Stavanger-based Starflow, a Norwegian energy tech startup, has successfully closed €1.7 million in pre-seed financing. The round was led by Skyfall Ventures, with participation from Sondo Capital and angel investor Trond Riiber Knudsen. The funding will support the development of Starflow’s Energy Hub, a hardware platform designed to optimise the flow of energy between solar panels, EV chargers, batteries, and home energy systems.
Jonas Helmikstøl, co-founder of Starflow, previously founded and led Easee, one of Europe’s fastest growing and most profitable hardware companies. After 10 years in the EV charging industry, he has assembled a co-founding team with former Easee colleagues Ola Stengel and Nikolai Konopelko, both of whom bring deep expertise in product development and engineering.
“Our goal is to create a scalable energy system that helps people achieve energy independence,” said Helmikstøl. “We’re building a device that will optimise the flow of energy between solar panels, EVs, batteries and the home.”
Starflow’s Energy Hub is designed to give homeowners greater control over their energy consumption by integrating solar power, EV charging, and home battery storage into a modular platform that evolves with user needs. One of the key differentiators is its battery-agnostic approach, which provides flexibility in selecting energy storage solutions while ensuring optimised energy flow between all connected systems.
“We need to make products that electricians are proud to install,” added Jonas Helmikstøl. “Electricians are some of the most valuable players in this space, yet their expertise is often overlooked. By empowering them with the right tools, we can involve them more deeply in the energy transition, while expanding their own business opportunities.”
Starflow plans to create an open system that allows other companies and partners to develop compatible modules and products. The global transition to renewable energy presents a pressing need for smarter energy management systems.
Skyfall Ventures’ Managing Partner Espen Malmo sees immense potential in Starflow’s approach. “Renewable energy is essential in solving the climate crisis and achieving net zero, but the growing demand from EVs and the broader electrification of society, combined with the transition to volatile energy sources like solar and wind, creates enormous challenges for the energy grid. Starflow’s Energy Hub has the opportunity to become a key component in accelerating the adoption of solar and battery storage while helping stabilise the grid,” commented Espen Malmo.
Henrik Hatlebrekke of Sondo Capital echoed this sentiment, stating: “What Jonas and the team achieved with Easee is remarkable on a global scale. With the team’s experience in energy hardware and management, and with their ambitions for Starflow, this is a team that we are extremely excited to partner up with.”
“We are entering a new era in tech innovation where pure software no longer is enough – the winners of the future will in intelligent ways combine hardware, software, data and AI – that’s why we’re so excited with Starflow,” added Trond Riiber Knudsen.
The funding raised will be used to build a team focused on developing the Energy Hub, with plans for the first product launch in 2026. Starflow will initially focus on private homes, with plans to extend into business and industrial markets as the product matures.
“We’re looking to hire top talent and continue validating our product as we build toward our launch,” said Helmikstøl. With the funding in place and a strong team assembled, Starflow is poised to redefine the future of home energy management, bringing scalable, sustainable solutions to homes, businesses, and beyond.
Read the orginal article: https://www.eu-startups.com/2024/10/norwegian-startup-starflow-raises-e1-7-million-to-optimise-energy-flow-for-homes/
