Berlin-based climate fintech company Bees & Bears has secured €500 million in financing commitments to support the installation of sustainable energy solutions in private homes across Germany.
This funding will enable nearly 25,000 photovoltaic systems, heat pumps, energy storage systems, and home electric vehicle chargers to be fitted. This financing pledge follows the company’s successful venture capital funding round last year.
The financing deal was finalised with the assistance of the law firm Linklaters, and will reportedly make Bees & Bears “Germany’s Largest Independent Financing Partner for Photovoltaic Systems and Heat Pumps.”
“Previously, customers looking to finance their photovoltaic (PV) systems with credit were almost always limited to the major industry players, as they were the only ones offering flexible payment,” said Marius Schondelmaier, Co-founder and CEO of Bees & Bears. “Our solution changes the game by combining deferred payment options with the freedom to work with the contractor of your choice. This levels the playing field for small and medium-sized installers, putting them on equal footing with the industry giants.”
Bees & Bears was founded in 2023 by Jakob von Egidy and Marius Schondelmaier. Their aim is to address a reportedly annual shortfall of over four trillion euros in investments in sustainability in order to achieve the global climate targets. Bees & Bears argues that this gap can only be closed with loan capital.
Jakob von Egidy is an experienced start-up CFO, passionate to combat the impact of the climate crisis. Marius brings extensive scale-up experience from Rocket Internet, where he launched a platform for contractor firms, as well as his expertise as a consulting manager in digital transformation in the energy sector.
Bees & Bears offers private customers payment plans for sustainable energy solutions when installed by independent, predominantly small and medium-sized contractors. Much like car financing, credit checks aim to be completed within minutes.
Bees & Bears also fills a critical gap for financing banks. “Simple financing options for climate-friendly home retrofits are a key driver for the success of the energy transition,” explains Jakob von Egidy, Co-founder and CEO of Bees & Bears. “Traditional banks recognize the size of this market but face challenges with the relatively small loan amounts and customers’ desire for fast approval. We’ve made buying a home solar power system as easy as buying a car.”
The Bees & Bears process is simple for all stakeholders. Contractors prepare a quote for installing a photovoltaic system, heat pump, energy storage unit, or EV charging point. They then enter the key financial details of the quote in an online form, along with the customer’s personal details.
After a real-time credit check – similar to those used by real estate portals – financing by installments is approved within a few minutes. Government subsidies are pre-financed and taken into account once approval has been granted.
“Injecting additional capital on this scale will add significant momentum to the renewable energy sector,” said Jördis Heckt-Harbeck, financing expert at Linklaters. “Moreover, it enables financial institutions to shift toward more sustainable investment profiles. This commitment marks a major milestone in achieving a sustainably financed energy transition.”
Read the orginal article: https://www.eu-startups.com/2025/01/climate-fintech-bees-bears-locks-in-e500-million-in-financing-commitments-to-fund-home-energy-solutions/
