Vertus Energy, a pioneering Waste-to-X industrial biotech startup known for its advanced control of bacteria behavior, has successfully closed an €8.75 million seed funding round, as reported by EU Startups.
The funding, led by Energy Capital Ventures with participation from Blackbird, the Amadeus APEX Technology Fund, Aussie Angels, and existing investors, marks a significant milestone for Vertus Energy. It will be utilized to expand their flagship product, BRIO, into pilot projects aimed at revolutionizing biogas technology.
BRIO, developed through extensive research and development, accelerates biomethane production up to three times faster than current methods, boosting energy output by as much as 60% from the same amount of waste.
Benjamin Howard, Co-founder and COO leading operations from the UK, expressed the company's commitment to advancing sustainable energy solutions: “Vertus Energy is determined to radically improve access to sustainable energy and help Europe meet its renewable energy objectives.”
Vic Pascucci, Managing General Partner and Co-founder of Energy Capital Ventures, highlighted their confidence in Vertus Energy's technology and team: “We backed Vertus Energy because they have a fantastic team, clearly demonstrative technology and verifiable results that vastly surpass competitive options.”
Founded in 2021, Vertus Energy strategically chose Vienna as its regional headquarters to leverage Europe's growing biomethane production landscape, which saw a 30% increase in AD plant infrastructure by April 2023, totaling 1,322 biomethane-producing facilities.
The funding infusion will accelerate Vertus Energy's strategy to deploy BRIO technology across commercial units in wastewater treatment and biogas plants, reinforcing their position in the renewable energy sector.
Wolfgang Neubert, General Partner at the Amadeus APEX Technology Fund, emphasized their investment rationale: “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.”
