electrification, decoding-nature or applied-AI focus.