TL;DR: Lightspeed-backed Plan A's €55m Acquisition Reshapes Carbon Tech and Offers Strategic Insights for Founders
Plan A, a Berlin-based climate tech startup, was acquired by Diginex for €55 million, showcasing the growing consolidation in the ESG and environmental software sector. With founder Lubomila Jordanova staying on board, the deal highlights the importance of strong leadership, adaptability, and market alignment for startups in regulated industries.
• What made Plan A attractive: Industry-leading carbon accounting tools, high-profile clients like Deutsche Bank, and early support from Lightspeed and other big investors.
• Key lessons for founders: Focus on sustainable revenue, integrate ESG expertise into operations, and prepare strategically for M&A opportunities.
• Roadmap for success: Prioritize client retention, network with potential partners, and align your product with market regulations.
Founders looking to scale or exit in carbon tech should adapt their strategy to regulatory shifts while maintaining visionary leadership. Dive deeper at Plan A's website or explore Diginex's platform.
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Lightspeed-backed Plan A Acquired for €55m: What This Means for Founders and the Carbon Tech Industry
In January 2026, Plan A, a Berlin-based carbon accounting and climate-tech startup, was acquired by London-listed Diginex for €55 million. As an entrepreneur deeply invested in innovation and sustainable solutions, this deal hits home for me in its broader implications. With Lightspeed as an early backer, this acquisition not only reshapes the sector but also raises questions about the learning curves for founders navigating industries highly influenced by ESG regulations and compliance.
Plan A’s founder, Lubomila Jordanova, will continue leading the company post-acquisition, ensuring continuity for its brand and mission. For startups, this move serves as a reminder of the value of maintaining a strong leadership identity even during major transitions. Investors, founders, and stakeholders, take note, this deal reflects the rapid consolidation happening in environmental software and ESG solutions. Let me break it down from a founder’s perspective.
What Made Plan A a Prime Target?
Founded in 2017, Plan A was designed to help companies measure, optimize, and manage their environmental impact. Over the years, it secured prestigious clients like Deutsche Bank and developed a reputation for its easy-to-navigate carbon accounting tools. Lightspeed’s early commitment, alongside investments from HV Capital and BNP Paribas’ Opera Tech Ventures, laid the groundwork for its growth trajectory.
- €55 million deal structure: €3 million cash + €52 million in shares of Diginex, and potentially an additional earnout worth €25 million.
- Post-acquisition strategy: Plan A integrates into Diginex but keeps Jordanova at the helm.
- Investor pullback trends: Green-tech investments have softened following regulatory changes like the EU’s CSRD adjustments, which raised thresholds for mandatory ESG reporting.
- The competitive landscape: Sweep is still the most heavily funded independent carbon platform, overshadowing many smaller players in fundraising rounds.
Why Founders Should Pay Attention to This Deal
As a founder who has witnessed consolidation in fast-moving industries, one takeaway is clear: early traction isn’t enough, you need adaptability. Plan A scaled its operations through innovative product design and strategic partnerships while staying attuned to regulatory shifts. Here’s what this acquisition teaches:
- Strong leadership matters: Keeping Jordanova in place signals the importance of a focused vision post-acquisition.
- Building for exits: Key investors, brand positioning, and client retention played a big role in making Plan A a buyout-worthy candidate.
- Sector adaptability: Regulations drive opportunities and risks in the carbon accounting space. Founders need real-time strategies for market pivots.
As you scale, clarity in your mission combined with bold product innovation becomes your strongest leverage. Founders seeking to replicate this success need to ask: Am I building for survival or sustainability?
How Founders Can Thrive During Market Consolidation
This acquisition underscores critical learnings for founders trying to navigate fast-moving sectors. Let me offer a roadmap based on firsthand lessons and observed patterns.
1. Focus on Sustainable Revenue
The carbon tech market boomed in 2021-2022, with $860 million in funding within two years. But regulatory softening has now raised the stakes for profitability. Founders need a revenue strategy that survives downturns in VC interest.
