What Timber Finance Initiative does

Timber Finance Initiative operates as a Swiss financial services platform dedicated to channeling capital into the forestry and timber construction value chain, structured as Timber Finance Management AG and registered under FIDLEG as an investment advisor. The firm operates three coordinated business pillars: Carbon Removals (CO2 storage certificates for timber construction), Finance Solutions (investment products and advisory), and a Knowledge Hub association that serves as a network platform for forestry, timber, and real estate stakeholders.

The core financial product is the Timber Finance Forest-based Construction Basket, a tracker certificate listed on SIX Swiss Exchange with Zürcher Kantonalbank as issuer and Solactive as index calculation partner, providing public-market exposure to a screened basket of listed companies generating at least 50% of revenue from durable wood products with steel and concrete substitution potential. The second anchor product is the Timber Finance Carbon Capture & Storage Index, covering 30 selected listed forestry and timber companies across the US, Canada, and Europe. The firm has also co-developed the first methodology for CO2 certificates for multi-story timber construction, in collaboration with Green Canopy NODE, South Pole, and Gordian Knot Strategies, and is developing a Timber Mortgage product with ZHAW.

The business model combines recurring investment advisory subscriptions for institutional and qualified private investors, transaction-based revenue from the SIX-listed tracker certificate, direct investment fees in Swiss forestry and timber companies (capped under Swiss private placement rules at fewer than 500 qualified investors and CHF 8 million total value per 12-month period), and association membership dues. Research and white papers produced with ZHAW and supported by Migros Pionierfonds and Built by Nature serve as both thought leadership and funnel for advisory mandates. The firm is not venture- or private-equity-backed, with confirmed external funding limited to a EUR 90,000 Built by Nature Accelerator Fund grant, and operates with a small 1-10 person team headquartered in Zürich.

Name

Timber Finance Initiative

Legal name

Timber Finance Management AG

Website

https://timberfinance.ch

Company type

Private

Founded year

2021

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Timber Finance Initiative is a Swiss FIDLEG-registered investment advisor that develops timber-focused financial products, including a SIX-listed tracker certificate, a carbon capture and storage index, and CO2 certificates for timber construction, serving institutional and qualified private investors.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Sustainable Finance and Timber Investment Advisory

NAICS

Support Activities for Forestry (1153), Timber Tract Operations (113110)

SIC

Forestry (800)

akta.pro primary industry

Natural Resources — Timberland (FSAAAKAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

Timberland Asset Management & Consulting (AFAMAAAI), Timberland Asset Management (Institutional/Private) (AFAMAKAA), Timberland Carbon & Natural Capital Project Development (Offsets/REDD+) (AFAMAKAH)

Keywords

• Sustainable investment advisory
• Carbon removal certificates
• Timber construction finance
• Structured forestry products
• Forestry carbon finance

Headquarters

HQ city

Zürich

HQ country

Switzerland

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Investment Advisory Services: Timber Finance Management AG provides investment advice as a licensed financial service provider under FIDLEG, offering personalized recommendations on financial instruments to private and institutional investors.
2. Structured Financial Products: Tracker certificates on the Timber Finance Forest-based Construction Basket listed on SIX Swiss Exchange, enabling investment in timber construction equities.
3. Direct Investments in Timber Companies: Portrait of direct investment opportunities in Swiss forestry and timber construction companies for investors seeking impact investments.
4. Research and White Papers: In-depth stock analyses, index reports, market updates, and white papers on modern timber investments produced in collaboration with ZHAW and funded by partners.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Timber Finance Initiative operates a sustainable finance platform that develops and distributes investment products and advisory services focused on forestry, timber construction, and carbon removal. Core offerings include the SIX Swiss Exchange-listed Tracker Certificate on the Forest-based Construction Basket, the Carbon Capture & Storage Index covering 30 listed timber companies, CO2 storage certificates for timber buildings, investment advisory under FIDLEG, and direct investments in Swiss forestry and timber construction companies. It also runs the Timber Finance Knowledge Hub, a membership-based network and knowledge platform for industry stakeholders.

