In a seed round, software company encentive has raised 6.3 million euros in fresh capital. The round was led by renowned global investor General Catalyst and other existing investors. encentive’s AI-driven platform helps industrials automatically cut energy costs by up to 20% and reduce CO₂ emissions – a billion-euro market opportunity as industries face rising costs and climate pressure. The funding will be used to expand their AI-driven platform to connect to even more industrial assets,unlock new markets, and strengthen its technological leadership. Earlier in2024, the company had already secured €2.7 million from investors such as Summiteer, SI Ventures, Vireo Ventures, Interface Capital (Christian Reber), OMA Ventures, as well as well-known business angels including Mario Götze and Stefan Müller.

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Flexibility: Using AI to counter rising energy costs and emissions

“Rising energy costs and mounting decarbonisation pressure are challenges faced by almost every industrial company today. Businesses unable to flexibly and intelligently manage their energy flows and adapt to the volatility and fluctuating prices of renewables are already putting their competitiveness at risk. Our solution enables companies to harness the economic potential of flexibility without interfering with existing processes. In doing so, our clients safeguard themselves against economic uncertainty and location disadvantages in the long term,” explains Torge Lahrsen, COO of encentive.

With flexOn, encentive has developed an AI-driven software solution that enables industrial companies to manage their energy consumption flexibly, cutting electricity costs by up to 20% and significantly reducing CO₂emissions. The platform leverages latent flexibility in refrigeration, heating processes, batteries and production lines, generating intelligent schedules and automatically controlling these assets.

Through AI-driven data analysis and optimisation algorithms, energy flows are aligned in real time with the availability of renewable energy. This allows companies to draw on on-site generation or tap into the intraday spot market exactly when wind and solar power are abundant and low-cost. flexOn is primarily used by medium-sized and large industrial players with annual consumption of at least two gigawatt hours (GWh).

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Scaling the platform – new industries, new markets

The solution is already in use at leading companies such as Metro Logistics, Dachser and Klingele, and is now also being deployed by well-known utilities as a flexibility platform. To expand into further sectors and markets, encentive will invest the additional funds in new talent as well as in scaling core areas of the platform. This will enable major customers and partners to integrate flexOn independently via a dedicated onboarding suite.

“With the fresh capital, we are investing specifically in further developing our platform and expanding our team. Together, we are driving forward the only AI to date that is directly integrated into industrial machine rooms to actively control systems, thereby setting technological standards. Our vision is to become the leading address for controlling energy flows in industry. The seven-figure order volume from our core industries underscores the success of our solution and confirms our commitment to establishing flexOn as the standard for intelligent energy management – scalable and deeply integrated,” adds Nicolás Juhl, CEO of encentive.

“Energy has become one of the most decisive levers for competitiveness in European industry. It is no longer a background cost but a strategic factor in an era of volatility and sustainable transformation,” said Robin Dechant, Partner at General Catalyst. “encentive turns this pressure point into an opportunity: its AI-driven platform helps industrials cut costs while enabling them to thrive on renewable power. What convinced us was what we believe is the team’s rare ability to bridge cutting-edge AI with the realities of factory floors, a capability that can strengthen Europe’s industrial backbone and accelerate the energy transition.”

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Connecting  AI to industrial hardware: A billion-euro market

Industry is the world’s largest energy consumer and therefore a decisive lever for achieving a climate-neutral future.The electrification of industrial processes, which is essential for this transition, is further driving up electricity demand. At the same time, the expansion of renewables is making power supply and prices increasingly volatile. In this environment, the ability to actively harness flexibility is becoming a key lever for the future of industry.

Vireo Ventures, the Berlin-based early-stage venture capital firm, today announced the final closing of its Electrification Fund I at €50 million. In an era defined by resource scarcity and fragile supply chains, the fund underscores investors’ strong desire to invest in solutions that accelerate an all-electrified future that will secure Europe’s energy independence and competitiveness.  

Vireo Ventures is backed by six leading European energy utilities, including Encevo, Verbund X, and EnBW New Ventures, as well as the European Investment Fund and NRW.BANK and over 80 seasoned entrepreneurs, sector veterans, and energytech enthusiasts. 

From day one, Vireo Ventures has focused on creating a community for the next generation of founders driving Europe’s electrification and energy transition. The team has built a trusted network of industry partners who actively share knowledge, open doors, and pilot new technologies. What began as a small angel investment network among friends and peers has now grown into a dedicated venture fund, closed above target despite one of the toughest fundraising environments. This closing is a clear signal that electrification has become the defining investment theme of this decade.

The closing comes as Europe faces unprecedented pressure to electrify. In 2024, clean electricity supplied 40% of global power. Yet electricity currently accounts for just 23% of the EU’s final energy consumption. To meet climate and energy targets, that share must increase to 35% by 2030 and 61% by 2050. Recent analysis shows that electrifying heating, transport, and industry could halve household energy bills, reduce fossil fuel imports by tens of billions, and strengthen Europe’s strategic autonomy.

