May 6, 2025

A Conversation with Philipp Hoffmann, Partner at Vidia

We are excited and proud to announce the promotion of Philipp Hoffmann to Partner. Philipp’s journey to partnership spans over a decade of collaboration  defined by trust, shared ambition, and relentless dedication. As a member of Vidia’s founding team, he has been instrumental in the successful build-out of PolymerCycle Group, the scaling of DEZ Group, and in shaping Vidia for growth.

But beyond the results, it is Philipp’s humility, integrity, and authentic team leadership that truly set him apart. He brings not only experience, but also a strong sense of ownership and entrepreneurial drive that continues to fuel our organization.

What makes Vidia special for you?
From the very beginning, Vidia has been a place to grow — both personally and professionally. What truly makes it special is the combination of an exceptionally committed founding team, a mission-aligned investor base, and a unique team dynamic: young, driven, and backed by over 70 years of combined transaction experience. This blend of energy and expertise creates a culture where everyone has the opportunity to thrive and contribute meaningfully.

Reflecting on your journey, what have been the most remarkable milestones for you at Vidia so far?
Watching Vidia grow from a vision into a real force in just three and a half years has been incredible. I still remember the very early days — working from home during COVID and searching for our first office. It was a tough start: the war in Ukraine, rising interest rates, supply chain disruptions, and energy concerns made the DACH region a challenging environment for transactions.

But we stayed focused — committed to our mission and disciplined in building a proprietary deal pipeline. By early 2023, we reached the first close of our Climate Fund I, made two platform investments, and completed an oversubscribed final close later that year.

Those intense times brought our team even closer and laid the foundation for a culture of high conviction and mutual trust. With six more deals closed in 2024, our momentum is strong — and I’m excited for what’s ahead.

As you step into your new role as Partner, what are you most looking forward to?
With Vidia’s strong positioning as a climate impact fund and significant room to grow, I’m excited to help scale our outstanding team — both within the DACH region and potentially beyond. I look forward to partnering with bold entrepreneurs who share our vision, staying disciplined in our investment approach, and driving operational value creation. If we execute well, I’m confident we’ll shape a lasting success story.

What’s the biggest opportunity you see for Vidia in shaping Europe’s climate transition?
Europe is at an inflection point, where industrial decarbonization is no longer optional — it’s essential. It’s a matter of national security, driven by the need for independent energy generation, and of competitiveness, as improved energy efficiency leads to sustainably lower operating costs.

Vidia is uniquely positioned to back the companies that will lead this transformation and scale them into industrial champions — making climate action both tangible and measurable.

What advice would you give to emerging talent who want to build a career in mid-cap private equity?
Stay humble and curious. Keep developing your skill set every day, push through the tougher times, and surround yourself with people you trust and can learn from. In the end, it’s loyalty to your convictions — and working with the right people who share your purpose — that makes the biggest difference.