Future Planet Capital, the venture capital and impact investor, has announced the close of a new €20m (£16.7m) Blue Ocean “mandate”, aimed at tackling key issues affecting the world’s oceans.

The London-based VC will aim to invest in a portfolio of between 10 and 15 high-growth and “high-impact” start-ups at series A and B stage, with 130 companies shortlisted so far.

These will be start-ups tackling key issues affecting the world’s oceans such as pollution, preservation of marine environments and ecosystems and sustainable marine productivity.

Its investors will be particularly interested in companies creating scalable solutions to challenges such as overfishing, biodiversity loss and pollution in addition to opportunities within clean energy, green protein, shipping and carbon capture.

These companies, it says, will be carefully selected from the world’s leading innovation ecosystems and partner venture funds.

The mandate is in partnership with the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation and the Monaco government’s Monaco Blue Initiative, in time for the principality’s ocean week at the end of the month.

Douglas Hansen-Luke, Future Planet Capital’s executive chairman, said: “I am excited to announce the launch of the Future Planet Blue Ocean mandate and we are delighted to partner with the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation, which has a deep commitment to protection of the world’s oceans.

“This is a critical task if we are to mitigate the increasing challenge the planet faces today including the climate crisis and biodiversity loss. Future Planet Capital was an early mover in the impact investing space and with our track record of challenging global issues we look forward to seeing the impact of the Future Planet Blue Ocean [mandate].”

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