2024 Sustainability Report

At a time when Tech is transforming almost every industry, investors have a responsibility to make sure that technology is used for the greater good of humanity and the planet.

It is undeniable that digital technology, having started a new industrial age over 40 years ago, is now at its inflection point and entering a phase of exponential growth. But it would be naïve to say that every tech investment automatically has a positive impact. The reality is usually much more complex and requires thorough scrutiny at every stage of the decision process by investors.

The European Union has adopted regulations aimed at mitigating greenwashing by enhancing transparency and the quality of sustainability-related disclosures — the Sustainable Finance Disclosures Regulation (SFDR) for investment firms and the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) for companies. These transparency requirements now enable a clearer identification of investors who are committed to sustainability.

There are those who commit because they must, and those who commit by conviction.

As long-term investors, we believe that value creation for shareholders can no longer be separated from the positive impact of companies. Last year, Partech participated in the development of the “Responsible Investment in Tech” framework, in partnership with the Human Technology Foundation. The resulting open-source framework allows for screening investment opportunities through the lens of end users to measure positive and negative impacts on the planet and on people.

We believe it is part of our duty as investors to say what we do and do what we say in terms of sustainability. This is demonstrated by our 3 most recent funds, which fall under Article 8 (Partech Africa II, Partech Venture) and Article 9 (Partech Impact Fund).

Our sustainability strategy is 3-fold and will span the next few years as we transform our company and carefully select the startups we decide to partner with.

We intend to:

• Embrace environmental criteria, not only as part of our investment process and our own footprint, but also empower portfolio companies to develop their own sustainability path;
• Focus on people development, through meritocracy, excellence, and ethics, with a commitment to promote good governance throughout the entire portfolio lifecycle; and
• Drive positive societal impact through tech, both at portfolio and management company levels, and promote ‘Tech for Good’ initiatives.

We are proud to present our 2024 Sustainability Report, which not only spotlights a handful of our portfolio companies and the steps they’ve taken to incorporate corporate social responsibility (CSR) into their corporate culture, but also highlights some of the strides we have made ourselves, notably:

• We have launched a Growth Impact Fund, which is dedicated to scaling European technology leaders who are addressing significant societal and environmental challenges. This fund is a testament to our belief that financial returns and social impact can, and should, go hand in hand.
• We continue to enhance our internal policies and practices, ensuring that our commitment to sustainability permeates every aspect of our organization. From comprehensive ESG (Environmental, Social and Governance) training for all team members to the rigorous assessment of our own carbon footprint, we are setting new standards for what it means to be a sustainable firm.

In the following pages, you will find not only our sustainability strategy and governance but also the inspiring stories of our portfolio companies like Evaneos, SustainCERT, Platform.sh, and Collectivfood. Their journeys reflect our shared vision for a sustainable future.

We invite our investors, partners, and the communities we serve to join us on this vital journey. The path towards sustainability is complex and challenging, yet with shared commitment and collaboration, it is one we are confident we can navigate successfully.

Together, we are shaping the future of the tech industry—a future that is sustainable, inclusive, and prosperous for all.

On behalf of the entire Partech management team,

Romain Lavault

ESG Manager and Member of the Executive Committee