Investing in the Electrified Future

With the new fund, Vireo is investing in European early-stage companies that are orchestrating and synchronizing generation, grids, storage, and downstream applications in mobility, industry, and real estate.

“Grid investments are central to Europe’s future security and competitiveness. Europe’s electrification push is not just a climate imperative but a geostrategic necessity,” said Felix Krause, Managing Partner at Vireo Ventures. “Startups are uniquely positioned to deliver the speed, innovation, and scalability needed to meet this challenge.”

A New Model for LP/VC Collaboration in EnergyTech

Vireo Ventures’ approach goes beyond capital. The firm fosters a different kind of relationship, where LPs aren’t just passive investors but collaborators, bringing decades of industry expertise, operational experience, and strategic depth. With investors spanning Europe and the United States, Vireo’s base of utilities, corporates, and entrepreneurs offers startups unique opportunities to test and scale their solutions. Early collaborations have already seen portfolio companies pilot technologies with LPs, from grid intelligence applications to decarbonized heating solutions.

“Our LPs are not just investors. They are experts, allies, and partners,” said Felix Krause. “The majority of our 90+ limited partners have a direct connection to the energy industry. They provide critical insights, help shape due diligence, and often join forces with startups in pilot projects or co-investments. This hands-on collaboration is what sets our model apart and accelerates both commercial success and climate impact.”

„Our focus is on direct investments in start-ups“ explains Crispin Leick, Managing Director EnBW New Ventures. „We have known vireo’s team for a long time and value their experience in the energy and utitlity sector and our shared vision of an all-electrified world. Thanks to Vireo, we are even closer to startup seed investments and their further development. We are already co-investors in FLEXECHARGE.“

“The closing of the Vireo Ventures Fund is a powerful confirmation to the trust the market places in the team and its mission. From day one, our partnership has been shaped by a shared commitment to accelerating the energy transition through innovation. Vireo’s deep expertise, entrepreneurial mindset, and sharp focus on early-stage energy startups in Europe make them an exceptional partner. Their ability to identify and support breakthrough technologies has already created tangible value. We are proud to be part of this journey and look forward to scaling our impact together.”

—  Dr. Franz Zöchbauer, Director Corporate Innovation & New Business Managing Director VERBUND Ventures

„We want to strengthen our approach as a partner to our ecosystems and access further opportunities for us and our customers. Whilst we remain primarily focused on direct investments, we have found that Vireo Ventures could be a very good add-on, offering us to access further startups in selected jurisdictions and a complementary focus on seed stage. With a prior co-investment in AmpereCloud, the process was obviously very smooth and straightforward. Looking forward to getting our teams working closely with their startups as well as with the other LPs.”

—  Nicolas Milerioux, Head of Venture Capital –  Encevo

“In view of the increasing share of renewable energy sources and the volatility of energy production and energy prices, investments in innovative technologies and business models play a crucial role in building a reliable energy system of the future and ensuring affordable prices for all market participants. NRW.Venture’s investment in Vireo Electrification Fund I is therefore dedicated to boosting investment activities and driving the technological transition in North Rhine-Westphalia,” 

—  Philipp Leidig, Director at NRW.Ventures

“As a proud Limited Partner in the Vireo Electrification Fund, I deeply value the team’s strategic clarity, their strong network across the clean energy ecosystem, and the quality of their portfolio companies. Collaborating with the Vireo team goes beyond capital – it’s an active partnership built on shared conviction and access to some of the most exciting founders in electrification.”

— Dr. Lars Hoffmann, Clean Energy Entrepreneur & Investor

“I have known the Vireo team since early 2021 and have always valued their perspective on the market and how closely they collaborate with their portfolio companies. As co-investors in PIONIX, I’ve already experienced the value they bring, and I’m excited to continue building the electrified future together.”

— Jan Rabe, Co-Founder & CEO, Rabot Energy

Vireo Ventures Early Investments 

Since its inception, Vireo has backed startups such as Encentive, Atmen, Green Fusion, and About:Energy, all pioneering scalable solutions in areas like grid optimization, heat decarbonization, and EV infrastructure. Several portfolio companies have already secured follow-on funding, strategic partnerships, or industry awards, strengthening Vireo’s reputation as a high-conviction early-stage investor.

“For us, ESG is embedded in our DNA. Every portfolio company we back contributes directly to decarbonizing critical infrastructure. Their economic success amplifies their impact,” said Matthias Engel, Managing Partner at Vireo Ventures.

Amid geopolitical tensions and volatile fossil fuel prices, digital-first solutions that enhance electrification and resilience are increasingly attractive to investors. Vireo Ventures’ focus on software-enabled, scalable technologies positions the fund to capture this momentum.