What Nollen Group Co. does

Nollen Group Co. operates as the parent entity of a portfolio of social-impact businesses, with its primary operating subsidiary Circular Investment B.V. functioning as a circular-economy and impact-investment firm. Founded and led by Bart Nollen, the firm provides end-to-end investment services — from concept design and strategy through engineering, development, and financing — to portfolio companies in renewable energy, biodiversity conservation, biobased materials, and ecosystem services. Operations are run from Breda, The Netherlands, with a stated global footprint and an explicit push into North America and the Pacific Northwest via Operations Director Sander van der Loos.

The firm's primary portfolio consists of four companies: Dayrize, an AI-powered SaaS platform for sustainability intelligence; Flash Forest, a Canadian drone-based reforestation company; Biobased Trading, a supplier of alternative biobased raw materials such as wood chips and bark; and AdeptNova, a provider of AI, automation, and data-driven business modernization. An additional eight investments are held indirectly through a relationship with Footprint Coalition, covering Sound.ag, Crusoe, Span, Sealed, Cove.tools, Ynsect, TurnTide, and Aspiration. The firm is B Corp certified, recognized as "Best for the World 2022" by B Corp, and has been a signatory to the UN-supported Principles for Responsible Investment since 2021.

Commercially, Circular Investment operates on a sales-led, direct-partnership model: deal flow and capital deployment are sourced through an integrated network of developers, technology providers, and co-investors rather than through traditional distribution. Revenue mechanics rely on private-equity investment terms, development fees, and portfolio company growth outcomes; specific fee structures, fund size, and revenue are not publicly disclosed. The four-person disclosed leadership team (Bart Nollen, Marlies Quirino, Sander van der Loos, Jelte-Pier Slump) runs the firm without publicly disclosed institutional backing.

Name

Nollen Group Co.

Legal name

Circular Investment B.V.

Website

https://nollengroup.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1973

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Nollen Group Co. operates Circular Investment B.V., a Netherlands-based impact investment firm backing sustainable-development companies across AI, reforestation, biobased materials, and automation. It runs an end-to-end investment model from concept to operational business, anchored by a four-company primary portfolio.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Impact Investing

NAICS

Offices of Other Holding Companies (551112), Management of Companies and Enterprises (55)

SIC

Security Brokers, Dealers & Flotation Companies (6211)

akta.pro primary industry

Circular Economy & Waste/Materials Reporting (Zero waste, packaging) (EUAHAJAL)

Keywords

• Impact investing
• Venture capital
• Sustainable finance
• Circular economy
• Private equity

Headquarters

HQ city

Cape Town

HQ country

South Africa

HQ region

Africa

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Impact Investment Management: Managing a portfolio of sustainable development companies and projects across renewable energy, biodiversity conservation, biobased economy and ecosystem services. Generates returns through equity investments, development fees, and portfolio company growth.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels2 records

Core offering

Nollen Group Co. is a private holding company that operates Circular Investment B.V., an impact investment firm focused on the circular economy. The firm invests in and supports sustainable development companies across renewable energy, biodiversity conservation, biobased economy, and ecosystem services, providing end-to-end services from concept design and strategy to fully-operational business development. It leverages an integrated network of developers, technology providers, and co-investors to deliver co-designed and co-funded solutions.

Product overview

Nollen Group Co. operates as a holding company managing a portfolio of social-impact businesses focused on sustainable development. Through its subsidiary Circular Investment, the company provides end-to-end investment services from concept design to fully-operational businesses, investing in renewable energy, biodiversity conservation, biobased economy, and ecosystem services. The portfolio companies include Dayrize (AI-powered sustainability intelligence platform), Flash Forest (drone-based reforestation), Biobased Trading (alternative raw materials supplier), and AdeptNova (AI automation solutions). These investments span sustainability software, ecological restoration, biobased materials, and AI-driven automation sectors.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Impact Investment Management End-to-end investment management services targeting sustainable development companies and future-facing projects across renewable energy, biodiversity conservation, biobased economy, and ecosystem services. Generates returns through equity investments, development fees, and portfolio company growth.
• Portfolio Company Development Support Engineering, development, and financing support provided to portfolio companies to turn business concepts into operational companies, including co-designed and co-funded solutions through an integrated network of developers, technology providers, and co-investors.

Quantifiable outcome

• Supporting businesses and consumers to bring consumption within planetary and societal boundaries
• +1 more outcomes

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Footprint CoalitioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInvestment vehicle through which Circular Investment makes additional portfolio investments in sustainable businesses including Sound.ag, Crusoe, Span, Sealed, Cove.tools, Ynsect, TurnTide, and Aspiration.
• DayrizecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAI-powered SaaS platform for sustainability intelligence enabling businesses to track environmental and social impact of their full product range. Circular Investment supports with engineering, development and financing.
• Flash ForestcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCanadian reforestation company using remote drone planting to regenerate ecosystems on a global scale. Circular Investment supports with engineering, development and financing.
• Biobased TradingcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSupplier of clean, alternative raw materials like wood chips, bark, sawdust, organic horticulture and agriculture by-products, and eco-friendly building materials. Circular Investment supports with engineering, development and financing.
• AdeptNovacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAI, automation, and data-driven solutions provider helping businesses modernize and turn complex challenges into scalable digital products. Circular Investment supports with engineering, development and financing.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Market position

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights5 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/nollen-group

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Nollen Group Co.