2. Build ESG Expertise into the DNA
Compliance is no longer just an operational headache, it’s a competitive advantage when done correctly. Plan A’s appeal was in its robust ESG tools tailored to enterprise needs, reflective of the broader EU directives like CSRD.
3. Getting Ready for M&A
Consolidation requires founders to maintain razor-sharp product and customer focus while simultaneously preparing behind the scenes for investment rounds or exit opportunities. Study your sector’s funding and M&A patterns early on and position yourself accordingly.
- Raise strategically: Target investors who align with your sector vision. Lightspeed bet on AI alongside its carbon tech portfolio, matching sector potential to investment intent.
- Network wisely: Build connections that go beyond funding; relationships with major players can open the door for acquisitions.
- Prioritize performance metrics: Build systems to improve operational efficiency and trackable revenue. Investors love clean metrics.
Takeaways for Entrepreneurs in Carbon Tech
The Plan A acquisition isn’t just about consolidation, it’s about market maturity. As more startups compete in ESG compliance and carbon accounting, winners will differentiate themselves through three key factors: education, adaptability, and execution. From my perspective as a European entrepreneur, these shifts represent challenges and opportunities. The question founders and investors alike must answer is simple: are you building something that fills niche gaps or reshapes global impact?
If you want real insights into navigating the ESG-focused sectors, look beyond funding news. Dive into how companies like Plan A position their tools and attract high-quality partners. There’s always room to learn and pivot.
Conclusion
The €55 million acquisition of Plan A proves yet again that sustainability-focused startups are here to stay, not as trendy disruptors but as long-term game players. Stick to your strengths, stay informed, and, above all, build relationships that match your ambition. For more practical advice and resources, explore tailored spaces like Plan A’s official website or delve into insights from Diginex’s platform.
Start with your mission but don’t stop there. Build tools smartly, scale strategically, and educate yourself continually. Plan A’s success today could be your startup’s future tomorrow, if you’re ready for it.
FAQ on Plan A Acquisition and Lessons for Founders
What is the significance of Plan A's acquisition by Diginex?
The acquisition of Plan A by Diginex for €55 million is a landmark in the climate-tech and carbon accounting sector. It highlights the increasing demand for regulatory compliance and ESG-driven solutions globally. With Plan A’s robust platform and prestigious clients such as Deutsche Bank, this deal demonstrates the growing need for innovative tools that help enterprises manage environmental impact. Additionally, the structure of the acquisition (a mix of cash and shares plus a performance-based earnout) showcases the cautious optimism investors have toward this market in light of recent regulatory adjustments. Learn more about female-led climate tech trends
How does this acquisition impact the environmental software market?
The acquisition reinforces a wave of consolidation in the environmental software and carbon tech sectors. Startups that can deliver measurable ESG impact and adapt to global regulations are increasingly attractive to buyers. For founders, this indicates the opportunity to position their startups as indispensable tools for corporate compliance, leveraging partnerships and industry expertise to stand out in a crowded field.
What made Plan A a strong acquisition target?
Plan A distinguished itself through its easy-to-use carbon accounting tools and its ability to secure high-profile clients such as Deutsche Bank. Backed by notable investors like Lightspeed and HV Capital, it demonstrated robust growth and adaptability to market demands. Its focus on enterprise-grade ESG solutions ensured that it remained relevant, even as the EU adjusted regulatory thresholds, making compliance more challenging for smaller companies.
What lessons can female founders in climate tech learn from Plan A's journey?
Plan A’s success shows the importance of product innovation, clear market positioning, and strategic partnerships. Female founders, in particular, can take note of how Lubomila Jordanova led the company with a strong vision through multiple growth stages and into a seamless transition post-acquisition. Building scalable, mission-driven startups with an adaptive approach to sector regulations can pave the way for lasting success. Discover female founder tools to scale your startup
Why is leadership continuity important in acquisitions?
The decision to keep Lubomila Jordanova as CEO post-acquisition emphasizes the importance of leadership stability during transitions. Stakeholders view leadership continuity as a means of ensuring that a company’s mission and brand are preserved while building trust with existing clients and investors. For founders seeking exits, maintaining leadership might also offer opportunities to integrate seamlessly into larger organizations without losing individuality.
