At Vertus Energy, we‘re driven by the purpose to Deliver Energy Justice for All. With a vision of decentralised bio-energy hubs, globally. Where waste is the primary resource for energy production to provide communities with equitable access to clean, affordable and carbon neutral energy. We will achieve this by researching, developing and commercially deploying innovation that makes bioenergy production more efficient. This places us firmly at the epicenter of innovation in the Waste-to-X* industry.
Today, we are thrilled to announce a major milestone in our journey – the successful closure of an EUR 8.75 million seed funding round. This substantial investment, spearheaded by global investor Energy Capital Ventures®, and supported by Blackbird, the Amadeus APEX Technology Fund, and Aussie Angels, alongside our existing investors Icehouse Ventures/Outset Ventures, Startmate and NOAB Ventures, marks a pivotal moment in our pursuit to scale and commercially deploy our flagship product, BRIO.
Unveiling BRIO: A Game-Changer in Biomethane Production
BRIO is our flagship product from our pioneering platform technology that enables advanced control of anaerobic bacteria. Born from extensive research and development, BRIO addresses critical inefficiencies in the biomethane production process with unparalleled efficacy. Here’s what sets BRIO apart:
Accelerated Biomethane Generation: BRIO can generate biomethane up to three times faster than existing technologies, significantly enhancing the speed and efficiency of biogas production.
Enhanced Energy Output: By boosting energy production by up to 60% from the same amount of waste, BRIO maximises the potential of available resources.
Versatile and Scalable: BRIO's flexibility allows it to service the entire industry, regardless of scale, and it can be seamlessly integrated into existing anaerobic digestion (AD) plants.
Adaptable to Diverse Systems: By controlling existing bacteria rather than introducing new strains, BRIO can utilize any waste stream, making it highly adaptable to various operational environments.
Driving Commercial Adoption and Impact
The fresh infusion of capital will be directed towards accelerating the commercial adoption of BRIO across diverse applications with pilot plant projects across Europe. From full-scale wastewater treatment plants to large-scale biogas facilities, BRIO’s deployment will be instrumental in enhancing the renewable energy ecosystem.
The global biogas market, projected to grow at an annual rate of 5.2% from 2020 to 2030, underscores the immense potential of this sector. With the market expected to reach $86.7 billion by 2030, BRIO’s innovative technology positions us at the forefront of this growth trajectory.
Strategic Expansion in Europe
Europe is poised to be a major player in the biogas market, with ambitious targets to produce 35 billion cubic meters (bcm) of biomethane annually by 2030. In alignment with this vision, Vertus Energy has strategically established its regional headquarters in Vienna, Austria. This move allows us to expand our influence across Europe and the UK, where the existing AD plant infrastructure has seen significant growth, boasting a 30% increase to 1,322 biomethane-producing facilities by April 2023.
Leading the operations from the UK, Co-founder and COO, Benjamin Howard will focus on delivering Vertus Energy projects across Europe and implementing a strategy for global commercialisation.
“Vertus Energy is determined to radically improve access to sustainable energy and help Europe meet its renewable energy objectives,” he says. “Thanks to the backing of our proprietary BRIO technology by world-class investors, we’re able to deliver some key objectives.
“We’ve already established relationships with global players, who have recognised how the technology can help them to meet their renewable energy goals and are genuinely excited by what we can deliver. It’s an incredible time for us as we partner with companies to pursue an enormous common benefit, impacting on global energy equity, sustainability and resilience. BRIO is the first of many innovations we’re working on; but our purpose remains the same. ‘Delivering Energy Justice for All’.”
Shaping a Sustainable Future
At Vertus Energy, our commitment to sustainability is unwavering. We believe that innovative technologies like BRIO are crucial in addressing the world’s energy challenges. By transforming waste into valuable resources, we are not only contributing to energy security but also promoting environmental stewardship.
The successful seed funding round is a testament to the confidence our investors have in our vision and technology. We are excited to embark on this next phase of growth, driving the adoption of BRIO and making a tangible impact on the renewable energy landscape.
Vic Pascucci, Managing General Partner and Cofounder of Energy Capital Ventures, comments: “As the only venture capital fund solely dedicated to green molecules™, we have devoted the last several years to analysing technologies and start-ups in biogas, biomethanation and renewable natural gas. It was abundantly clear from our exhaustive due diligence that Vertus Energy’s technology, commercial progress and team were far superior to anything in the market. We backed Vertus Energy because they have a fantastic team, clearly demonstrative technology and verifiable results that vastly surpass competitive options.”
