John Tidmarsh

Founder at VAI Capital

Speaker

John Tidmarsh is Partner at the Mobility Credit Fund, supporting growth of businesses and projects in the Africa e-mobility industry. John is also Founder of VAI Capital, a sustainable finance platform focused on investment in clean mobility and renewable energy. With over 20 years of experience in sustainable investing, John brings expertise in fund design, capital structuring, and investment across cleantech, infrastructure, and impact private markets.

Previously, John was Chief Investment Officer at R20 Regions of Climate Action, where he led investment strategies across climate-smart infrastructure. He also held senior roles at EY, where he advised GPs and LPs on sustainable fund formation, and earlier co-founded cleantech and impact-focused venture funds. His track record includes originating and structuring transactions such as a USD 350 million sustainable infrastructure fund—and a EURO 100 million sustainable VC fund with the European Space Agency.

Earlier in his career, John spent a decade on the management fast-track at De La Rue plc, where he led strategic business development across EMEA and played a key role in international acquisitions.

A fluent speaker of English, French, and Italian, John holds a BA, MA, and MBA from the University of Cambridge, and completed the Climate Leadership Programme (Cambridge) and Fintech Programme (Oxford). He has served on the Board and as Executive Director of Sustainable Finance Geneva, was nominated “VC Personality of the Year” by GP Bullhound, and sat on the selection board of the London Social Stock Exchange.