Student Turns Sustainable Gift Wrap Success Into Impact Investing Career

Melusine Bliesener’s journey from frustrated Christmas gift-wrapper to successful entrepreneur and venture capitalist exemplifies how sustainable business solutions can open doors to broader impact careers. The young entrepreneur co-founded Pápydo, a sustainable gift wrap company using grass fiber paper with biodegradable coloring, turning environmental frustration into profitable innovation.

From University Project to TV Success

What began as a post-graduation “wait-and-see” project quickly became a profitable venture. Bliesener and co-founder Katharina Lehmkuhl didn’t invent the grass fiber technology but successfully packaged it into consumer-friendly products. Their breakthrough came when Pápydo appeared on “Die Höhle der Löwen” (Germany’s Shark Tank), generating a three-to-four-fold sales increase.

While pursuing her Masters in Management at Nova School of Business and Economics in Lisbon, Bliesener balanced business growth with academic development. The program’s focus on impact investing and social business models proved instrumental in shaping her career trajectory, particularly through courses taught by venture capital professionals who used real-world examples.

Transition to Climate Tech Venture Capital

After graduating in 2023 and ensuring Pápydo’s self-sustainability through a competitor merger, Bliesener joined AENU, a Berlin-based venture capital firm specializing in climate technology. Her transition demonstrates how sustainable entrepreneurship experience translates effectively into impact investing roles.

Now focusing on climate tech investments, Bliesener applies her entrepreneurial background to evaluate innovation-driven technologies. Her story illustrates how sustainable business ventures can serve as stepping stones to broader environmental impact careers, combining practical business experience with academic knowledge to drive meaningful change in the climate technology sector.