How does the EU's CSRD regulation affect startups like Plan A?
The EU’s Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) has heightened ESG-reporting demands for companies, impacting the overall sector dynamics. While it opens opportunities for startups addressing ESG challenges, the increase in company-size thresholds for compliance has caused a slowdown in investor interest. Founders in this space must pivot strategically to maintain relevance while addressing the revised regulations efficiently.
Can startups in carbon tech still attract funding despite regulatory challenges?
Yes, but founders must focus on profitability and long-term sector potential. The recent pullback in green-tech investments emphasizes the importance of creating sustainable revenue models and aligning with investors who understand the nuances of ESG compliance. Tools that simplify reporting processes and deliver measurable impact will remain highly attractive. Find out more about scaling under a robust founder mindset
How should founders prepare for consolidation in the ESG sector?
Founders must prepare for mergers and acquisitions by refining their core products, aligning with key investors, and understanding market dynamics. Building operational efficiency, fostering client loyalty, and leveraging relationships with major industry players can make startups more attractive targets for acquisition.
What makes Lightspeed a noteworthy backer in this acquisition?
Lightspeed’s involvement highlighted its strategic positioning as a supporter of both AI-driven and sustainability-focused businesses. As a venture capital firm with a history of funding category-defining companies, Lightspeed’s backing lent credibility to Plan A’s mission. Founders should seek out investors with sector-specific expertise to align funding with long-term growth strategies.
How can founders adapt to shifting trends in the ESG sector?
Adaptability is the defining skill for founders in ESG-focused sectors. Keeping a keen eye on regulatory adjustments, funding trends, and market demands allows startups to pivot effectively. By focusing on building products with measurable impact and staying updated on consolidation trends, founders can ensure their place in evolving markets. Learn more about mastering essential founder skills
About the Author
Violetta Bonenkamp, also known as MeanCEO, is an experienced startup founder with an impressive educational background including an MBA and four other higher education degrees. She has over 20 years of work experience across multiple countries, including 5 years as a solopreneur and serial entrepreneur. Throughout her startup experience she has applied for multiple startup grants at the EU level, in the Netherlands and Malta, and her startups received quite a few of those. She’s been living, studying and working in many countries around the globe and her extensive multicultural experience has influenced her immensely.
Violetta is a true multiple specialist who has built expertise in Linguistics, Education, Business Management, Blockchain, Entrepreneurship, Intellectual Property, Game Design, AI, SEO, Digital Marketing, cyber security and zero code automations. Her extensive educational journey includes a Master of Arts in Linguistics and Education, an Advanced Master in Linguistics from Belgium (2006-2007), an MBA from Blekinge Institute of Technology in Sweden (2006-2008), and an Erasmus Mundus joint program European Master of Higher Education from universities in Norway, Finland, and Portugal (2009).
She is the founder of Fe/male Switch, a startup game that encourages women to enter STEM fields, and also leads CADChain, and multiple other projects like the Directory of 1,000 Startup Cities with a proprietary MeanCEO Index that ranks cities for female entrepreneurs. Violetta created the “gamepreneurship” methodology, which forms the scientific basis of her startup game. She also builds a lot of SEO tools for startups. Her achievements include being named one of the top 100 women in Europe by EU Startups in 2022 and being nominated for Impact Person of the year at the Dutch Blockchain Week. She is an author with Sifted and a speaker at different Universities. Recently she published a book on Startup Idea Validation the right way: from zero to first customers and beyond, launched a Directory of 1,500+ websites for startups to list themselves in order to gain traction and build backlinks and is building MELA AI to help local restaurants in Malta get more visibility online.
For the past several years Violetta has been living between the Netherlands and Malta, while also regularly traveling to different destinations around the globe, usually due to her entrepreneurial activities. This has led her to start writing about different locations and amenities from the point of view of an entrepreneur. Here’s her recent article about the best hotels in Italy to work from.