E+H has advised Podero GmbH, an emerging and growth-oriented Viennese energy start-up specializing in ClimateTech and renewable energy, on a €5.5 million seed financing round. The round was led by the German GreenTech fund Planet A Ventures, advised by DORDA Rechtsanwälte. Another investor, Systemiq Capital, was won as a co-investor.
The Swedish early-stage VC fund Pale Blue Dot and the Austrian VC fund PUSH Ventures, which in-vested in Podero just a few weeks after it was founded in 2022, also participated in the financing round. This underpinned the existing pre-seed investors’ confidence in Podero and its founders.
Podero is developing software to help energy suppliers save over 25 percent on the cost of flexible appliances. The plan is to continuously improve the software to make it even easier for energy suppliers to integrate.
Because of regulatory changes and the necessary expansion of renewable energies, energy supply companies are facing major challenges. Christoph Bernkopf and Moritz Schrader, the founders of Podero, would specifically like to use the investment to expand the software to accelerate the transition to renewable energies and to sustainably improve grid stability.
The start-up also intends to use the fresh capital to expand its team and increase its customer base. Some prominent European energy suppliers, such as e.on, oekostrom, and Kelag, are already among Podero’s customers.
“We are pleased to have been able to advise Podero and the founders on their financing round and wish Podero and the entire team all the best moving forward on the energy market as they continue to grow,” says E+H Venture Capital and start-up expert Steve Jeitler, who advised the transaction together with the support of Susanna Falkenburg.
“We were happy to advise Planet A Ventures on the expansion of its portfolio in the GreenTech sector and wish Podero continued successful growth,” said Patricia Backhausen, Principal Associate M&A and Co-Head of the DORDA Digital Industries Group, who advised the lead investor Planet A with the support of Max Lesjak and Thomas Krappinger.
E+H Team (advisor to Podero)
Dr. Steve Jeitler, LL.M. (Berkeley) (Partner, Corporate + M&A), Susanna Falkenburg (Attorney at Law, Corporate + M&A)
DORDA Team (Planet A consultant)
Patricia Backhausen, MSc (WU) (Attorney at Law, M&A); Max Simon Lesjak, LL.B. (WU) (Associate, M&A); Thomas Krappinger (Associate, IP/IT)
