In this episode of 0100 Impact Talks, host Laura Iriarte speaks with George Darrah, General Partner at Systemiq Capital, about the fund’s unique origins, its deep ongoing relationship with the climate advisory firm Systemic, and how that connection shapes their entire investment model. George explains how Systemiq Capital spun out from Systemic after early investment successes, creating a fully independent VC fund that still leverages Systemic’s global network of sector experts, corporate partnerships, and policy relationships to help startups scale in the real economy.
George breaks down the firm’s three core investment themes — electrification, decoding nature, and applied AI — and why the fund focuses on opportunities where “the physical world meets AI.” He discusses how the team combines deep domain expertise in biology, energy systems, and machine learning to invest in software-enabled hardware rather than capex-heavy tech or pure SaaS.
The conversation explores Systemiq Capital’s US–UK focus, its deliberate decision to remain backed primarily by private LPs, the upcoming $150M Fund III, and how the firm connects portfolio companies with Systemic’s ecosystem to accelerate commercial adoption. George also highlights portfolio examples, such as Basecamp Research, which was recently backed by NVIDIA. He shares his perspective on scaling climate solutions, maintaining geographic discipline, and building a long-term, values-driven investment team.
