Energy optimization software startup Companion.energy has secured €7.8 million (about USD 9 million) in seed funding to speed up the development of its platform for industrial and commercial energy users. This investment comes as businesses across Europe face increasing challenges with renewable energy integration, electricity market volatility, industrial electrification, energy management software, AI-driven energy optimization, industrial energy efficiency, renewable energy management, and real-time energy analytics.

Founded in 2022 by Thomas Vyncke and Jonas Verstraeten, the company creates software that helps large businesses understand and manage their energy consumption and production more effectively. As organizations adopt more renewable energy sources and electrified systems, Companion.energy aims to provide a single platform that automates complex energy decisions while improving efficiency and managing costs.

Addressing Increasing Complexity in Energy Markets

The company states that electricity markets are becoming more dynamic as renewable energy grows and industries shift to electrified operations. Unlike traditional energy systems, where prices often followed predictable seasonal patterns, modern markets are marked by rapid fluctuations caused by weather conditions, demand changes, and renewable generation levels.

To tackle these challenges, Companion.energy has developed a platform that links energy contracts, operational systems, and distributed energy assets into one optimization layer. The software continuously forecasts energy demand, assesses market exposure, and automates energy-related decisions in real time.

According to the company, many businesses still use spreadsheets, disconnected software tools, and manual processes to manage their increasingly complex energy portfolios. This can limit their ability to respond quickly to changing market conditions and maximize the value of their energy assets.

Platform Managing Large Energy Portfolios

Companion.energy reports that its platform currently manages over 2 terawatt-hours of annual energy consumption and production across customer portfolios. These operations represent roughly €500 million in annual energy spending and energy-related revenues.

The company also supports more than 200 megawatts of distributed energy assets, including solar photovoltaic systems, wind energy installations, battery storage facilities, electric boilers, and electric vehicle charging infrastructure.

By integrating these technologies into one operational framework, the platform allows customers to optimize energy use and market participation in real time. Companion.energy states that users have achieved energy cost reductions ranging from 10% to 30% through automated optimization and better operational decision-making.

Expansion Plans Across European Markets

The newly raised capital will help strengthen the platform’s optimization capabilities across various assets and energy markets. The company plans to further develop its technology while expanding its commercial presence in Europe.

Germany and Spain are the initial target markets for expansion. Both countries have seen significant growth in renewable energy deployment and are enhancing efforts to electrify industrial operations, creating rising demand for advanced energy management solutions.

Companion.energy believes these market trends create opportunities for software platforms that help businesses navigate changing energy systems while maintaining efficiency and controlling costs.

Founders Highlight Industry Transformation

Commenting on the funding announcement, co-founder Thomas Vyncke said businesses face a fundamentally different energy landscape today compared to previous years. He noted that growing renewable energy use and increasing industrial electrification have made electricity markets more volatile and operationally complex.

Vyncke stated that companies are deploying more batteries, solar installations, electric vehicle charging systems, and electrified industrial equipment. As a result, firms need technology platforms that can continuously manage and optimize energy operations rather than relying on outdated procurement strategies and scattered management tools.

He added that many organizations still use disconnected systems and manual workflows despite the growing complexity of modern energy markets.

Investors Back Shift Towards Real-Time Optimization

The funding round was led by Realyze Ventures and Pi Labs, with support from Asterion Ventures and existing investors.

Investors highlighted a broader shift occurring within enterprise energy management. According to Pi Labs Principal Dhruv Gupta, organizations that spend large amounts on energy are increasingly moving beyond traditional procurement and reporting practices toward continuous, real-time optimization.

Gupta mentioned that many large enterprises still rely heavily on spreadsheets, dashboards, and manual processes to manage energy operations. He described Companion.energy’s technology as part of a new generation of software platforms that go beyond making recommendations to actively executing energy decisions in real time.

The investment reflects a growing interest in digital technologies that assist businesses in adjusting to evolving energy systems, improving efficiency, and managing the operational challenges associated with the move toward cleaner and more electrified energy infrastructure.