Energy KIC details new deal to support energy start-ups
KIC InnoEnergy and WiSEED, the leader of crowdfunding equity in France, have announced they are joining forces to support the most innovative cleantech start-ups across Europe.
The new collaboration sees start-ups that have been coached by KIC InnoEnergy benefit from the expertise of WiSEED, either through equity financing or business development coaching. WiSEED will also direct KIC InnoEnergy towards the energy start-ups that are not mature enough to launch a crowdfunding campaign.
Commenting on the announcement, Frédérique Pedreno, business creation officer at KIC InnoEnergy France, said: “Since 2010, we have collaborated with many stakeholders whose services really complement ours: RETIS, competitiveness clusters, business angels, incubators and investors. We are really enthusiastic about our collaboration with WiSEED, a key partner for innovative start-ups in the energy fields.”
KIC InnoEnergy and WiSEED provide complementary activities to support the development of start-ups within the French entrepreneurship ecosystem. KIC InnoEnergy coaches and finances more than 80 innovative start-ups in the sustainable energy field through its pan-European incubator located in eight countries, whilst WiSEED is the French pioneer of equity crowdfunding (crowdfunding capital) and allows individuals to invest in energy and green-tech technology start-ups.
Adding her thoughts, Stéphanie Savel, president of WiSEED, said: “Projects which develop more ecofriendly technologies, including sustainable energy, attract our investment community. Until now, they have represented more than a quarter of their investments. At the same time, we have developed an internal expertise in these fields and created a committee of external experts. Therefore, it makes perfect sense for WiSEED to be partnering with a company which core business is to promote the development of such innovations.”
Since 2009, WiSEED has provided funding of more than €15m to over 50 French companies in various fields that are considered to have a high growth potential.
