“Sustainability Is Value Creation”: Ardian’s Take on ESG as a Strategic Pillar in Private Equity

AI is no longer a fringe technology—it is rapidly reshaping entire industries, from climate and energy to industrial operations and enterprise software. Yet as competition intensifies and barriers to entry fall, the question facing venture investors is no longer whether to invest in AI, but how to identify companies capable of generating durable, long-term value. In this interview, Jeremy Brown, Principal & Head of Climate at Anthemis, shares his perspective on evaluating AI businesses beyond the hype, drawing on his experience at the intersection of AI, climate, and complex industrial markets, and setting the stage for a broader discussion with fellow investors on where real opportunity—and real risk—now lies in AI venture capita

he third edition of 0100 International — organized by Zero One Hundred Conferences in partnership with the Milan City Council’s Department of Economic Development and Milano&Partners — brought together the global private markets community for a high-signal, execution-focused gathering held from October 27–29.

François Candelon, Partner for Value Creation & Portfolio Monitoring at Seven2, shares how the firm aligns every investment around a clear “exit animal”—a vision of the company at exit—and uses disciplined execution, AI-driven transformation, and sustainability as levers for resilience and premium valuations. From reengineering core processes with AI to embedding decarbonization into business strategy, Candelon explains how Seven2 builds companies that are not just exit-ready, but future-proof.