AP Ventures is led by a highly motivated and experienced team specialising in hydrogen and carbon technology investments
Alexis is a Senior Investment Manager at AP Ventures. He is responsible for deal origination, structuring and execution, and for supporting research into the hydrogen value chain. He specialises in end-use applications of hydrogen, such as hydrogen mobility (onboard storage, fuel cell systems, infrastructure etc.), green steel and gas fermentation (power to food). Alexis has led the Fund’s investments into Insplorion, Hydrogen Refueling Solutions, Hypermotive and Noble Gas Systems. and provides support to all four companies. He is a Director on Hypermotive’s board and a board observer at Noble Gas.
Prior to joining AP Ventures, Alexis worked as a management consultant for Kearney, where he gained experience in Private Equity and M&A, Operations and Strategy, mostly in the energy sector. He also has experience as a startup founder of a payment services company, which he ran for more than two years.
Alexis holds a MSc. in Aerospace Engineering from ISAE in Toulouse, France, as well as a Masters in Management from London Business School.
Outside of work, Alexis enjoys cooking and eating, as well as outdoors activities, especially if it involves going up a mountain by foot or on skis.
Andrew Hinkly is the Founding Managing Partner of AP Ventures. He is a board member of Amogy, GreyRock, Hazer, Hydrogen Mem-Tech, Fabrum, Starfire and Noble Gas.
He has enjoyed a high-profile career spanning more than 30 years working in the automotive, mining, and venture capital industries. He held a number of senior leadership positions at Anglo American, where he worked for a decade and was a member of the Anglo American Platinum Executive Committee.
He previously held senior roles at Ford Motor Company where he was a member of the North American Executive Committee.
Andrew has an MBA from the University of Manchester and a BSc in Civil Engineering from the University of Loughborough.
Andrew is a committed sailor, cyclist and commercial pilot.
Angela is an Investor Relations Associate at AP Ventures, supporting the fundraising and investor relations team. She is also responsible for marketing and PR for AP Ventures.
Before joining AP Ventures, Angela worked for an organisation specialising in professional development for the public and voluntary sectors, leading the conference production team to deliver events and content on a wide range of public policy topics.
Angela holds a BA in Japanese and East Asian studies from the University of Cambridge, and a MA in International Studies and Diplomacy from SOAS, University of London. As part of her undergraduate degree, Angela lived in Kyoto for one year, participating in the Nichibun programme at Doshisha University.
Outside of work, Angela enjoys reading, watercolour painting and swimming.
Birgit Behrendt is a Venture Partner at AP Ventures and a senior advisor and Board member to Hydrogenious LOHC Technologies and Infinium Holdings, Inc.
She is an experienced global automotive leader with an extensive career in supply chain management and procurement. A former Company Officer of Ford Motor Company Birgit has lived and worked in Europe and the US. She held positions as Vice President Global Purchasing and as Vice President Joint Ventures, Alliances & Commercial Affairs and was a board member of Joint Venture companies in Germany, Russia and Turkey. Birgit continues to serve on the Board of Ford in Germany.
Furthermore, Birgit is an independent Supervisory Board member of KION Group AG, thyssenkrupp AG and Umicore SA.
Birgit has a degree in Business Administration from the Academy of Administration and Economics (Verwaltungs-und Wirtschaftsakademie – VWA), Germany
Outside of work Birgit loves to read, spend time near or on the water and runs to eat.
Caelin is an Investor Relations Support Assistant at AP Ventures, primarily focused on supporting the fundraising team.
Before joining AP Ventures’ London office, Caelin worked at a low carbon Impact Fund in Toronto, where she supported the investment team with portfolio management systems, ESG due diligence, and impact reporting.
Caelin graduated with an MSc in Sustainability Management from the University of Toronto in 2023, where her research focused on analysing policy gaps that contribute to fugitive methane emissions in Western Canada’s oil and gas sector. Her program included a semester at the University of Copenhagen, where she assisted in developing a baseline GHG inventory for a local manufacturing company. Caelin also holds a BSc from the University of British Columbia.
