- The corporate venturing vehicle of the Estabanell Group has selected Wattium, eRoots, Clevergy and 4BlueTech to participate in its acceleration program.
- The selected startups address challenges in energy generation, distribution and commercialization with solutions in storage, smart grids, energy management and CO₂ capture.
- The equity-free acceleration program started today with a two-day intensive bootcamp powered by ERIA and ÁticcoLab.
- At the end of the program, startups will have access to Estabanell’s infrastructure to test and validate their solutions in a real environment.
Barcelona, May 19, 2025. ERIA, the corporate venturing vehicle of the energy and telecommunications group Estabanell, has launched today the second edition of its acceleration program in which four startups from the energy sector will participate: Wattium, eRoots, Clevergy, 4BlueTech. ERIA’s acceleration program seeks to identify and promote technological solutions that address Estabanell’s main challenges in energy generation, distribution and commercialization. These companies represent the evolution and future of energy as they propose innovative solutions to drive a more efficient and sustainable energy model.
Start-up of a highly specialized equity-free program
ERIA’s acceleration program kicked off today with a two-day bootcamp at Áticco MED, where startups will participate in training sessions, practical workshops and networking spaces. The activities are led by ÁticcoLab and Estabanell, specialized in boosting the maturity and scalability of projects through training in financing, marketing, sales and other key aspects.
With a duration of six months and under an equity-free model, ERIA’s acceleration program provides personalized support in the business and technological areas, and includes a grant of up to 10,000 euros non-refundable. At the end of the acceleration program, the most advanced startups will have the opportunity to test their solutions in a real environment, thanks to the Estabanell group’s infrastructure. During this time, each startup will be accompanied by high-level mentors from ÁticcoLab and Estabanell. These mentors will offer strategic guidance, support in defining the business model, technical support and connection with potential customers and investors.
Innovation in the energy sector
Each startup participating in the acceleration program responds to one of the four challenges set by ERIA aligned with trends in the energy sector:
The startup selected for this challenge is:
Wattium (formerly Napptilus Battery Labs): a startup that has developed high-power energy storage batteries that can transform the operation of the power grid. The batteries, developed from lithium-free organic nanomaterials and ‘rare’ materials, charge in just five minutes, have 20 times the lifetime of conventional batteries, cost five times less, and are safe and sustainable. The company estimates to reduce manufacturing costs by 82%, is validating the first prototypes and has started the industrialization process. Wattium’s research team works at the Institut Català de Nanociència i Nanotecnologia (ICN2) and the developed technology already has three registered patents. The startup has raised €1.3 million to date and has opened a €6 million financing round that ends in October of this year.
Power distribution challenge: Autonomous grid operation with AI. Development of solutions based on artificial intelligence to optimize the operational efficiency of power grids, reduce manual intervention and adapt to fluctuations in demand and generation.
The startup selected for this challenge is:
eRoots: startup specialized in the development of software for the planning and operation of electrical grids. Its technology optimizes the operation of the electricity system, streamlines operators’ workflows and improves the analysis of complex networks in a context of increasing penetration of renewable energies. eRoots is a spinoff of the CITCEA research group of the Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya (UPC) and has more than ten years of applied research. Its tools include GridCal, GSLV and eRoots Map, and it holds two European patents. The eRoots software has exceeded one million downloads and has been used in projects on four continents. Since its inception in 2022, eRoots has raised more than €1.5M in non-dilutive funding.
Energy Marketing Challenge: EaaS (Energy as a Service) services for B2C. Creation of flexible and sustainable energy management models for end consumers, supported by connected devices and battery storage.
The startup selected for this challenge is:
Clevergy: a flexible and scalable technology platform that helps energy marketers optimize their operational efficiency and support consumers’ transition to a more sustainable energy model. Clevergy makes it easier for energy traders, installers and energy advisors to manage customers and operations, centralize services and improve customer service. The startup offers digital tools for self-consumption, advanced analytics and energy management, and enables integration with devices and distributors without the need for additional hardware, as well as enabling white label applications or modular integrations with existing apps. The startup helps hundreds of thousands of households to understand, optimize and manage their consumption through the country’s main retailers. It is also supported by funds such as Zubi, Earth and Finaves.
Energy trading challenge: Carbon neutral services for B2B. Development of solutions to help companies reduce their CO₂ emissions, meet climate targets and generate value through sustainability.
The startup selected for this challenge is:
4BlueTech: startup pioneer in the capture of CO₂ and NOx through advanced biotechnology, uses microalgae and bacteria to create a natural ecosystem that combats climate change. Its modular and portable solution allows capturing and certifying emissions through a SaaS platform with real-time traceability and generation of tokenized carbon credits. The company offers a sustainable alternative for industrial decarbonization, supporting companies and consumers in reducing their carbon footprint and meeting global sustainability goals. 4BlueTech leads a European project for the conversion of CO₂ into biofuels (Marine and eSAF) together with companies from the cement, aerospace and geothermal sectors. It has the support of ACCIÓ and Business Finland, alliances with Fujitsu and Microsoft, and collaborates with clients such as CSIC and the Port of Barcelona Foundation in decarbonization pilots. The startup is focused on the pre-sale of carbon credits and expects to open an investment round of 2.5 million euros in the fourth quarter of 2025.
ERIA ‘s Director, Josep Solé, highlights: “We are very pleased to kick off the second edition of the acceleration program, which has had more than 70 applicants, reflecting the growing interest in ERIA’s acceleration program and also the potential of the energy sector, key to the transition towards a more sustainable model. The startups selected for this edition of the program represent the future of energy, as they anticipate innovative solutions that address the sector’s current challenges and lead the way towards a more efficient, sustainable and adapted energy model for tomorrow’s needs”.
Success of the first edition of ERIA’s acceleration program
The first edition of the acceleration program, held in 2024, brought together four startups (Atom H2, Clever Social Devices, Zenit and Ahyres), with very positive results. Currently, Estabanell continues to collaborate with Zenit to evaluate its solution in a real environment, a platform that connects energy producers and consumers to promote shared self-consumption and the creation of energy communities. Estabanell will soon conduct a proof of concept with Clever Solar Devices, whose technology digitizes the maintenance of photovoltaic installations, improves data accuracy and optimizes the performance of solar panels. Atom H2 has recently connected for the second time its hydrogen storage device to an Estabanell electrical substation, an innovative solution that allows storing renewable energy in the form of green hydrogen and re-injecting it into the grid when needed. ERIA is committed to collaboration between corporations and startups, offering support that goes beyond the acceleration program: it facilitates the actual testing of their technologies and gives them continuity to further boost their growth.
In addition to the acceleration program, ERIA also promotes a venture client program for the execution of proofs of concept with startups, and an intrapreneurship program for the development of solutions within the Estabanell Group. In a second phase, ERIA plans to launch a venture building program to create and promote startups from scratch, as well as to open the possibility of investing in startups either directly or through venture capital companies.
About ERIA
ERIA is the Corporate Venturing vehicle of the Estabanell Group that seeks to position it as an energy and telecommunications group of the future, and to lead a rapid response to the challenges and market opportunities identified by its different businesses and that favor a positive impact on society.
About Estabanell
Estabanell is a leading energy group that operates in all phases of the energy life cycle: renewable energy generation, electricity distribution, energy marketing and energy efficiency services. Estabanell also operates in the telecommunications sector and in the commercialization of other solutions for the home and business, with a vision of an integral provider of well-being.
For more information:
Bárbara Jiménez | barbara@artv.es | 621 183 248
Adriana Ribas | adriana@artv.es | 650 012 922