Product overview

Timber Finance Initiative is a Swiss financial services company (Timber Finance Management AG) offering a coordinated portfolio of timber-focused financial products and services. The core offering includes the Timber Finance Forest-based Construction Basket (tracker certificate on SIX Swiss Exchange), the Timber Finance Carbon Capture & Storage Index, and CO2 storage certificates for timber construction. Supporting services include Investment Research, Finance Advisory for institutional investors, and Private Equity/Direct Investments in Swiss forestry and timber construction. The company also operates the Timber Finance Initiative as a network and knowledge platform with membership benefits. Additionally, the company developed a Timber Mortgage feasibility study for sustainable construction financing.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Timber Finance: Primary brand for the company's finance and investment solutions including the Tracker Certificate and Index products
• Timber Finance Knowledge Hub
• Timber Finance Carbon Removals

Products and services

• Timber Finance Forest-based Construction Basket (Tracker Certificate) Exchange-listed structured product enabling investors to invest in a basket of shares of publicly listed companies focused on CO2 storage in durable wood products for urban timber construction with substitution potential for steel and concrete.
• Timber Finance Carbon Capture & Storage Index First Carbon Capture & Storage Index focusing on carbon storage capacity in durable timber construction products, covering 30 selected publicly listed companies in the forest and timber industry in the USA, Canada, and Europe.
• CO2 Storage Certificates (Carbon Removals) CO2 storage certificates for timber construction enabling building projects and forest managers to monetize climate potential through carbon removal credits, based on the first methodology for CO2 certificates for multi-story timber construction.
• Investment Research In-depth stock analyses, index reports, market updates, and white papers on modern timber investments for investors and asset managers, including the White Paper on Modern Timber Investments developed with ZHAW.
• Finance Advisory FIDLEG-licensed investment advisory services for institutional and qualified investors seeking to integrate modern timber investments into their strategies for portfolio decarbonization.
• Private Equity / Direct Investments CO2-relevant direct investment and impact investment opportunities in Swiss forestry and timber construction companies for investors seeking exposure at the company level.
• Timber Finance Initiative (Knowledge Hub) Membership-based network and knowledge platform offering privileged participation in specialist events, company visits, and preferential access to financing contributions through carbon removal credits, with quarterly newsletters and member gatherings.

Quantifiable outcome

• Modern timber construction combined with sustainable forest management is one of the most promising negative emission technologies, recommended by UNFCCC Climate Council in 2022
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

