Newsletter Q2 2025
Building Resilience Where It Matters Most
In the second quarter of 2025, we’re reminded that real climate progress often unfolds quietly – on rooftops, shop floors, and within industrial value chains. Even as geopolitical dynamics shift and resistance to climate policy grows, proven solutions like solar energy, plastics recycling, and energy efficiency continue to scale – not because they are politically favored, but because they make economic sense.
At Vidia, we’re seeing strong momentum in sectors where mature technologies meet operational excellence. A standout example is our roof energy platform, dez Group, which recently secured framework agreements with major retailers, streamlined its operations, and expanded from Bavaria to Northern Germany. As Bernd Laufenberg, Head of Solar, puts it: “2025 is our scale-up year – powered by smart tools, strategic acquisitions, and deep execution capabilities.”
We’ve also strengthened our plastics recycling platform. With the acquisition of Hoffmann + Voss, PolymerCycle now brings advanced compounding expertise in-house – a key step toward delivering high-performance, recycled polymers at scale. This vertical integration enhances our resilience and positions the group to serve demanding industries like automotive and electronics with custom circular materials.
As highlighted in this quarter’s feature article, many of the most impactful drivers of the energy transition are small and mid-sized industrial companies working behind the scenes – solving bottlenecks, enabling performance, and maintaining critical infrastructure. We call them high-quality contributors: businesses that make the transition work, even if they don’t market themselves as climate tech. In a world increasingly shaped by volatility and polarization, these often-overlooked players offer resilience, scalability, and real-world relevance. They reinforce our belief that private equity can be a powerful force for climate progress – when grounded in measurable decarbonization and focused value creation.
To help scale this impact further, we’re pleased to welcome Florian Ewald to Vidia as Principal Value Creation. With a decade of experience as a strategy consultant and C-level executive in private equity portfolio companies, Florian brings a strong track record of leading cross-functional teams and accelerating growth through commercial excellence and digital transformation. His expertise will be instrumental in unlocking new value across our portfolio.
Thank you for reading – and for being part of this journey with us.
Johanna Struthmann
Founder
New Partnership
Growing our Plastics Recycling Platform: Acquisition of Polymer Compounding Specialist Hoffmann + Voss
Vidia Climate Fund I is pleased to announce its investment in Hoffmann + Voss GmbH, completed in late June 2025 through its PolymerCycle platform. A specialist in polymer compounding – a critical customization and finishing step in the plastics recycling value chain – Hoffmann + Voss operates from its facility in Viersen, North Rhine-Westphalia, delivering high-performance recycled materials across a broad range of end-use applications.
A Conversation with…
Bernd Laufenberg, Head of Solar at dach energizukunft Group
dach energiezukunft Group, a Vidia platform launched in late 2023, is driving Germany’s commercial energy transition by integrating flat roof refurbishment with solar installations. This innovative, all-in-one approach delivers a unique solution for industrial clients looking to modernize infrastructure while advancing sustainability goals. We spoke with Bernd Laufenberg, who took on the role of Head of Solar in January 2025, about his early initiatives and what’s ahead for the solar business.
New Joiner Alert
Florian Ewald
Principal Value Creation
Florian brings over a decade of experience in strategy consulting and value creation. As a C-level executive, he has a strong track record of building high-performance teams, leading cross-functional operations, and driving growth in private equity portfolio companies through commercial excellence, operational optimization, and digital transformation.
Vidia Blog
The Hidden Champions of the Climate Transition: Redefining Strategic Value in the Climate Economy
Small and medium-sized industrial companies may not attract much public attention, but they often play a pivotal role in accelerating the climate transition to a low-carbon economy. These firms manufacture essential components, resolve persistent bottlenecks, or deliver specialized services that keep complex value chains running smoothly – both upstream and downstream.
The Hidden Champions of the Climate Transition: Redefining Strategic Value in the Climate Economy
Just five years ago, the climate agenda was full of momentum. The European Green Deal (2020) and the U.S. Inflation Reduction Act (2022) marked a new era of climate investment. But that optimism has since been tempered by global instability – from the pandemic and geopolitical tensions to growing opposition from fossil fuel interests and populist movements questioning climate policy.
Yet even amid political volatility, the energy transition continues. Mature climate solutions are advancing on the strength of their own economics: lower ownership costs, faster payback periods, and broad societal benefits. While policy support remains critical, industrial decarbonization is increasingly driven by proven technologies – quietly but steadily propelled by market fundamentals, not rhetoric.
We are hiring
We are always looking for outstanding, purpose-driven talents to join the Vidia team. Get in touch to become an integral member of our investment, operations or impact team.
Investment Analyst / Associate
DACH
(m/f/d) Full-time, Hybrid, Location: Munich
Investment Analyst / Associate
Nordics
(m/f/d) Full-time, Hybrid, Location: Munich
Operations Manager / Director
at our dach energiezukunft Group
(m/f/d) Full-time, Hybrid
Locations: Cologne, Hamburg, Bremen, Munich
Operations Manager / Director
(m/f/d) Full-time, Hybrid,
Location: Portfolio Sites / HQ
Portfolio Working Student
(m/f/d) Part-time, Hybrid,
Location: Munich / Portfolio HQ
Investment Criteria
We look for leading companies with a proven business model offering climate positive products or services.
Newsletter Q3 2023
2023 has been an exciting year for us at Vidia including fundraising, deal making and firm building.
Newsletter Q4 2023
In this newsletter we share latest developments, investments, Vidia insights and open positions.
Newsletter Q1 2025
As we enter 2025, the world faces an increasingly complex landscape of serious challenges, from clim