Podero, a Vienna-based startup in the renewable energy sector, announced today it has raised €5.5 million in Seed funding to reduce energy costs for flexible consumer devices such as heat pumps, EVs and chargers, inverters, and home batteries
The round was led by Planet A Ventures, with Systemiq Capital as a Co-investor, and saw participation from existing investors Pale Blue Dot and Push Ventures in an oversubscribed round.
“Our platform gives utilities a competitive edge in electricity pricing. With our device steering and trading technology, they can offer lower rates that others can’t match without similar software,” says Christoph Bernkopf, Co-founder and CEO of Podero. “By optimizing power use for renewable energy, we also help reduce energy-related CO2 emissions while delivering cost savings for both utilities and their customers.”
Podero was founded in 2022 by software engineers Chris Bernkopf and Moritz Schrader. Chris, a serial entrepreneur and YCombinator alum, previously built Alpas, helping BASF and ABB source mechanical parts. With a background in physics, data science (CERN), and AI, he brings deep technical and business expertise. Moritz, a trained electrician, contributed to IoT and autonomous driving software for Volkswagen/Cariad. His mechatronics and control engineering expertise shapes Podero’s approach to optimising distributed energy resources.
Podero is a software platform designed for utilities to reduce energy costs for flexible consumer devices, also known as Distributed Energy Resources (DERs), such as heat pumps, EVs and chargers, inverters, and home batteries—delivering cost savings of over 25%. These savings are achieved by enabling utilities to trade aggregated device power on energy markets, creating a win-win scenario for both utilities and consumers.
Utilities can use Podero via their whitelabel app or integrate it into their own app via their API. The newly secured funding will further accelerate Podero’s mission to drive the transition to green energy and enhance grid stability.
As renewables expand and household electrification accelerates, Podero argues that utilities face rising costs due to fluctuating consumption of DER and the variability of solar and wind power. At the same time, neo-utilities like Octopus, Tibber, and Greenly are intensifying competition, while installers such as 1Komma5, Enpal, and Soly target high-value customers with heat pumps, EVs, and batteries.
Additionally, German regulations mandate dynamic tariffs for all utilities, further pushing them to adopt smart flexibility solutions. This growing pressure forces utilities to innovate and enhance customer retention.
“We are seeing rapidly increasing volatility on electricity markets and new competitors. Utilities must innovate to offer products that help customers save costs and give them control over their energy usage,” says Tobias Övall, Manager Digitalization and Transformation, Retail at E.ON Nordics.
Unlike some competitors focused solely on device integration, Podero says they stand out by offering:
- Device Steering: Integrated with 54+ manufacturers, Podero optimises device operation based on market signals, spot prices, and household PV production. Utilities can test it instantly via Podero’s white-label app or seamlessly integrate Podero’s API into their own apps.
- Trading Enablement: Podero provides forecasts and trading recommendations, allowing utilities to trade aggregated device power on key electricity markets, including spot day ahead, intra-day, and balancing energy markets.
With integrations across 54 major manufacturers like Tesla, Viessmann, Huawei, Fronius, and Volkswagen, Podero ensures broad compatibility and scalability in Europe.
“Podero is tackling one of the most pressing challenges in the energy transition—helping utilities unlock the full potential of decentralized energy resources while maintaining grid stability,” says Nick, Partner at Planet A. “With strong regulatory tailwinds and increasing market volatility, the demand for intelligent flexibility solutions is higher than ever.
and trading technology position them as a key enabler of more efficient, cost-effective, and
sustainable energy markets.”
Read the orginal article: https://www.eu-startups.com/2025/02/podero-closes-e5-5-million-round-to-help-utilities-win-on-grid-flexibility-and-pricing/
