Where does Lena Thiede work?

Lena Thiede is Co-Founder & General Partner at Planet A Ventures.

What check size does Lena Thiede write?

Lena Thiede typically writes checks of $540K – $5.4M.

Where did Lena Thiede go to school?

Lena Thiede studied at Mercator Fellowship for International Affairs; Freie Universität Berlin (Diplom, Political Science. Thesis: “The Effectiveness of International Environmental Regimes”.); University of Massachusetts Amherst (Political Science).

Lena Thiede

Investor

Co-Founder & General Partner at Planet A Ventures

City of Cape Town, Western Cape, South Africa

Writes $540K – $5.4M checks

About

Lena Thiede institutionalized a scientific, veto-driven investment process—using in-house scientists, life-cycle analysis and planetary boundaries—redefining fiduciary duty to require net-positive environmental impact.

Invests in

AgTechClimate TechEnergyFoodTechMobility & TransportationNew Materials

Experience

Planet ACo-Founder/ General Partner | Scientific Impact Assessmentcurrent2020 — present
European Women in VCMembercurrent2024 — present
Ecologic Institute, Berlin, GermanySenior Policy Advisorcurrent2022 — present
Cleantech for EuropeMembercurrent2022 — present
encourageventures e.V.Mitglied2021 — 2025
Bundesministerium für Wirtschaft und KlimaschutzMember of the Advisory Board of the EXIST Program2022 — 2025
Bundesministerium für wirtschaftliche Zusammenarbeit und Entwicklung (BMZ)Regierungsdirektorin a.D.2006 — 2022Berlin, Germany
Auswärtiges Amt (Federal Foreign Office) GermanyInterim Head of Development Cooperation, Embassy Pretoria2019Pretoria Metropolitan Area
Auswärtiges Amt (Federal Foreign Office) GermanyHead of Regional Cooperation East Africa2013 — 2017Dar es-Salaam, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
3plusX - the Sustainability NetworkCo-founder2003 — 2008Berlin
Wissenschaftlicher Beirat der Bundesregierung Globale Umweltveränderungen (WBGU)Political Analyst2002 — 2006Berlin
Mercator Kolleg für internationale AufgabenMercator Fellow2001 — 2002
OECD - OCDEProject Manager2002Greater Paris Metropolitan Region
GIZConsultant2001Eschborn, Hesse, Germany
Boston Consulting Group (BCG)Junior Associate2001Greater Munich Metropolitan Area
Ecologic Institute, Berlin, GermanyResearch Associate1999 — 2001Berlin, Germany
WZB Berlin Social Science CenterResearch Assistant1999Berlin, Germany
Deutscher Städte- und GemeindebundEurocommunalle - Europa Büro der deutschen Kommunen1999Brüssel, Region Brüssel, Belgien
Foreign Policy AssociationAssistant Communications Manager1998New York, United States
United Nations Association of the United States of AmericaAssistant Communications Manager1998New York, United States

Skills & more

Nachhaltige EntwicklungBiodiversität5Entwicklungszusammenarbeit5PolitikberatungInternational Relations3Climate Policy4Development CooperationProject management3International cooperationsustainable financeOstafrikaEast Africa

+4 more

Politikberatung, Diplomatie, EntwicklungszusammenarbeitInternationaler KlimaschutzInternationale KlimapolitikSouth Africa

From Lena's professional profile.

Colleagues at Planet A Ventures

Aina Cabrero

Investor & Scientist at Planet A Ventures

Alexander Seel

CFO at Planet A Ventures

Alexander Stevens

Venture Partner at Planet A Ventures

Ashul Sinha

Finance Analyst at Planet A Ventures

Christian Gonzalez

Investor at Planet A Ventures

Christian Schad

Venture Partner at Auxxo

Christian Schad

Co-Founder & Venture Partner at Planet A Ventures

Christoph Gras

General Partner at Planet A Ventures

Frequently asked questions

Who is Lena Thiede?: Lena Thiede institutionalized a scientific, veto-driven investment process—using in-house scientists, life-cycle analysis and planetary boundaries—redefining fiduciary duty to require net-positive environmental impact.
Where does Lena Thiede work?: Lena Thiede is Co-Founder & General Partner at Planet A Ventures.
What does Lena Thiede invest in?: Lena Thiede invests in AgTech, Climate Tech, Energy, FoodTech, Mobility & Transportation, New Materials.
What check size does Lena Thiede write?: Lena Thiede typically writes checks of $540K – $5.4M.
Where did Lena Thiede go to school?: Lena Thiede studied at Mercator Fellowship for International Affairs; Freie Universität Berlin (Diplom, Political Science. Thesis: “The Effectiveness of International Environmental Regimes”.); University of Massachusetts Amherst (Political Science).

Same school

Also attended Freie Universität Berlin70

Mina BenothmanOther at Heavybit Jeannette zu FürstenbergPresident & Managing Director at General Catalyst Hilla WatkinsPlatform Partner at Congruent Ventures David FrazeeManaging Partner at Richmond Global Ventures Dominic SchmidtGeneral Partner at Advent Life Sciences Lucas LaibPartner, COO at Verve Ventures

+ 64 more

Also attended University of Massachusetts Amherst98

Larry BohnInvestment Team at General Catalyst Quentin ClarkInvestment Team at General Catalyst Ravi RajamonyVice President at March Capital Partners Jason MorrisVice President, Investor Relations at Sapphire Ventures Robert SeveroPartner, Chief Compliance Officer at Sapphire Ventures Jonathan BavaroAccounting Manager at Founder Collective

+ 92 more

Also attended Heidelberg University44

Mojca SkoberneEntrepreneur in Residence at GV (Google Ventures)Keita Yazakiシニア・アソシエイト (Senior Associate) at CyberAgent Capital Fabian HeilemannFounder & CEO at AENU Jan MarchewskiPrincipal at Hitachi Ventures Stella PaffenholzSenior Associate at Atlas Venture Keith TanHead of DeFi at Caladan

+ 38 more

Shared employers

Also worked at European Women in VC16

Melissa Morano AurigemmaChief of Staff at Exceptional Capital Dr. Gesa MiczaikaGeneral Partner at Auxxo Tatjana Zabasu MikužManaging Partner at South Central Ventures Jenny Ruth HrafnsdottirFounding Partner at Crowberry Capital Jasmin GüngörGeneral Partner at Onsight Ventures Nina FootePartner and Head of Growth at Volution Ventures

+ 10 more

Also worked at OECD - OCDE17

Jessica (Bartos) ThomasPartner at Notion Capital Ivan LandabasoPartner at JME Ventures Vivien BovardAssociate at Partech Ventures Javier SantisoCEO and General Partner at Mundi Ventures Monique Malcolm-HayVice President at Rethink Education Sabrina SalamaHEAD OF MENA PARTNERSHIPS at Seedstars

+ 11 more

Also worked at GIZ19

Emily EisenblatterPartner at OVNI Capital Julia PettengillInvestor at Schooner Capital Katrin RobeckManaging Director at IBB Ventures Silke NeugebohrnCarbon Portfolio Manager at Nexus for Development Inga PetrovaVP Special Projects, People & Operations at NODWIN Gaming Shijiro OchirbatPartner at Reinventure Capital

+ 13 more