Newly settled in London, Caelin enjoys exploring different parts of the UK and Europe. She is an avid skier and hiker and has recently taken up tennis.
Calum is an Investment Manager at AP Ventures responsible for deal sourcing, structuring, execution, technical analysis and portfolio management. Calum leads the San Francisco office and is also responsible for the Fund’s analysis and strategy for follow-on capital allocation and portfolio construction.
Calum co-led the Fund’s investment into Aether Fuels (sustainable aviation fuel production) and Immaterial (point source carbon capture). Calum currently sits as Director on the Board of Aether Fuels, and as Observer on the Board of Amogy (ammonia-fuelled powertrains for decarbonising shipping) and Starfire Energy (green ammonia synthesis).
Prior to joining AP Ventures, Calum worked with Frazer-Nash Consultancy where he served clients across the energy and power generation industry. He specialised in materials engineering and modelling, including the creation of digital twins for asset life extension.
Calum is a published scientist and holds a first-class MA MSci in Natural Sciences specialising in Materials Science from the University of Cambridge. During his studies Calum conducted research at EMPA Thun - the Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology.
Outside of work Calum enjoys swimming, cycling, running and being in the mountains - winter or summer!
Charlie is a Senior Investment Manager and has been with AP Ventures for over five years. He is responsible for deal origination, structuring and execution, as well managing deals post-investment. He has also led on helping to define attractive investment areas for the Fund, and now leads the research workstream. He also manages the investor relationship with a large LP where he works with the executive team to help them maximise their investment into the Fund.
Charlie has led, and now manages, five of the investments in Fund II. These are Hystar, Fairbrics, EH Group, Fabrum and ZeroAvia. He sits as a Board Director for Fairbrics and Hystar, and as a Board Observer for Fabrum and ZeroAvia.
Charlie has a background in climate change, natural resources and finance. Prior to starting at AP Ventures he worked for two years in an investment bank, and for four years at EY Advisory. Charlie holds an BSC in Natural Sciences from Durham University and an MSc in Metals and Energy Finance from Imperial College London. He is deeply knowledgeable on different decarbonisation technologies and understanding the impact on existing business models and on the natural environment.
Charlotte is an Investment Analyst at AP Ventures, focusing on deal origination and execution in the energy sector, particularly in sustainable technologies and decarbonisation.
Before joining AP Ventures, she worked at PA Consulting, specialising in private equity and strategy within the decarbonisation sector, conducting due diligence and market analysis for potential acquisitions.
Charlotte holds an MEng in Chemical Engineering with Management from the University of Edinburgh, where she worked on carbon capture design projects.
Outside of work, she enjoys running, reading, and walking her dogs.
Daisy is a Finance Manager at AP Ventures. She is part of the AP Ventures finance team, responsible for the ongoing support for all financial control and regulatory reporting activities pertaining to the Funds. Daisy is responsible for a number of the key South African relationships as well as general investment evaluation and execution. Daisy is the secretary to the Investment Committee.
Prior to joining AP Ventures, Daisy worked for 4 years at an investment holding company as Finance Manager and was responsible for group financial reporting, financial administration and financial control of various investment holding companies and an asset management company within the group. She has also worked as an external auditor and internal auditor, responsible for risk assessment and risk management.
Daisy holds a B.Com (Accounting) and LLB from Wits University, Honours Bachelor of Accounting Science from Unisa and is also a Chartered Accountant. She also holds an MBA from Wits Business School.
Daisy enjoys spending time with her family and friends, baking, cycling and travelling.
Elaine is the Executive Assistant and Office Manager at AP Ventures. Her support is essential to ensuring the successful coordination of a busy team.
Prior to AP Ventures, Elaine has held similar roles over the past 25 years within the finance industry ranging from global organisations to smaller start-up businesses.
Outside of work, Elaine enjoys yoga and long dog walks with her family.
Elisabeth is an Investment Analyst at AP Ventures focussed on deal origination, research, and representing APV in its US office in San Francisco.
