As per Tech.eu, Earlybird is one of Europe's most important VCs and one of its brancehs recently published its first Impact and ESG report. Earlybird Health is a branch of the larger VC, which focuses on early-stage and late-stage healthcare startups in Europe and also in the US and Israel, sometimes.

Its investments usually include positive patient outcomes, digital health, medical devices and medical biopharma.

Oculis, Oviva and Perfuze are among the healthcare companies that received investments from Earlybird Health. The company's report comes from data collected in 2022 and it showcases not only commitments, but also how actions measured up so far.

Strong ESG policies are one way that startups can increase the chance to attract investments, experts suggest.

"Prior to any investment, the Earlybird Health team performs extensive due diligence, which includes ESG screening. The team prepares an investment memorandum, including a dedicated section to ESG risks/opportunities as well as health impact objectives", the team at Earlybird Health states.

Furthermore, company representatives say they require all startups in the portfolio to present ESG commitments, with defining and implementing a strategy in this sense being crucial.

11 companies in Earlybird Health's portfolio presented their ESG results, leading to just four of them actively measuring their carbon footprint and only one overlooking its suppliers for carbon efficiency.

At the same time, only five of them have a Code of Conduct, while two have board directors that identify as female, while eight provide physical, mental health and well-being support.

One of the ways Earlybird aims to bring more fairness and equality started in 2020 in the form of Vision Lab, an incubator and impact fund aimed at breaking structural and bureaucratic barriers in Germany that prevented certain people, especially those with migration backgrounds, from putting their ideas in practice as a business.

The program lasts for 6-months at a time and provides, among other things, financial support for migrants who have a good business idea and want to put it in practice. This year in June, Earlybird started the fourth edition of the program, which saw participation from 12 teams representing more than 12 countries.