Professional cyclist Bram Tankink, rider of Team LottoNL-Jumbo, will cycle to an altitude of 5.400 meters in Nepal’s famous Annapurna Range in November to promote solar energy. Sporty impact investors will join Tankink on his mountainbike quest. Upon return to Kathmandu a new solar energy investment fund will be launched in cooperation with One to Watch.

Bram Tankink sees a great future for solar energy. Back in 2011 Tankink already installed solar panels on the roof of his house. “When I started to look into solar energy I realized there was a lot of skepticism around it. However, I found out that the sector was booming and various technologies developed rapidly. The investment opportunity was clear to me. I have even convinced a number of team mates to invest in solar panels as well. They are really happy with it.”

As the end of his career as a professional cyclist is coming closer, Tankink (38) looks forward to start a new career as a professional investor. More specifically, as an impact investor. “I have been interested in investing on the stock market since my teenage years. In recent years I have become more aware of the opportunities and the need for investing in clean energy. Almost all professional cyclists develop exercise-induced asthma over time, me too. This is enhanced by air pollution in urban areas. It made me realize that we need to invest in clean energy and electric vehicles. I really admire Elon Musk for pushing this agenda with Tesla. And I want to contribute to this change as well.”

“We need to invest in clean energy and electric vehicles and I want to contribute to this change as well.” - Bram Tankink

Together with Amsterdam-based asset management firm OHV, Tankink explored the possibilities to set up an investment fund for renewable energy and electric mobility in the Netherlands. “This has not materialized yet, but we are still discussing it. I have learned a lot from them.” Via Harold Knebel, Tankink’s former boss at Team Rabobank, the professional cyclist got in touch with One to Watch. “Edmond Hilhorst told me about the investment in Nepalese solar company Gham Power and a little later, One to Watch founder Willem Grimminck triggered me by pointing at the great mountainbike opportunities in Nepal. Soon after, the plan for Tankelektrik was born.”

Tankelectrik, as the mountainbike challenge in November has been dubbed, will highlight the sporty launch of the solar energy investment fund by One to Watch. As captain of a team of around twenty impact investors, Tankink will ride his mountainbike from 800 meters above sea level over a mountain pass at 5400 meters before descending again to 800 meters. The cyclists will stay in villages along the route that are currently dependent on diesel for electricity. The objective of the fund is to invest in the construction and operation of micro-grids powered by solar energy in these villages. The micro-grids will be set up in cooperation with Gham Power. Tankink: “One to Watch will manage the investments in Nepal and I will play an active role by promoting the fund in the Netherlands. In the near future, I plan to go back to university and obtain a proper degree for asset management. My next career is in impact investing.”

Do you want to join Bram Tankink’s epic bike challenge in Nepal? There are a few spots left for impact investors! More information: tankelectrik@onetowatch.nl