Hakan Karan
Hakan Karan is an Investment Associate at ECBF, where he is actively involved across the full investment lifecycle, including sourcing, due diligence, transaction execution, portfolio support, and board observer roles. Before joining ECBF, he completed a PhD at the Institute for Molecular Bioscience at The University of Queensland, where his research focused on modelling biorefinery pathways for microalgae-based products aligned with circular bioeconomy principles. He also brings experience in engineering and consulting from previous roles, having assessed the technical and financial viability of renewable energy and resource efficiency projects for international development finance institutions and private-sector clients. He holds multiple graduate degrees, including an MSc in Sustainable Energy and an MBA, reflecting a strong interdisciplinary foundation spanning science, engineering, and business.
Through my research and earlier work, I saw firsthand how difficult it is for strong scientific ideas to translate into impactful businesses, both financially and in terms of sustainability outcomes. What draws me to ECBF is the opportunity to help scale circular bioeconomy solutions that work with nature rather than against it, and to contribute to a future where value creation is fundamentally aligned with natural systems powered by the sun and photosynthesis.
Investments