For Wolfgang Neubert, General Partner at the Amadeus APEX Technology Fund, it was the scientific data that drew them to invest. He comments: “We were impressed by Vertus’ commitment to deep-tech innovation and their solid foundation of scientific data. It aligned perfectly with our focus on supporting companies that are not only driven by innovation but also committed to sustainability. Looking through a long-term lens, we are excited by BRIO’s potential for further advancements in the biogas market and look forward to uncovering those broader possibilities, with Vertus being positioned at the forefront of the sustainable energy push.”
Join Us on This Journey
As we forge ahead, we invite stakeholders, partners, and industry leaders to join us in this transformative journey. Together, we can harness the power of biomethane technology to create a cleaner, more sustainable future.
Thank you for your continued support and belief in our purpose. The future of renewable energy is bright, and with BRIO, we are poised to lead the way.
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*Waste-to-X refers to the process of converting waste materials into valuable products such as energy, fuels, or chemicals.*
About Vertus Energy:
Vertus is an industrial biotechnology company pioneering the Waste to X industry by developing and commercialising advanced control of bacteria behaviour. Vertus’ flagship product, BRIO, creates the platform for Vertus to control the bacteria within anaerobic digestion plants by retrofitting their modular hardware unit that has the ability to generate 60% more energy; 3 times faster. Vertus Energy is determined to democratise access to sustainable energy through its advanced BRIO technology and its purpose of delivery energy justice for all. Vertus Energy is beginning its contribution to the global transition by turbocharging biomethane production for a more resilient, versatile and sustainable energy system. Led by the accomplished founding team of Dr Danilo Perez, Santiago de los Reyes, Benjamin Howard and Freddy Gonzalez.
About Energy Capital Ventures:
Energy Capital Ventures®️ is the only early-stage venture fund solely dedicated to the sustainability, resilience and the digital transformation of the natural gas industry. In addition to this unique thesis which makes the firm champions for innovation in Green Molecules™, Energy Capital Ventures further differentiates itself with a deep integration and customised engagement with its corporate limited partners, all of whom are critical stakeholders in the energy industry. This model enables ECV to bring together the technology of the startup ecosystem with the scale of the natural gas industry for true game-changing, generational impact.
For the first time, entrepreneurs have a front door to access the natural gas industry. By investing in category-defining leaders, we bring the latest innovations and technological advancement to future-proof the natural gas value chain.
About APEX Ventures and the Amadeus APEX Technology Fund:
APEX Ventures is a European venture capital firm focusing on deep tech companies. The team acts not only as investors but also as company builders with a mission to support the most talented startup teams in building global market leaders. The team is based in Vienna and Munich. The Amadeus APEX Technology Fund is a partnership between Amadeus Capital Partners and APEX Ventures to support deep tech early-stage startups. The fund invests in seed and series A deep tech ventures with innovative technology and engineering based on significant scientific advances.mLaunched in early 2023, the €80M fund will invest in sectors that include artificial intelligence and machine learning; quantum technologies and photonics; mobility and space innovation; autonomous systems and robotics; and other emerging deep tech areas. The fund’s investment committee includes Amadeus Capital Partners’ Anne Glover, Hermann Hauser, and APEX Ventures’ Andreas Riegler and Wolfgang Neubert.
About Blackbird Ventures:
Blackbird is based in Australia and New Zealand. They invest in the Wildest Hearts with the Wildest Ideas. From the very beginning. They invest in every type of technology from software to space, united by the biggest of ambitions. They back generational ambition with generational belief by raising funds, investing in the best startup companies all the way through their journey from idea to beyond IPO. Their portfolio is worth over $7B and includes some of the most successful Aussie and Kiwi starts including Canva, Zoox, SafetyCulture, Culture Amp and Halter. They back companies tackling the worlds greatest problems, led by founders doing their life’s work.
Further investors in this round include New Zealand-based Icehouse Ventures and Outset Ventures, Australasian Startmate, Australian climate-tech syndicate Aussie Angels and strategic clean-tech expert John Wood with NOAB Ventures.