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Story 04 May 2022
Public

EIC e-Pitching on Space and Transport: Helping innovation take flight

E-pitching on space and transport European Innovation Council
Rita Catalao

The European Innovation Council (EIC) just wrapped its first event under the Ecosystem Partnerships and Co-Investment Support programme. The e-pitching on Space and Transport gave 7 innovative companies the chance to pitch their solutions to investors on April 27, connecting EIC innovators to private capital holders. Curious? Learn all about what participating investors and companies had to say about the event, and look out for the next opportunity!

 

The EIC e-pitching on Space and Transport focused on two of the most dynamic sectors to keep a lookout for. While Space is an emerging area in the European economy, with many opportunities yet to explore, Transport is a changing field with a vital role to play in the ongoing green transition.

By inviting investors to get to know 7 of the most innovative Space and Transport solutions in its portfolio, the EIC is working on two fronts: supporting the fundraising journeys of its beneficiaries and raising investor awareness about the EIC companies.

Daze Technology , AVILOO, ONO, Avy presented their innovations for the Transport sector, while Limatech, Nimesis and Xsun showed their work in the Space area. From electric mobility to drones, the EIC innovators covered a variety of interesting angles to advance and optimize the Space and Transport sectors. 

 

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An opportunity for investors

Aside from providing opportunities for its beneficiaries, the EIC pitching events can also help investors discover the most promising innovative solutions in their sectors.

Alexandre Mencik, investor, business angel and founder of the Space Platform, took part in the jury and chose to attend the event to discover new opportunities in the Space sector. To Mencik, the appeal of the EIC portfolio lies in the fact that these companies already have the support of “one of the largest investors in the world”. 

He found the EIC innovators “well-prepared”, with “high-quality” presentations given by senior representatives and covering all necessary topics, though disclosing varying levels of information depending on the sector. The sessions, he assures, would be interesting to anyone looking to invest in the areas covered.

Aside from being Europe-based and operating in the sectors that they are looking into, Odette Yga Aguirre, who represented Statkraft Ventures in the event, stresses that the companies selected to pitch had the appeal of having been “hand-picked”.

To her, an interesting company must show the relevant industry experience, exhibit entrepreneurship, operate in a big enough market and offer a solution with a market fit that differentiates it from its competitors, as well as exhibit good financials and current traction. She found her expectations for the event met, and is looking into two of the start-ups that pitched.

 

“I looked at the startups and some of them were new, and others looked interesting to learn more about. And it’s important for us to put ourselves out there and get more awareness about Statkraft Ventures.” Odette Yga Aguirre, Associate, Statkraft Ventures.

 
 

Space and Transport companies reaching the skies

Even on the company side, AVILOO Chief Operations Officer/Chief Financial Officer Marcus Berger also highlights the added visibility as one of the main opportunities in the EIC e-pitching sessions.

Berger considers AVILOO’s solution “the right product in the right timing”. With AVILOO, those buying used electric vehicles can accurately assess the state of health of their batteries. The AVILOO Box is a piece of hardware one can connect to the car’s interface, which collects data such as current, voltage and temperature. Once transmitted into the AVILOO Data Cloud, the software’s algorithms will calculate the battery’s state of health and provide a TÜV approved certificate.

While immediate follow-ups from this sort of event don’t always materialize, Berger stresses that they are also useful for mid-term opportunities, so that once they come to the market in a future funding round, they are already known and have had venture capitalists listening to them.

 

“It wouldn’t be easy for us to speak to, let’s say, 20 or 30 VCs in 5 minutes, which is extremely efficient. And I can do that from my desk, I don’t have to travel to some kind of fair, so I think the opportunity is great. We just get this great visibility with a 5 minute pitch.” Markus Berger, AVILOO, COO/CFO.

 

Among the other companies pitching their solutions was DazeTechnology, which is manufacturing EV charger stations. Starting with their first product, DazeBox, a wallbox for home charging with a Dynamic Power Management system, they expanded to offer a range of solutions, including DazePlug, the first totally autonomous conductive charging system to automate recharge for Electric Vehicles.

Giacomo Zenoni, Co-founder of the company, used the pitch to explain DazeTechnology’s plans for developing new solutions and expanding to other areas of Europe, as well as their mid to long term vision. To Zenoni, EV charger stations are the connection between sustainable mobility and energy in the home.

For DazeTechnology, participating in the event seemed like a good opportunity because of the EIC’s ability to reach a lot of investors, but also because knowing that a project was “selected by the EU” renders them more involved in judging the company.

 

Learn more about the EIC Innovators

You can find the full list of companies who took part in the event here.

Stay tuned for upcoming opportunities under the EIC Ecosystem Partnerships and Co-Investment Support programme, such as the “EIC Pitching on Sustainability and Technology: Investing in the future”, on June 14.

 

About the EIC Ecosystem Partnerships and Co-Investment Support Programme

The new Ecosystem Partnerships and Co-Investment Support Programme is expanding the EIC’s Business Acceleration Services (BAS) by creating a network of specialized, sector-focused partners that can help innovators access the services they need. It is also dedicated to promoting co-investment along with the EIC Fund, by preparing beneficiaries to interact with investors and connecting them through matchmaking and dedicated events.

Should you have any questions regarding the event, please contact us through the email: joao.amaral@eicfund.eu.

DISCLAIMER: This information is provided in the interest of knowledge sharing and should not be interpreted as the official view of the European Commission, or any other organisation.

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