London’s IONATE secures €16.3M to advance AI-driven smart grid technology

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On Wednesday, London-based IONATE, the deeptech startup offering the hardware-software backbone for smart electricity grids, announced that it has raised $17M (approximately €16.3M) in a Series A funding round led by AlbionVC.

With £1B in AUM and over 100 exits successfully realised, AlbionVC supports visionary founders and technologies with long-term capital and scale-up know-how.

David Grimm, Partner AlbionVC says, “IONATE is pioneering grid technology that supports the energy and environmental requirements of modern grid infrastructure. Their patented technology and first-mover advantage position IONATE to deliver a transformative, long-term product that brings the promise of clean electricity alongside performance requirements.” 

The funding round was joined by a syndicate of new strategic investors, including “In-Q-Tel (IQT)”, JGC MIRAI Innovation Fund, and institutional investors Santander InnoEnergy Climate Fund and Antares Ventures.

Existing shareholders, IQ Capital, Zero Carbon Capital, and Cycle Group also participated in the round.

The UK company will use the funds to accelerate its growth across key markets, and launch its US operations.

IONATE: Building technology backbone for smart electricity grids

Founded by Matthew Williams in 2019, IONATE is creating the hardware-software system for smart grids.

Matthew Williams IONATE’s Founder & CEO says, “The IONATE team builds extraordinary tech with extraordinary timing. Just as national networks, industrial players, and data centers realised how much of their progress depended on modernising their electrical infrastructure, we are ready to help them do exactly that.”

The company’s Hybrid Intelligent Transformer (HIT) replaces traditional transformers, combining data management and precise control of voltage, harmonics, and reactive power in one unit.

This makes the HIT effective for stabilising power flows across grids, power generation, industrial operations, and data centres, while also enabling real-time control.

The company’s Aurora software platform improves network efficiency, boosts renewable energy capacity, and provides smart grid features using AI.

This combination allows IONATE to deliver real-time control and visibility at a lower cost, making it a complete solution for utilities, manufacturers, and data centres.

The company is working with EDP, an energy giant, to improve networks in Portugal and Spain.

It has also expanded its solution for data centres and is receiving industry recognition, including from NATO’s Defence Innovation Accelerator for the North Atlantic (DIANA).

“Resiliency, flexibility, and efficiency are key for our energy systems, and IONATE is uniquely positioned to strengthen all three. We are so excited to have some of the strongest VCs and strategic partners in our corner to realise this impact and begin transforming power globally,” adds Williams. 

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Vigneshwar Ravichandran

Vigneshwar has been a News Reporter at Silicon Canals since 2018. A seasoned technology journalist with almost a decade of experience, he covers the European startup ecosystem, from AI and Web3 to clean energy and health tech. Previously, he was a content producer and consumer product reviewer for leading Indian digital media, including NDTV, GizBot, and FoneArena. He graduated with a Bachelor's degree in Electronics and Instrumentation in Chennai and a Diploma in Broadcasting Journalism in New Delhi.

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