Berlin-based Caeli Wind, a platform for assessing and promoting wind energy sites, announced that it has secured €11M in a Series A round of funding led by UK-based VC fund Notion Capital.
The round was also joined by Santander Alternative Investments and existing investor HTGF.
Klaus Lehmann, Partner HTGF, says, “We invested in Caeli in 2023 because we recognised that the company could become a game changer in the energy market. Caeli’s development since then has been truly impressive and is reason enough to further increase our investment in this German flagship company.”
The German company says it attracted international investors due to its “successful” market development in its home market.
The online marketplace for wind farms
Founded in 2022 by Ben Schlemmermeier and Heiko Bartels, Caeli Wind is an online marketplace where landowners can find places suitable for wind power.
Co-founder Bartels says, “There is an urgent need for digital transformation in the energy market. Bringing landowners and project developers for wind farms together on an equal footing is not just a German issue, but a global one.”
The company has developed an advanced AI-driven analysis system and marketplace to speed up the growth of wind turbines.
Caeli Wind says, “We want to drastically increase the likelihood and speed of realisation in the wind industry – that’s why we bring project developers and landowners together on our marketplace and create land liquidity.”
In 2023, the company pinpointed 173 fresh spots for wind turbines across Germany, assigning them to project developers and energy suppliers. On average, Caeli’s AI tech slashes the time needed to set up wind farms by 18 months, due to its digital analysis and awarding platform.
“Our technology has shown that complex planning and approval processes can be shortened by 18 months. With the newly raised capital, we will help project developers even more to conserve their human resources and accelerate their business,” adds Schlemmermeier.
Capital utilisation
The funds will fuel Caeli’s international expansion efforts, allowing them to broaden their reach. The company also plans to enhance its value chain and continue refining its advanced technologies.
Co-founders Schlemmermeier and Bartels mention in a statement, “We are delighted with the new financing round. Caeli is developing into a real catalyst for the energy transition. This has always been our goal.”
“We are happy and proud to have found two partners in Notion Capital and Santander who will support our vision in the best possible way with their respective networks and expertise.”
What the investors had to say?
Stephen Chandler, Managing Partner at Notion Capital (Lead Investor), says, “Caeli Wind’s platform represents a significant leap forward in modernising a crucial segment of the wind energy value chain, one that has been largely untouched by software innovation so far.”
“The founders’ deep domain expertise puts them in a unique position to build a global category leader in the wind energy market, thereby accelerating the renewable energy transition. We are looking forward to the journey together.”
Notion Capital is a European VC firm specialising in B2B SaaS and Cloud companies. It manages over $1B in assets and has made over 100 investments to date. The firm exclusively invests in “exceptional” founders aiming to build global industry leaders.
Santiago Gil, Lead of Santander InnoEnergy Climate Fund, says, “Santander is one of the world’s largest financiers of renewables. Our ambition is to accompany companies that make a significant contribution to decarbonisation and have immense growth potential on this journey. We are pleased to support Caeli Wind in its steps abroad with capital and expertise.”
Santander Alternative Investments (SAI) is the specialised arm of Santander Asset Management, focusing on alternative investment prospects. Founded in 2023, SAI aims to offer solutions to investors shifting their portfolios towards private markets.
Being part of the Santander Group provides SAI with the support and resources of a prominent financial institution. This enables them to provide clients with access to broad distribution capabilities across 10 major markets and expertise in various banking activities.
Brief about High-Tech Gründerfonds
High-Tech Gründerfonds (HTGF) is a seed investor supporting tech startups with growth potential. Since 2005, it has backed over 750 startups. With its fourth fund, HTGF now manages around €1.4B.
HTGF’s team, comprising seasoned investment managers and startup experts, provides young companies with expertise, entrepreneurial drive, and dedication. They focus on high-tech startups in digital tech, industrial tech, life sciences, chemistry, and related fields.
External investors have injected approximately €5B into HTGF’s portfolio through over 2,000 follow-on financing rounds. Moreover, HTGF has sold shares in over 180 companies.
Fund investors in this public-private partnership include the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action, KfW Capital, and 45 companies from diverse industries.
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