Delft-based GEHECO, a company that aims to enable carbon-neutral heating in buildings, has closed its first funding round, securing investments from Graduate Entrepreneur, Rockstart, and Rabobank, through the Rabobank Innovatie Lening (RIL).
These contributions complement earlier investments from the Shell Impact Fund and Innovation Quarter’s UNIIQ Fund.
The funding amount, however, remains undisclosed. The investment will help strengthen GEHECO’s position in the clean energy sector.
What does GEHECO offer?
GEHECO, a startup focused on supporting the energy transition, aims to make water-water heat pumps accessible to a broader range of homeowners.
One of the main sources of CO2 emissions is home heating, and many homeowners are looking for ways to electrify their heating systems. Currently, the most efficient solution, the water-water heat pump, is largely available only to wealthier individuals due to the complex and costly process of drilling wells for installation.
GEHECO’s mission is to solve this challenge by developing a drill tool that can install wells from within existing homes, thus making water-water heat pumps more accessible and cost-effective (approximately three times more affordable). It is designed to be deployed in narrow urban areas and is particularly for retrofitting existing homes.
The company is committed to sustainability and aims to contribute to reducing CO2 emissions by enabling efficient, CO2-neutral heating for households.
Capital utilisation
GEHECO will use the funds to create a more sustainable future by transforming home heating systems.
Arjen van der Horst, GEHECO’s Founder and Technical Lead, says, “The funding from this round will enable us to further develop our prototype, conduct initial technical demonstrations at The Green Village in Delft, and, in the near future, carry out client demos in partnership with Itho Daalderop.”
Onno Bierhoff, Founder and Business Lead, adds, “We are thrilled to have such a strong group of investors on board. Their trust in GEHECO goes beyond financial backing—they bring invaluable expertise and a vast network that will support our growth.”
“We tell a positive story, as we strongly believe that great technical ideas can help our planet become more sustainable, while at the same time the comfort level of the end-users increases.”
Brief about the investors
Rockstart is an early-stage investor that supports purpose-driven founders in the domains of Energy, AgriFood, and Emerging Technologies. The firm provides startups with access to capital, markets, and expertise by connecting them with co-investors, mentors, partners, and its extensive network.
Rockstart has invested in over 350 startups, with its alumni valued at more than $1.7B to date.
Graduate Entrepreneur Fund, a €58M early-stage fund backed by entrepreneurs from the Delft/Rotterdam ecosystem, provides capital and support to startups. With a network of over 175 entrepreneurs, the fund’s team takes a tech-agnostic approach to help startups scale effectively. Recently, Graduate made its 50th investment in just three years.
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