Stephan Schmidheiny
Founder & CEO @ Fundación Avina
Balgach, Switzerland
Stephan Schmidheiny is a Series A investor at Fundación Avina in Balgach focused on Organic Food and Food Processing. Dr. Stephan Schmidheiny is a renowned Swiss entrepreneur, sustainability pioneer, and philanthropist who has shaped modern business practices through his innovative approach to corporate responsibility and environmental stewardship. Born in 1947 in Heerbrugg, Switzerland, Schmidheiny assumed leadership of the Swiss Eternit Group in 1976 at age 28,immediately demonstrating visionary leadership by launching the "New Technology" innovation program to develop asbestos-free cement products. He publicly announced his company's exit from asbestos processing in 1981, years ahead of government regulations and asbestos bans.His entrepreneurial success extends across multiple industries, playing a crucial role in saving the Swiss watch industry through his involvement with SMH (later Swatch Group) alongside Nicolas Hayek. As a board member of BBC Brown Boveri, he was instrumental in the groundbreaking merger with Sweden's Asea to create ABB, one of history's most successful industrial mergers. Schmidheiny founded the concept of modern corporate sustainability when he established the Business Council for Sustainable Development (BCSD) in 1990, which evolved into the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD), now representing over 200 leading companies globally.As Principal Advisor for Business and Industry to the 1992 UN Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro, he coined the term "eco-efficiency" and authored the international bestseller "Changing Course." His influence extends to international policy through his role as Co-Chair of the OECD High Level Advisory Group on the Environment and various advisory positions with organizations including the Peterson Institute for International Economics and the World Resources Institute. Schmidheiny pioneered "entrepreneurial philanthropy," applying business principles to social impact through his foundations including Avina Stiftung, Fundación Avina, Fundes, and MarViva, which focus on sustainable development.The Viva Trust, established in 2003, channels profits from his Latin American industrial holdings into long-term philanthropic initiatives in Latin America. Following his brother Alexander's death in 1992, Schmidheiny transformed the inherited art collection into the professionally managed Daros Collection, featuring works by Andy Warhol, Gerhard Richter, and Cy Twombly. His support for London's Tate Modern and ongoing partnership with Switzerland's Fondation Beyeler demonstrate his commitment to making art accessible to the public.Schmidheiny has received numerous honors including honorary doctorates from Yale University, Universidad Católica Andrés Bello, and INCAE Business School, while the Zayed International Prize for the Environment and Keystone Leadership Award recognize his contributions to sustainable development. After stepping down from operational roles in 2003, Schmidheiny leads a private life, focusing on his philanthropic mission to create a more sustainable future.
- Total investments:
- 1
- Last investment:
- Lead investor:
- 0%
Last updated:
For AI agents: llms.txt
Industries Stephan Schmidheiny invests in
Stages Stephan Schmidheiny invests in
Countries Stephan Schmidheiny invests in
Contacts
| Type | Contact | Validation |
|---|---|---|
| Work email | ||
| Personal email | ||
| Work phone | ||
| Personal phone | ||
| Socials |
Investment Focus
Industry
- Organic Food 1 (100%)
- Food Processing 1 (100%)
- Personal Health 1 (100%)
- Food and Beverage 1 (100%)
- Alternative Protein 1 (100%)
Investments
| Company | Description | Round | Links |
|---|---|---|---|
Planted Foods
|
Planted is an ETH Spinoff that uses cutting-edge technology to turn four natural ingredients into plant-based meat that mimics the taste, texture, and mouthfeel of traditional animal meat. It takes only the best raw materials from plants and creates that tasty, nutritious, high-protein, and juicy planted that the customers love.It was founded in2019 and is headquartered in Zürich, Switzerland. | $18.2M / Series A / Mar 08, 2021 |
Co-Investors
About Fundación Avina
Fundación Avina is a non-profit consulting firm promoting sustainability and green hydrogen transition in transportation.
Fundación Avina Contacts
| Name | Phone | Socials | |
|---|---|---|---|
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Stephan Schmidheiny
Founder & CEO
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FAQ
What does Stephan Schmidheiny invest in?
Stephan Schmidheiny invests primarily in Organic Food, Food Processing and Personal Health startups, most often at Series A stage. Most of the 1 investments tracked by Shizune back companies in Switzerland. The Investment Focus section breaks down every industry, stage and country in the portfolio.
How do I contact Stephan Schmidheiny?
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When did Stephan Schmidheiny last invest?
The most recent investment recorded for Stephan Schmidheiny closed in Mar 2021. Shizune tracks 1 investments in total for this profile, including round sizes, stages and portfolio companies, all sourced from confirmed public funding rounds and refreshed monthly.
Is Shizune's investor data accurate?
Yes — every stat on this profile is calculated from confirmed public funding rounds monitored across hundreds of sources since 2020. This profile was last refreshed in Aug 2026 and is updated monthly. Spotted something off? Use the “Suggest an edit” link near the top of the page.
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