2018 Startup GUIDE - 10th Edition

COVER STORIES 57
Energie 360°
Working together to shape the
energy market of the future
Smart Energy Innovation Fund
Energie 360° is a Zurich-based utility company that provides natural
gas, renewable energy and services to its customers. Not only
does Energie 360° supply natural gas and renewables, but also
offers new mobility services, such as for electrical vehicle infrastructure.
As a utility company, Energie 360° faces the same potential future
business disruptions as do many other industries. Energie 360° actively
invests in innovative technologies and services to be prepared
for the oncoming digitisation of the energy market. With its
corporate venture capital arm, the Smart Energy Innovation Fund,
Energie 360° invests in innovative start-ups in the fields of energy,
mobility and smart cities.
The fund’s objective is to initiate a renewal process and to ensure
a technology transfer to business units at Energie 360°. The company
seeks to promote new business ideas and drive growth strategy,
to generate financial return and to work together to prevail
in the energy revolution.
VoltStorage
The Munich-based start-up and spin-off of the Technical University
of Munich, VoltStorage, develops reliable and affordable energy
storage possibilities for households.
VoltStorage is the first company to provide households with access
to efficient storage technology, which was only previously
available to industry. The advantage: the vanadium redox flow
storage is not only especially durable, but also very safe, because
it is non-flammable. This technology has proven itself in industry
for years. Storage units till now have been too large and especially
too expensive for use in households. VoltStorage now produces
such units in refrigerator size – and with its innovative approach,
inexpensively.
Distran
Together with Zürcher Kantonalbank, the Smart Energy Innovation
Fund has invested in the Zurich-based start-up company, Distran.
This ETH spin-off has developed the innovative “Ultra M”,
a handheld inspection device equipped with acoustic sensors in
the ultrasound range for the detection of gas leaks.
Regardless of what type of gas, the sensors operate from a distance
of up to 30 metres, and any leaks detected are displayed
on a screen in real time. With the Ultra M, line inspections can be
performed up to ten times faster and with better results, which is
especially interesting to operators of thermal power plants. Ultra
M can help them reduce their inspection costs, while early detection
of leaks helps prevent costly downtime.
Technology provided by Distran not only makes a direct contribution
to the main business of Energie 360°, the company also has
worked closely with experts at Energie 360° to further develop its
business and technology.
These two companies are not the only start-ups that the Smart Energy
Innovation Fund supports and invests in. The fund has also
invested in four other start-ups, focusing on start-ups located in
Europe that are active in the areas of IT solutions for smart homes,
smart grids and smart cities, as well as energy storage and distribution,
renewable energy, innovative energy sources and mobility
services. The fund seeks business models and technologies
that contribute to a sensible energy future. Along with investment
by the fund, the start-ups benefit from the expertise and network
provided by Energy 360°.
To keep in touch with the start-up community in Switzerland and
other European countries, the fund looks after a close network
including universities, incubators and accelerators, investors and
entrepreneurs. The aim is to foster a sustainable relationship between
entrepreneurs and Energie 360° right from the start and on
through the international scale-up.
METIN ZERMAN
ENERGIE 360°
(AUTHOR)
Investment
Manager
Facts and Figures, Contact
Organization Energie 360°
Smart Energy Innovation Fund
Foundation 2015
Mission Statement
The Smart Energy Innovation Fund invests
in visionary founders with innovative
solutions to help master the energy
revolution.
RUTH HAPPERSBERGER
Head of Smart Energy
Innovation Fund
Energie 360°
innovationsfonds@ energy360.ch
www.energie360.ch/Innovationsfonds
SWISS STARTUP GUIDE 2018