Mustard Seed Maze

What is Mustard Seed Maze?

Mustard Seed Maze (MSM) is a venture capital firm headquartered in Lisbon, Portugal, focusing on early-stage impact ventures that harness technology to tackle social and environmental challenges. They position themselves as impact VCs, investing in businesses that not only promise substantial financial returns but also strive to make a positive impact on society and the environment. The fund specializes in Early Stage and Seed funding, aiming to support fast-growing European ventures with the potential to achieve global scale.

MSM's investment strategy is built on the belief that impact and financial returns are lock-step, meaning that they reinforce each other. Their investment range is between €100,000 and €1,000,000.

The firm boasts a portfolio that aligns with various Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) such as Good Health and Well-being (SDG 3), Affordable and Clean Energy (SDG 7), Gender Equality (SDG 5), Decent Work and Economic Growth (SDG 8), and Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure (SDG 9).

MSM takes pride in partnering with ventures that prioritize growing their social and environmental outcomes alongside their business. Additionally, MSM provides a platform for talent, calling for individuals to join their portfolio ventures, thereby strengthening the impact venture ecosystem. On their website, the firm offers a glimpse into their investment strategy, sharing insights into their data-driven approach, which includes how they source impactful ideas and the predictive power of founder reporting on venture performance.

They encourage startups to submit their pitches and job seekers to share their profiles, fostering a community around impactful innovation. Their latest news section keeps their audience updated on their portfolio companies and the latest trends in impact investing.

MSM is supported by InnovFin Equity, with the financial backing of the European Union under Horizon 2020 Financial Instruments.

What they say:

We invest in early-stage impact ventures that are using technology to address social and environmental challenges.