Shinju Fund for Future Generations

A seed fund for start-ups aiming to maximise 360° environmental benefits in the fields of food, agriculture, forestry and biotech.

The Shinju Fund for Future Generations, created on 11 October 2022 by Jérome Partos, is a philanthropic fund hosted by the Foundation for Future Generations.

Beyond the beauty of nature, we have always seen our environment as one of our most precious assets. We firmly believe that there can be no social justice if we fail to protect it.

Air, water and soil pollution, climate change and today’s challenges around the supply of fossil energy resources remind us every day of the urgent need to act. Especially in countries like ours, where we know we will still have enough to eat tomorrow. And this urgency is nothing new. As the French President said in 2002: "Our house is burning and we are looking elsewhere." Many others said similar things before and after, and continue to do so today.

As teenagers, we were deeply influenced by Rachel Carson’s book "Silent Spring". It taught us the importance of taking action, however small, with determination and optimism. Although we have always done what we could, we have often felt that it was not enough. We therefore hope that the Shinju Fund for Future Generations will help redress the balance.

The Shinju Fund for Future Generations gives a helping hand to young companies that share the conviction that protecting our environment can no longer wait. A small helping hand to encourage each and every one of us to "look elsewhere" a little less.

Yuko & Jérome Partos

Co-founders, Shinju Fund for Future Generations

The Fund’s activities

Its mission is to support innovative start-ups with strong potential to deliver a positive environmental impact through a 360° approach to sustainability challenges.

These start-ups operate in the food, agriculture and forestry sectors, including biotechnologies serving these three sectors.

In practice, the Fund:

Funded by its founder, the Fund has an annual endowment to fulfil its mission. Each year, it provides young entrepreneurs with seed financing in the form of subordinated loans.

The founder’s intention is to enable the entrepreneurs behind the selected initiatives to focus on developing their ventures without having to worry about dilution from the outset.

Shinju Call for projects

A strong initial partnership with AgroParisTech

In addition to financial support, the Fund aims to provide non-financial support through experience-sharing and networking, while also strengthening the credibility of the supported initiatives through the quality of its selection process and jury.

To achieve this, the Fund benefits from a strong partnership with AgroParisTech (France), which brings extensive expertise, a broad network and a pipeline of emerging projects. This partnership enables the Shinju Fund to support initiatives in both France and Belgium.

Maximising environmental and sustainability benefits in the agri-bio-tech sectors

In line with Jérome Partos’ wishes and the approach of the Foundation for Future Generations, the Shinju Fund is a non-profit investment fund. Rather than seeking financial returns, the Fund aims to maximise environmental and sustainability benefits. Its purpose is to provide an intermediate source of financing between the 3Fs (friends, family and fools) and larger, more sustainable sources of funding.

To mitigate the risks associated with this type of financing and ensure the Fund’s long-term sustainability, the Fund shares in the success of companies that perform well.

The Fund’s investment mechanism is designed to encourage supported projects to repay the investment quickly, while allowing them to continue using the funds for as long as they need them.

A contemporary, transformative and collaborative approach to philanthropy

In response to the multiple challenges and crises of our time, Jérome Partos’ philanthropic approach is resolutely "rational" and "transformative". It represents a highly contemporary form of philanthropy that goes beyond emotion and short-term urgency to help society embrace a 360° vision and approach to sustainable development.

Through his trust in the work of the Foundation for Future Generations and the Shinju Fund, Jérome Partos hopes to encourage other patrons and philanthropists to "invest" in entrepreneurship today for the benefit of generations to come.

Fund Type and Management Committee

The Shinju Fund is managed by a Management Committee currently comprising the Fund’s founder and the Director of the Foundation for Future Generations.

The Fund does not have a separate legal personality, and its financial assets form part of those of the Foundation. It is managed in accordance with an agreement between the founder and the Foundation, as well as the principles governing the creation of a named fund within the Foundation for Future Generations.

The Shinju Fund organises a single call for projects in partnership with AgroParisTech, covering both France and French-speaking Belgium.