Prior to joining AP Ventures, Elisabeth gained experience working in the US and the UK. She started her career at Johnson Matthey where she worked in commercial and operational roles in the Precious Metals, Catalyst Technologies, and Battery Materials business units. Most recently Elisabeth was part of the Strategy team at First Mode, an Anglo American spin-off, focussed on the decarbonisation of heavy duty applications with an initial focus on mine haulage.
Elisabeth holds an Integrated Masters in Chemistry (MChem) from the University of Edinburgh. During her studies Elisabeth co-founded a healthcare start-up Augment Bionics, and started the Edinburgh University Women in STEM Society.
In her spare time Elisabeth enjoys playing volleyball, tennis, and the piano.
George is an Investment Analyst at AP Ventures, where he contributes to the origination and execution of investment opportunities across the hydrogen and carbon capture value chains. In addition to deal support, George conducts in-depth research on emerging technologies in these sectors to help guide strategic investment decisions.
Prior to joining AP Ventures, George served as the technical business development lead and R&D project manager at FAC Technology, a startup focused on advanced composite materials for the decarbonisation of the aerospace and automotive industries. During his time at FAC Technology, he oversaw projects on the commercialisation of novel insulation systems for electric vehicle powertrains, with a strong emphasis on both technology development and market entry strategies.
George holds a PhD and a first-class MEng from the Mechanical Engineering department at Imperial College London. His doctoral research, funded by EPSRC and an industry partner, examined the damage resistance of carbon fibre composite sandwich structures under high-rate loading.
Outside of work, George enjoys rock climbing, cycling, and exploring new cultures and cuisines around the world.
Heledd is the IR Operations lead at AP Ventures primarily focused on coordinating the support of our Limited Partners and the fundraising team.
Heledd has a background working in philanthropic fundraising within the healthcare sector. She holds a BSc in Geography from the University of Bristol.
Outside of work Heledd enjoys yoga, exploring Kew Gardens and takes any opportunity to get her hiking boots on.
Ivie is a Fund Accountant at AP Ventures. She is responsible for the preparation and review of fund related accounts, management accounts and various financial statements, drawdown and distribution notices, as well liaising with fund administrators, auditors and tax advisors.
With over 24 years’ experience, Ivie has worked with various firms including EY, IQEQ and Apex Group prior to joining AP Ventures.
Ivie is a fellow of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (FCCA) in the UK and holds a master’s degree in finance and financial information systems from the University of Greenwich.
Outside of work, Ivie enjoys spending time with family and friends, cooking, reading, and travelling
James is a Senior Investment Manager responsible for deal origination, structuring and execution, as well as supporting research into the hydrogen value chain. Since joining AP Ventures, James has led multiple initial and follow-on investments on behalf of the Fund and across key verticals that include; Sustainable Aviation Fuels (SAF), blue hydrogen, advanced alkaline electrolysis, and hydrogen separation.
Prior to joining AP Ventures in 2019, James spent five years with BP Upstream Exploration where he specialised in technical and project management engineering of subsea well system projects, predominantly in the Caspian Sea region.
James holds an MEng in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Bristol and an MBA from London Business School with a concentration in private equity. During his studies, James interned with AB InBev’s procurement division executing corporate power purchase agreements for Caribbean breweries and in BP’s Upstream Portfolio Team where he modelled deep decarbonisation scenarios for the oil and gas group.
Outside of work James enjoys cycling, rowing and skiing.
Kevin Eggers is a Founding Partner of AP Ventures. He is a board member of Hydrogenious LOHC Technologies, African Hydrogen Ventures, Immaterial, HP Now and MatiTech.
Kevin has a broad range of international experience spanning over twenty years, having worked extensively across Europe, South Africa and the United States. Prior to launching this fund, Kevin was with Anglo American plc for 10 years in various senior Commercial and Corporate Finance positions.
Kevin received his honours degree in Business Science from the University of Cape Town (South Africa) and initially qualified as a Chartered Accountant before focusing much of his career in developing young and fast-growing companies.
