Big bucks for bus-boosting clean-tech startup ViriCiti

Fossil fuels are out, electric cars are in. No wonder startups like ViriCiti draw the attention. The Amsterdam based startup raised €700.000 in funding. ViriCiti offers a cloud-based monitoring system for electric buses and trucks. The money comes from Mainport Innovation Fund II and Breesaap Green Link.

Monitoring e-vehicles

ViriCiti offers a cloud based monitoring platform for organizations with a large fleet of electric vehicles. With the data gathered by ViriCiti, the companies can easily find out how to get the most from the vehicles. According to the startup, it allows electric buses and trucks to drive further, increase uptime and run more reliable at lower costs.

Marketleader in Europe and US

The ambition is global expansion, says ViriCiti CEO Freek Dielissen: “With the knowledge, network and business experience of the Mainport Innovation Fund and Breesaap, we will be able to accelerate our development and grow our salesforce faster than before. We are already market leader in Europe and North-America and with this investment we will expand our international presence even more.”

New branch in the US

One of the clients of the startup is Schiphol Airport, now also investor, that uses the platform to monitor the 35 e-buses driving the passengers from the plain to the gate. ViriCiti currently operates in 12 different countries. Mostly in Europe, but they also have clients in the USA. This year, they opened a sister company in Delaware. The company is founded in 2012 in Amsterdam.

MIF and Breesaap

Mainport Innovation Fund II is founded in 2015 by Schiphol, KLM, Port of Amsterdam, Delft University and NS. They already invested in several Dutch startups in the logistics business. Last year Undagrid and Calendar42 received funding. Breesaap is the investment company of former prime minister of The Netherlands Ruud Lubbers, which invests in sustainable initiatives and green-tech.

Picture: Freek Dielissen (middle) and team (source)