Investing where it matters

Our core

Volta Circle is an early-stage evergreen VC investor, based in London and backed by a single LP. The firm invests in technology-driven startups across three core verticals covering food systems, circularity and climate, with a mission to enable founders to create maximum value, scale, and impact. The team is based between London, Geneva, Milan and Bangkok.

Stage

Pre-Seed to Series A

Ticket

$250k - $5M

Regions

Europe and U.S. focused, but able to invest across other regions 

Strategy

Co-Lead (Seed-) or Follow (Series A+)

Lens

Generating positive planetary health outcomes alongside outsized economic returns

Horizon

We are an evergreen investor with a long-term view for maximum value creation, able to support across multiple rounds

Our portfolio

We invest in ventures helping us to feed the world sustainably, enable circular value chains, and address the climate crisis.

Food Systems

Upstream technologies that address the challenge of feeding a growing population by targeting both human and planet health.


Circularity

Scalable solutions lowering environmental impact by reducing resource depletion, extending product life cycles and closing loops.


Climate

Innovative ventures slowing down or reversing emissions, helping build a new carbon value chain or providing novel and valuable data on our environment.


Filter:
AllFood SystemsCircularityClimate
Aday
Circularity

Women’s fashion brand combining seasonless design with advanced fabrics and a sustainable supply chain

Website

Agbiome
Food Systems

Global market leader in bio-crop protection, leveraging microbes to develop innovative biological and trait products for crop protection

Website

Algramo
Circularity

Smart dispensing system that allows you to buy the amount of product you need without single-use packaging

Website

Arborea
Food Systems

Microalgae platform industrializing photosynthesis to drive a more secure and sustainable food system

Website

Byju’s
EdTech

India’s largest online education program with engaging video lessons and personalized learning

Website

Clarity
Climate

Integrated platform for reliable and trustworthy environmental monitoring at scale for governments and businesses

Website

Cognixion
HealthTech

Pioneering the field of “Assistive Reality” with BCI + AR to empower those with communication disabilities

Website

DayTwo
Food Systems

Gut-microbiome sequencing AI technology enabling precision nutrition for people with diabetes

Website

Freshket
Food Systems

Operator of a web-based sourcing platform created to connect restaurants and suppliers of fresh produce in one integrated marketplace

Website

Glowb
Climate

Accelerating the UK transition to cleaner and more self-sufficient home energy management

Website

Kukua
EdTech

The first African edutainment platform, offering entertainment-based learning to empower and inspire children

Website

Lizee
Circularity

Full-service and turn-key technology platform to help brands kickstart and manage their rental services

Website

Melibio
Food Systems

Leveraging precision fermentation to make honey without bees

Website

Mend
Food Systems

Plant-based pharmaceutical company pairing scientifically-backed ingredients with clinical trials

Website

Novameat
Food Systems

Technology platform for whole-cut meat substitutes through advanced tissue engineering technologies

Website

Optoro
Circularity

Offers a complete returns solution that helps retailers process, manage, and sell their returned and excess inventory

Website

Perfect Day
Food Systems

Bio-technology leader that has commercialized the world’s first animal-free dairy protein

Website

Rediv
Circularity

Pioneering Second-Hand as a Service (SHaaS) for retailers through shop-in-shops

Website

Shiru
Food Systems

Biotech platform identifying and creating new ingredients for their partners to commercialize delicious, nutritious, and sustainable foods

Website

The Livekindly Co
Food Systems

The largest consolidation platform of plant-based meat brands

Website

Vestiaire Collective
Circularity

Leading marketplace for second-hand luxury and designer fashion

Website

See companies

The team

In addition to our full-time investment team, Volta Circle has built a network of expert venture partners and advisors across key industries and executive roles, ensuring our thinking remains cutting edge and that we bring value to our founders from day 1.