28 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• ZHAW (Zurcher Hochschule für Angewandte Wissenschaften)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partner collaborating on White Paper for Modern Timber Investments and feasibility study for Timber Mortgage. Jointly developed scientific literature overview on climate performance of wood.
• Liechtensteinischer Bankenverband (Liechtenstein Banking Association)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerSupported the White Paper on Modern Timber Investments, helping disseminate research to banking community.
• ZKB (Zürcher Kantonalbank)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorZKB is the issuer of the Tracker Zertifikat (Tracker Certificate) on Timber Finance Forest-based Construction Basket, listing and distributing the structured product.
• SolactivecoreTechnology or IntegrationIndex provider for Timber Finance Carbon Capture & Storage Index, providing index calculation and administration services.
• Green Canopy NODEcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLeading development of first CO2 methodology for multi-story timber construction, working with South Pole and Gordian Knot Strategies.
• South PolecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerClimate solutions provider collaborating on development of Carbon Removal methodology for mass timber buildings.
• BX Swiss AGminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSwiss advisor register where Timber Finance advisors are registered as financial service providers under FIDLEG.
• World Economic Forum (WEF)minorOthersListed as partner organization, participating in initiatives like EU Forest Week.
• Swiss Sustainable FinanceminorOthersSwiss industry association for sustainable finance, part of Timber Finance's partner network.
• Swiss Carbon Removal PlattformminorOthersNational platform for carbon removal coordination in Switzerland.
• PCAF (Partnership for Carbon Accounting Financials)minorOthersGlobal partnership for harmonizing carbon accounting for financial institutions.
• Climate-KICminorOthersEU Climate Innovation Community partner for climate change mitigation initiatives.
• Stora EnsocoreOthersStrategic member - one of the largest private forest owners globally, leading provider of renewable products in packaging, biomaterials, and timber construction products.
• CREE BuildingscoreOthersInternational construction collective for sustainable building solutions, offering timber hybrid construction system with global network.
• TimbatecminorOthersLeading Swiss timber construction engineering company operating at four locations in Thun, Bern, Zürich, and Vienna.
• TS3 AGminorOthersTimber Structures 3.0 technology company revolutionizing timber construction with face-to-face timber component connections.
• S. Müller Holzbau AGminorOthersOwner-managed company in Wil SG specializing in modern timber construction, team of approximately 100 employees.
• WIEHAGminorOthersTimber construction company with 175 years of experience, responsible for highest timber buildings in Australia, Asia, and USA.
• DMBAU AGminorOthersBuilding and general contractor company based in Oberriet SG, focused on sustainable construction.
• Swiss Wood SolutionsminorOthersInnovation company specializing in novel wood-based materials for industries where wood use has been limited.
• Holzvermarktung Graubünden AG (HVM)minorOthersLeading timber marketing company in Graubünden, owned by forest districts and municipalities, strengthening sustainable regional forestry.
• Graubünden HolzminorOthersUmbrella organization of Graubünden forestry and timber industry, representing research, education, business, and politics.
• Forêt ValaisminorOthersUmbrella organization of Valais forest owners, representing regional forest associations.
• TimbagroupminorOthersTimber construction group operating in the association network.
• ScrimberminorOthersCompany specializing in scrimber technology for upcycling underutilized wood assortments.
• MVPR Performance Real Estate Inc.minorOthersConsulting company operating in Canada and Germany, specializing in helping real estate developers monetize sustainability goals.
• InvestInvent AGminorOthersSwiss pioneer for climate-friendly direct investments in renewable energy with over 20 years experience, planning timber real estate fund.
• VaremminorOthersAssociation member from the timber industry network.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• South Pole: Global climate solutions provider and project developer for carbon credits. Co-developed mass timber carbon removal methodology with Timber Finance and operates a similar bridge between carbon markets and sustainable finance. Most directly comparable given overlapping client base (institutional CO2 investors) and product mix (carbon credits + advisory).
• Pollination Group: Global climate advisory and investment firm that bridges finance and climate solutions. Comparable as a fintech-adjacent advisory serving institutional clients decarbonizing their portfolios, with a similar boutique-and-rising profile.
• Mirova Natural Capital: Affiliate of Natixis Investment Managers investing in sustainable land use, forestry, and ecosystem services. Closely comparable as a dedicated natural capital/forestry investment manager with institutional investor focus and measurable impact mandates.
• Climate Asset Management: Joint venture between HSBC and Pollination managing natural capital strategies focused on nature-based solutions and carbon removals. Directly comparable as a dedicated natural capital investment manager targeting institutional investors with measurable climate outcomes.
• Green Canopy NODE: Carbon methodology firm co-developing CO2 storage certification for timber construction with Timber Finance. Comparable as a carbon methodology developer and project originator focused on nature-based carbon removals, intersecting with the same timber construction thesis.

Emerging players

• Sylvera: Carbon ratings and analytics firm providing independent ratings for nature-based carbon credits. Comparable as a fintech-style data and ratings provider serving the carbon market, with a focus on credible project quality and institutional buyer use cases.

Broad incumbents

• Lombard Odier: Swiss private bank with a deep sustainable/regenerative finance franchise and natural capital strategies. Comparable as a Swiss-headquartered financial services firm offering thematic sustainable investment products to private and institutional clients, though at much larger scale and broader mandate.
• Stora Enso: One of the largest private forest owners globally and a leading provider of building solutions and timber construction products. Comparable as a strategic association member anchoring the timber construction ecosystem, though operating as a major industrial incumbent rather than a financial intermediary.
• CREE Buildings: International construction collective for sustainable timber hybrid construction systems. Comparable as a strategic member of the Timber Finance ecosystem focused on mass timber construction, but operating as a construction technology company rather than a financial services provider.

Regional players

• InvestInvent AG: Swiss pioneer for climate-friendly direct investments in renewable energy, planning a timber real estate fund. Comparable as a Swiss-based direct investment platform for impact-oriented capital in renewables/forestry, with similar thematic positioning and regional investor base.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/timber-finance-initiative

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 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 Timber Finance Initiative