Impact Days 2025

12–13 May 2025 | Vienna, Austria

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Max ter Horst

Managing Partner

Rockstart

Amsterdam, Netherlands

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With our article 9 early-stage energy VC fund, we accelerate the transition to a sustainable energy system, that is also affordable and accessible to everyone.

My organisation

Rockstart

Rockstart

Financial Institution

Amsterdam, Netherlands

Rockstart is an early stage investor that empowers purpose-driven founders across three domains: Energy, AgriFood, and Emerging Technologies. Rockstart invests in early-stage startups from each of the three funds and provides access to capital, market, and expertise by connecting founders with co-investors, mentors, partners, corporates, and the wider Rockstart network. Rockstart has invested in more than 350 startups and its alumni value to date is more than €1.3bn. Rockstart is an international team of 45+ professionals dedicated to empowering purpose-driven founders to become scalable and drive positive change on a global scale. Rockstart has notable exits such asWercker, Dan.com, Hubs.Com, Bouw7, iClinic, and s and Brincr. The company has offices in Amsterdam, Copenhagen, and Bogota.
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About me

Max is Managing Partner of Rockstart’s Energy Fund, offering early stage startups access to capital, market, expertise and community through a customized startup support program and follow-on investments up to series B.

Max has been active in renewable energy since 2003, when he helped Essent (currently RWE) to establish their wind business in Germany. As Director at EWT, the largest Dutch wind turbine manufacturer, he was responsible for corporate finance, business development and strategy. Further, he was co-founder and CEO of e-kite, an award-winning Dutch start-up which developed airborne wind energy systems.

Before entering the renewable energy sector, Max worked several years at McKinsey, as Engagement Manager. He holds MSc degrees in Chemical Engineering at Delft University of Technology, Business Administration at Erasmus University Rotterdam and an MBA from INSEAD.

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Speaker sessions (1)

Tuesday, 13 May 2025

15:20 - 16:10

Power Moves: Investing in the Future of Energy

Location:Rathaus - Tech Stage

Geopolitics, market shifts, and climate urgency are redefining energy investment. This session explores where capital is flowing, how to scale innovations, and the business models driving the transition.