Kevin is passionate about investing in advanced technologies that have a meaningful impact on the environment.
Away from investing, Kevin has completed numerous marathons, canoe races and triathlons but is most content walking around a golf course or sampling new wine.
Khangzhen is an Investment Associate at AP Ventures. He supports the deal team with the origination and execution of investment opportunities, as well as researching heavy industry decarbonisation technology.
He was previously at Lombard Odier's sustainable investment research group, supporting the plastic circularity private equity fund; and at E4tech, a sustainable technology consultancy with a focus on hydrogen, bioenergy, and energy system innovations.
Khangzhen is a visiting fellow at Zinc VC, supporting founders to build scalable environmental businesses. His earlier career includes a cleantech startup and water technology engineering.
He has an MPhil in engineering for sustainable development from the University of Cambridge and a degree in chemical engineering from Tsinghua University in Beijing.
Outside of work, Khangzhen enjoys spending time with his young family and cycling up hills.
Mardé van Wyk has obtained extensive experience in Private Equity over the last 14 years working with and being responsible for a broad spectrum of private market transactions, across the entire deal value chain. Underpinned by a strong financial skillset, her expertise lie in deal structuring and portfolio management, including investment restructuring – a skillset obtained whilst working with distressed investments at South Africa’s largest asset manager. Mardé is regarded as a solutions specialist with an appreciation for innovation and sector exposure spanning a myriad of investment (direct and funds) positions facilitated from generalist to financial services, logistics, energy, food security, housing, education, tourism, real estate focused, just to name a few. As a golden thread throughout her work Mardé is passionate about being involved in the promotion and incorporation of gender, racial and ethnic equity in investment decision-making. She has served on the Board, Advisory Board and various sub-committees of a number of underlying companies and funds during her tenor as an investment professional.
Mardé holds a Bachelors in Accounting Science and is an alumni of the Oxford Private Equity Programme.
Meryem Cherif is an Investment Manager at AP Ventures, looking after fundraising, Limited Partners and ESG integration. She also manages AP Ventures’ investment in Ergosup.
Prior to this role, she worked for 5 years at UNEP Mediterranean Action Plan in Barcelona as project manager for BAT4MED and SwitchMed. These projects contributed to the adaptation and adoption of the IPPC to Northern African countries and to the creation of a green business incubation program (selection, training, mentoring and access to finance) benefitting over 1400 green entrepreneurs in Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia and Lebanon.
Meryem holds a Dual MSc in Mechanical Engineering and Industrial Engineering from Arts et Metiers Paristech and Universidad Politecnica de Madrid, and an MBA from London Business School. Meryem speaks Native French, fluent English, fluent Arabic, fluent Spanish and conversational Catalan.
Outside of work, Meryem is a keen traveller and a certified diver.
Niki is a member of AP Venture’s investment committee. As an independent committee member, she is separately a part of within PIMCO’s Alternative Investments Team.
Prior to joining PIMCO in 2019, she was part of the early team of GreenOak Real Estate, now BentallGreenOak, which she helped kickstart. Prior to that, Ms. Dembitz was at McKinsey & Company, focusing on strategic reviews and planning for boards and corporate clients. She started her career in the investment banking division of Morgan Stanley and then moved to the firm’s real estate division (MSREF) to focus on acquisitions across Europe and other locations. She has 17 years of investment and financial services experience and holds an MBA from Harvard Business School, an undergraduate degree in economics from Yale University and a degree from Singularity University.
Born and raised in Switzerland, she’s a keen powder skier and environment enthusiast.
Pamela Darchiville is the CFO/Compliance Officer at AP Ventures and manages the Finance team. She is also responsible for HR and legal.
Pam has over 15 years’ experience working in the Finance team of VC and PE firms.
Pam is a qualified accountant and is a member of the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants.
Outside work Pam enjoys cooking, exercising and travelling.
Penny Freer has worked with AP Ventures since its launch. She is the Chairman of AP Ventures LLP and also Chairs the Investment Committee and the Limited Partner Advisory Committee.
