Amsterdam, May 11, 2022: Rockstart, global early stage investor, and sustainable energy company Ørsted will collaborate to identify innovations for a future powered by renewable energy. The partnership will identify and accelerate innovative startups with solutions for renewable energy with the goal of piloting their technology and mature it for scaling across the industry. The two companies will launch an accelerator program focused on energy system integration as part of Ørsted’s new Innovation Hub in the Netherlands. The Innovation Hub and a dedicated Ventures and Open Innovation team will connect the regional innovation ecosystem with Ørsted’s industry leading expertise and resources.
Rockstart has a strong track record in the energy sector since 2014 and has also raised the Rockstart Energy fund from which it has invested in 19 startups from seven European countries since its launch in October 2020.
Ørsted develops, constructs, and operates offshore and onshore wind farms, solar farms, energy storage facilities, renewable hydrogen and green fuels facilities, and bioenergy plants. In the Netherlands, Ørsted has built the Borssele 1&2 offshore wind farm.
Ørsted is a leader in the transition to clean energy which is urgently needed both from a climate and security perspective and we are proud to partner with them. By partnering with Ørsted we aim to empower more purpose driven founders to develop renewable energy solutions and build a sustainable and resilient energy system. We believe this partnership and program is a great opportunity for energy startup founders to fastrack their solutions by having them tested and ready for commercial use.Rune Theill, CEO and Co-Founder, Rockstart
Innovation is crucial in the energy transition. It has been the key to the success of the offshore wind industry in Europe. We are confident that together with Rockstart we can successfully support promising systems integration initiatives. We are facing major challenges in the transition to a Netherlands that runs entirely on green energy. Think of solutions for electricity surpluses and shortages, network instability and bottlenecks. We look forward to further helping the Netherlands in achieving all climate objectives with our new Innovation Hub, especially for promising companies and initiatives.Rasmus Errboe, SVP, Head of Continental Europe , Ørsted
Rockstart has run over 30 programs dedicated to startups innovating in tech, energy, agtech and and foodtech since its founding in 2011. To date Rockstart has leveraged an international network of investors, mentors, experts and corporate partners to support over 260 ventures, who have raised more than €150m of funding.
The Ørsted vision is a world that runs entirely on green energy. Ørsted ranks as the world’s most sustainable energy company in Corporate Knights' 2022 index of the Global 100 most sustainable corporations in the world and is recognised on the CDP Climate Change A List as a global leader on climate action.
About Rockstart
Rockstart is an early stage investor that empowers purpose-driven founders across three domains: Energy, AgriFood, and Emerging Technologies.
Rockstart invests in early-stage startups from each of the three funds and provides access to capital, market, and expertise by connecting founders with co-investors, mentors, partners, corporates, and the wider Rockstart network.
Rockstart has invested in more than 350 startups and its alumni value to date is more than €1.6bn. Rockstart is an international team of 45+ professionals dedicated to empowering purpose-driven founders to become scalable and drive positive change on a global scale. Rockstart has notable exits such asWercker, Dan.com, Hubs.Com, Bouw7, iClinic, and s and Brincr. The company has offices in Amsterdam, Copenhagen, and Bogota.
Contact details
Related topics
Related news
Ørsted Propel partners with four energy storage startups
Rockstart annouces that Ørsted will partner with four ventures of the Ørsted Propel acceleration program. Ørsted and Rockstart have teamed up and launched Ørsted Propel to accelerate startups with...
Rockstart, AMS Institute and the City of Amsterdam launch the Amsterdam Circular investor readiness program
Amsterdam Circular investor readiness program is designed to support early stage circular startups developing solutions in food, energy, mobility, digitization, biobased and circular construction, ...
Ørsted Propel selects its first startups
Rockstart and Ørsted announce that the first startups for the Ørsted Propel acceleration program have been selected. The four-month open innovation program is kicking off this February.
The Ørsted Propel program is now open for applications
Rockstart announces that the Ørsted Propel program is now open for applications. With a tailor-made program designed by Rockstart, the Propel program seeks to accelerate up to ten startups.