Investment team

Catia Cesari
Managing PartnerGeneva

Catia co-founded Volta Circle alongside the Lohia family, driven by her passion for creating tangible and sustainable change through backing like-minded entrepreneurs. As managing partner, Catia spearheads all investments at the firm. For the past 30 years Catia has been relentless in promoting sustainability, whilst transforming and investing in world leading companies such as General Electric, Gucci Group, JAB Luxury, Coty and several private equity firms; her roles have spanned business development, M&A, and human capital executive level positions. Today Catia serves as a non-executive and advisory board member for a number of consumer companies.


Harley Green
Investment ManagerLondon

Harley joined Volta Circle to further his passion for investing in climate positive companies. As investment manager, Harley leads investment within the climate space and supports the team across all functions. Harley was previously principal at a London-based pre-seed & seed fund; leading their climate investment thesis, sitting on the board of several companies, and also investing as an institutional LP into venture funds. Prior to venture, Harley joined a fast scaling fintech startup which since exited for over $100M, and before this had operational experience in deep-tech talent acquisition. Harley holds an M.Sc. in Economics and Finance from Durham University.


Clara Camesasca
Senior AssociateMilan

Clara joined Volta Circle to execute her passion for sustainability and innovation. As senior associate, Clara focuses on deal sourcing and execution globally, while fostering the constant refinement of the investment thesis and strategy. Clara was the first person to join the team, thus backing the build up of thesis and portfolio, and being involved at various levels in 20+ investments over the past 4 years. Prior to Volta Circle, Clara had experiences in the startup ecosystem and as a sustainability consultant. She holds an M.Sc. in Sustainability Management from ESCP and a B.Sc. in Business Administration from Bocconi University.


Deepak Nahata
Finance ManagerBangkok

As finance manager, Deepak oversees financial due diligence and tracks portfolio performance. Deepak has over a decade of experience in various facets of finance; including business planning, project evaluation, M&A, setting up internal controls and working with large manufacturing and trading corporations. Deepak is also chief of staff to deputy GCEO Suchitra Lohia at IVL.


Storm Sunderland
AnalystLondon

Storm joined Volta Circle to champion ambitious founders tackling critical global problems. As analyst, Storm assists with company due diligence, conducts sector research and helps implement processes. After graduating from Durham University in 2020 with a B.A in Anthropology, Storm attended Stanford University to learn from founders and VCs across the Bay Area. Storm has experience working in startups having been a founders associate at a foodtech company developing alternative protein, and building out a social platform in the field of 'humane technology'.


Board of directors

Suchitra Lohia
Co-Founder & Co-ChairwomanBangkok

Suchitra founded Volta Circle to foster other businesses in building a resilient future. As co-founder of Indorama Ventures (IVL), a world leading industrial group and one of the largest plastic recyclers, Suchitra brings a wealth of expertise in entrepreneurship and sustainability. Today Suchitra serves as executive director on the board of IVL and the deputy group CEO. Apart from her duties as a director, she chairs the global CSR Committee and the IVL Foundation; a non-profit supporting projects that will have a meaningful and positive impact on the lives of women and children, along with the environment. At IVL, Suchitra plays a vital role in promoting a culture of positive stewardship.


Aradhana Lohia Sharma
Co-Founder & Co-ChairwomanBangkok

Aradhana co-founded Volta Circle to drive innovation in businesses that advance the circular model. As a business leader she has a passion for ideas that bring collective shared value, where purpose guides profit. Aradhana currently serves as vice president of investor relations and heads the wool business division at Indorama Ventures (IVL). Aradhana has held several positions in the company since 2008, primarily across corporate strategy and the fibers business; she is also vice chairwoman of the IVL Foundation. Aside from IVL, Aradhana is a non-executive director of Thai Plaspac PCL (TPAC), a Thai listed company providing plastic packaging solutions.


Saanjali Lohia
Investment Committee MemberBangkok

Saanjali is an investment committee member currently working in the Lohia family office. She previously worked as a consultant at Boston Consulting Group within their Bangkok office, where she worked on numerous digital transformation and business development projects. Saanjali holds a B.Sc. from NYU Stern School of Business, New York, where she majored in Finance and Mathematics.