Penny has considerable business experience with more than 25 years working in finance where she has held senior leadership positions including at Robert W Baird where she was responsible for the Equity Capital Markets activities and was a member of the UK Board.
Over the past 10 years Penny has worked with high growth companies as an investor and as an advisor. She has also served as a non-executive director for listed companies and funds.
Penny holds a BA (Hons) in Geography from the University of Leicester.
In her free time Penny enjoys reading, skiing and sailing.
Ran Li is a Fund Accountant at AP Ventures. She is responsible for production of management accounts and various financial statements, drawdown and distribution notices for the Limited Partners as well as monitoring the company compliance programme.
Ran has a background in accounting. Prior to starting at AP Ventures she worked for 5 years in a medium size accountancy practice, and 5 year at IQ-EQ Fund Administration services.
Ran holds an upper second-class BSC in Finance and Accounting from Brunel University and an MSc in Risk Management and Financial Engineering from Imperial College London.
Ran is a qualified Association of Chartered Certified Accountants since 2015.
Outside work Ran enjoys walking, reading, travelling and photography.
Risei is an Investment Manager at AP Ventures. He is responsible for deal sourcing and execution, as well as supporting the management of portfolio companies. He also leads the relationship management with one of AP Ventures’ Limited Partners, Sumitomo Corporation.
Risei has a background in investment management. Prior to joining AP Ventures, he worked for Sumitomo Corporation of Americas in charge of energy technology market research. He has also worked for Ridgeworth Capital Management managing Asian equity portfolio. Risei is a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA®) Charterholder.
Risei holds a BA in Foreign Studies from Sophia University in Japan and an MBA from the University of Notre Dame in the USA.
Outside of work, Risei enjoys jogging and swimming.
Sengo is an Investment Manager at AP Ventures. He is responsible for deal sourcing and execution, as well as supporting the management of portfolio companies post-investment. He is also responsible for a number of the key relationships, overall business development, advisory and investment process of the South African office.
Prior to joining AP Ventures, Sengo worked for over 4 years at a boutique private equity and advisory firm as Vice President responsible for transaction origination and execution across Sub-Saharan Africa. Prior to this, he held various roles in investment banking focusing on project, corporate and leveraged finance where he sourced and executed several debt and quasi-debt transactions. His experience spans various sectors, including renewable energy, mining, infrastructure, telecommunications, logistics, financial services, agriculture, and FMCG.
Sengo holds a BSc. in Mathematics, and a BSc. Honours in Computational and Applied Mathematics from the University of Witwatersrand.
Outside of work, Sengo is an avid car racer and also enjoys running, travelling, cooking and spending time with family and friends.
Yohei is an Investment Associate at AP Ventures, where he contributes to deal origination, structuring, and execution across the hydrogen and CCUS value chains. Yohei conducts in-depth research on emerging technologies in these sectors to guide strategic investment decisions. He also manages the investor relationship with a LP where he works with the executive team to help them maximise their investment into the Fund.
Prior to joining AP Ventures, Yohei served in the business development function in Mitsubishi Corporation (MC), focusing on projects and building strategic partnerships related to hydrogen, synthetic fuels, and biofuels, including feedstocks. During his time at MC, he also conducted European natural gas market analysis and negotiated commercial and operational terms and structures for LNG projects and buyers.
Yohei holds a Bachelor’s degree in international business and finance from The School of Business at The George Washington University.
Outside of work, Yohei enjoys travelling, skiing, and exploring new cuisines.
Yonatan Sher is Head of Legal at AP Ventures. After moving to London to join the corporate venturing fund within Anglo American Platinum, he assisted with the spin out of the fund into AP Ventures.
Before joining Anglo American, Yonatan was an Associate in the M&A Department of a leading South African corporate law firm, where he benefited from extensive exposure to public and private M&A and Equity Capital Markets transactions across many industries, including a significant amount of cross-border work.
Yonatan holds a Bachelor of Laws (LLB) degree and is admitted as an Attorney of the High Court of South Africa.
In his free time, Yonatan enjoys travelling, hiking and reading.
