On 24 and 25 January 2023, the European Innovation Council organised an EIC Investor Day on Industrial Tech. During the matchmaking event, EIC-backed innovators had the opportunity to pitch their business solutions related to Logistics, Drones, Drones software & Robotics, Connectivity & IoT and Construction & Advanced materials.
Industrial technology is the set of knowledge (principles, tools, devices, etc.) from different sectors applied to key areas to make production more effective, faster, efficient and productive. These results are achieved through the application of this knowledge which can be in the form of software or hardware, thus optimising processes and maximising their potential. Computers, robots, management systems, sensors and other devices, are just some of the examples of how this technology is applied.
In total, 21 EIC innovators had the opportunity to pitch their innovations to a wide array of European investors, including Amadeus Capital Partners, Contrarian Ventures, Diffusion Capital Partners, Earlybird Venture Capital, EQT Ventures, Experior Venture Fund, High-Tech Gründerfonds, Inven Capital, Iris Capital, Matterwave VC, NGP Capital, Octopus Ventures, Robert Bosch Venture Capital GmbH.
After the event, we got together with the four winners of the pitching sessions, namely Mulundu Sichone from PYDRO, Brain Jester from SYNOVANCE, Elias Kleinmann from Wingtra and Hendrik Thamer from Cellumation.
Hendrik Thamer, Cellumation (Winner of the pitch on ‘Logistics’)
Cellumation's innovation is the celluveyor, a multi-functional software-driven conveying and positioning system designed to make material flow systems faster, completely flexible and more efficient. The system's core consists of hexagonal cells with several individually driven omnidirectional wheels. These cells form a flat surface, in a "Lego"-like structure, with the moving wheels uppermost. Objects sit on this surface and are moved by the action of the turning wheels. Each system takes up to 95% less space than competing systems, can handle all functions required and the function can be changed by customers' staff with a few clicks on a laptop.
As to why Hendrik participated in this event, he commented: “Due to our very good experiences with events of the EIC, we were immediately hooked. We saw the opportunity to present ourselves in front of many renowned VC firms in the field of Deep Tech as a great chance. Since we are currently in a financing round, the event was of course a great opportunity to present ourselves.”
Elias Kleinmann, Wingtra (Winner of the pitch on ‘Drones’)
Wingtra is a professional drone manufacturer based in Zurich, Switzerland. The company produces the VTOL WingtraOne drone, which collects high-precision aerial data for surveying and mapping applications.
Elias, no stranger to BAS matchmaking events, was impressed with the event itself, noting that: “It was very professionally organised, especially for a remote event! Everything just worked. Also, the feedback for the pitch improvement was very relevant. Besides winning the pitching session we got three relevant 1-on-1 meetings, which is a good outcome for us.”
Mulundu Sichone, PYDRO (winner of the pitch on ‘Connectivity and IoT’)
PYDRO is a German cleantech company that develops self-powered smart-monitoring solutions for water networks. They have developed the world's first self-powered flowmeter for precise water monitoring. Their IoT sensor utilises energy from the flow of water to power itself, eliminating the need for external power. It accurately measures flow pressure and temperature in water pipes and features seamless device-to-cloud communication, making it a cost-effective solution for large-scale deployment.
Mulundu received the EIC Accelerator Blended Finance last year, which includes a grant component and an investment. By participating in the event, he hopes to connect with potential investors and secure the necessary co-funding to continue growing and developing our business: “The event was a great opportunity for our startup to present our company to many potential investors. It was a focused event on Industrial Tech, and it gave us a chance to present to investors who are more interested in the area our company is operating in. It would be great to have more events in the future that focus specifically on water startups, as it would provide more opportunities for companies like ours to connect with potential investors and partners.”
Brian Jester, SYNOVANCE (Winner of the pitch on ‘Construction and Advanced Materials’)
SYNOVANCE is a deeptech strain engineering-bioproduction company that is using Precision Fermentation to address global problems. Using their Synthetic Genomics platform, they engineer robust industrial strains faster & cheaper than ever before.
Brain was particularly impressed with the pitching training he received before the event, helping him to win his pitching session. He commented that “the pitching coach had a good vision. It’s not easy to relay your message in five moments, you have no words to waste. He was able to help me focus on the message that had to be delivered in such a short format. In the end, I managed to trim all the extras and get straight to the point.”
About the EIC Business Acceleration Services Investor Programme
This opportunity is brought to you by the EIC Business Acceleration Services. The EIC Business Acceleration Services – Investor Programme is connecting EIC beneficiaries with the most prominent European Business Angels, VCs, and CVCs. EIC beneficiaries can participate in monthly ePitching events or larger EIC Investor Day with the opportunity to showcase their innovations in pitching competitions and meet investors in private one-to-one meetings. To explore other opportunities to connect with investors in Europe, keep an eye on our events page.
For a short impression of our Investor-events, please check the YouTube video below.
