Tim Schumacher on WorldFund: Why saving 1 gigaton of CO2 will be a hallmark of future success

About this episode

Tim Schumacher is one of the most influential figures in the German startup scene. After successfully taking sedo public, building Adblock Plus into the world's most-used ad blocker, and making an early investment in Ecosia, the Cologne-based entrepreneur has now set his sights on a new focus: Climate Tech.

With World Fund, Schumacher invests specifically in green startups – but not just any green startups. His benchmark is ambitious: the portfolio companies should collectively be able to save at least one gigaton of CO2 per year.

The new generation of founders

Compared to the early days of the German startup scene, a lot has changed according to Schumacher. Today's founders are often better educated, more experienced, and have superior networks. At the same time, competition has also intensified.

"The landscape of founders is definitely changing," Schumacher explains. While pure growth thinking often dominated in the past, many new entrepreneurs now think in impact categories from the very beginning.

Sustainability as the new standard

Sustainability is evolving from a nice-to-have to a must-have – not just for startups, but also for venture capital firms. "VCs increasingly need to think about the sustainability of their investments," Schumacher emphasizes.

World Fund focuses on companies that have concrete, measurable environmental impact. Portfolio examples demonstrate how diverse green innovations can be – from energy technologies to sustainable materials.

Performance vs. impact: no contradiction

A common concern with impact investing is the question of financial performance. Does World Fund have to compromise on returns? Schumacher doesn't see it that way. "We believe that the best sustainable solutions will also be economically successful," he explains.

The fund typically invests in Series A to Series B stages and focuses on companies that already show traction but still need capital for scaling.

Advice for aspiring founders

From his decades of experience, Schumacher offers concrete recommendations for new founders:

• –Team first: Choosing co-founders is crucial. Complementary skills and a shared vision are more important than friendship.
• –Understand the market: Before solving a problem, make sure it really exists and is large enough.
• –Perseverance: Entrepreneurship is a marathon, not a sprint.

Particularly important to him is the question of "why." What drives founders? "Those who start companies just for money will have a hard time," Schumacher warns.

The future of the startup scene

Schumacher predicts further professionalization of the startup landscape. Impact themes will play an increasingly important role – not just as a marketing tool, but as a fundamental component of business models.

At the same time, questions arise about regulatory frameworks. How much regulation is needed to promote sustainable business practices? Schumacher sees a balance between necessary regulation and entrepreneurial freedom.

The transformation is already underway

For existing companies, sustainability is increasingly becoming a competitive factor. Customers, investors, and employees expect more than just profitable business models – they want to see positive impact.

Schumacher's vision is clear: "In the future, a company's success will be measured not only by financial KPIs, but also by how much CO2 it saves." The gigaton of CO2 savings is more than just a number – it's a symbol of a new way of doing business that combines profit and purpose.

The message is unambiguous: sustainability is no longer optional but will become the decisive success factor for the next generation of companies.