Giorgio Karhausen Interview
Giorgio Karhausen, CEO of ValVeri AG, is driving a new model of impact investing where sustainability, technology, finance and strategy converge to create scalable, profitable solutions. Through ValVeri and its group companies, he focuses on CleanTech, hydrogen, renewable energy and circular economy projects that deliver measurable environmental impact while meeting real industrial and market needs. His approach connects innovation with capital and execution turning climate challenges into long-term value creation.
Defining Impact Beyond Capital
We started the interview by asking, “Giorgio, ValVeri AG positions itself at the crossroads of sustainability, technology, and finance. What does “impact investing” truly mean for you in practice?”
Giorgio Karhausen replied, “For us, impact investing is not a marketing label, it’s a discipline. Every project we engage in must deliver measurable environmental impact, industrial scalability, and long-term financial viability. Sustainability without economic logic does not scale, and technology without strategy does not change systems. At ValVeri, we structure investments so that climate-positive solutions whether in hydrogen, solar, or circular economy can compete and win in real markets.”
Technology Themes Driving Returns
The Europe Time: ValVeri’s portfolio spans hydrogen and renewable energy, CleanTech as well as circular economy solutions. Where do you currently see the strongest investment momentum?
Giorgio Karhausen replied, “Renewable energy related industries and circular economy solutions are converging rapidly. We see strong momentum in large-scale hydrogen production and distribution, Power2X, and waste-to-hydrogen models, especially from plastic waste and biomass. These areas solve two problems at once decarbonisation and waste management while benefiting from increasing regulatory and industrial demand. Scale and logistics are key, which is why we focus on infrastructure-ready solutions rather than isolated technologies.”
Taking Impact Investing to the Water
The Europe Time: The youngest project Mari Marens represents a different but complementary side of ValVeri’s strategy. Why is sustainable maritime innovation important for your group?
Giorgio Karhausen replied, “Maritime is one of the most under-addressed sectors in the energy transition. With Mari Marens, we demonstrate that sustainability can be aspirational, profitable, and scalable. Solar-electric and hydrogen-enabled boats are not compromises they unlock access to protected zones, meet regulatory trends, and attract new customer segments. It’s a perfect example of how clean technology, design excellence, and strong unit economics can coexist.”
Scalable Impact on Water
The Europe Time: Mari Marens has secured strong international traction in a fragmented market. What makes its business model attractive from an impact-investment perspective?
Giorgio Karhausen replied, “Mari Marens combines asset-light scaling, recurring revenue, and clear environmental advantages. The rental-first model avoids capital-heavy ownership structures, while electric-only access to protected waters creates natural competitive barriers. From an impact lens, we reduce emissions and noise pollution; from an investor lens, we benefit from high margins, regulatory tailwinds, and a market ripe for consolidation.”
Where Expertise Meets Execution
The Europe Time: How important is leadership and cross-disciplinary expertise within the ValVeri ecosystem?
Giorgio Karhausen replied, “It’s essential. Sustainable transformation requires more than engineers or financiers alone. With leaders like Silvia Merlin, our Chief Business Officer, and Prof. Santos, we bridge business strategy with a strong focus on customer satisfaction, scientific rigor, and execution excellence. Impact investing succeeds when governance, technology, and capital speak the same language, and our leadership structure is designed exactly for that.”
Impact at Industrial Scale
Lastly we asked, “Looking ahead, what is ValVeri AG’s vision for impact and growth?”
“We focus on identifying industrial niches and interesting business models that can be implemented independently of political trends and that fully reflect the needs and desires of today’s society. As mentioned above, it is extremely important to us that the projects are economically competitive with traditional technologies and are also carbon neutral, if not carbon negative.” Giorgio Karhausen concluded
Connect with Giorgio Karhausen on LinkedIn
For more information visit ValVeri AG
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