Rockstart Energy is a domain-focused accelerator-VC with follow-on growth funding which will invest in early stage businesses contributing to the energy transition. We select and support early stage startups with high impact potential, ‘accelerate’ them through our Energy program into investable businesses, and co-invest in subsequent funding rounds. Our customized program runs on average 1 week per month for 6 months, mostly at our HQ in Amsterdam.
APPLICATIONS ARE CLOSED
The innovations driving the energy transition represent a major opportunity for disruptive, agile, tech-focused startups since we have passed a tipping point. The top-down, centralized, fossil fuel system is being disrupted by smart, decarbonized, digitalized and decentralized models, offering abundant, clean, renewable, local energy.
Old and new energy cost curves are now crossing and will diverge, driving massive and accelerating structural change. We target European businesses (see also FAQ’s) whose success will drive significant societal impact. Three areas we are mostly looking at are:
HARVEST & CAPTURE
Exploiting & optimizing the available distributed & ambient resources of sustainable energy.
EXCHANGE & STORAGE
Grid infrastructure and energy storage facilities to balance, optimize and transact between demand/supply of local energy, in real time.
SERVICES & APPLICATION
Integrate efficient or self-sufficient clean energy in valuable products, services and facilities across smart buildings, cities, mobility, industry.
Contributing to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals:
Rockstart provides startups with access to the capital, market, community, and expertise by connecting them to and further working with strategic partners, investors, mentors and our extended network. We create programs that are customized to boost collaboration between startups and corporates, driving faster access to co-creation, commercial partnerships, and investment.
In practice, the program consists of one Deep Dive Week per month which will be organized in person or virtual/ remote. Here we focus on specific themes as – among others – Funding, Pitching, Sales, Financials to sharpen your business to become successful. We will:
The content design will be based on your stage and feedback as well as our own observations and assessment to deliver a high quality and customized program which matches your changing needs. Basically we will try everything needed to get you on the right path to success and play an important role in the energy transition!
Market
We connect founders with the most relevant industry players and facilitate the process in order to drive partnerships and pilot customers for the startups in the Energy program.
Expertise
We have brought together an impressive lineup of mentors whose expertise entails nearly all areas of the energy business – from corporate to startup, tech to financial, grid to light bulb.
Community
We give founders access to Rockstart's international community of portfolio companies, provide access to external events and state-of-the-art research know-how and talent.
Capital
We offer follow-on co-investments in subsequent funding rounds and organize events in which we match startups with local and international investors from Rockstart's network to help find a lead investor.
accelerated
startups
follow-on
funding rate
funding raised
(MILLION)
exits
realized
total alumni
value
total jobs
created
68% Follow-on Funding rate for all Energy Programs
€18+ Mio. in total raised by all Energy portfolio companies
75% Follow-on Funding rate from last Energy Program (2018/ 2019)
€5.2 Mio. raised by portfolio companies from last Energy Program 2018/2019 (within 1.5 years)
"By attending the Rockstart Smart Energy program we mostly reduced our time to market, not only by meeting with expert mentors to fine tune the business plan but also by having the right warm intros into key customers and the right investors. I particularly remember the speed of relevant things happening."
"Rockstart has been an effective launchpad to stand upon as a startup! And much of it can be attributed to the two Freerk and Julian, who genuinely had the interests of us as a startup in their mind. And also, the mostly efficient machinery that is Rockstart that delivers effectively."
"Besides the fundamentals (mentoring, workshops, networking) Rockstart has been and remains to be very helpful in fundraising. Their wide network in energy venturing has helped us find the right investor and their experience in start-up funding ensured setting up a deal structure that was right for everyone."
"Rockstart was instrumental to our growth as a startup. We benefited greatly from engaging with the community and several mentors and, in fact, found our first group of investors within the same Rockstart network connected through its program events."
"Rockstart was a game changer for FlexiDAO since it helped us unlock value that would have been very hard for us to reach. Firstly, senior mentors from different backgrounds helped us as an advisory board from multiple angles (technology, energy, finance, etc.). Secondly, a great network: we closed a sales contract with a utility through the network and signed an investment agreement with a VC from the community. Last but not least, working with top tier startups in the clean tech domain was very enriching - I didn't expect to learn so much from each other."
"For us, the most valuable was the network and mentoring which enable advice and help from in and outside the Rockstart community. The mentors are very hands-on which is the best a startup can wish for. The check-ins with Freerk always lead to new connection or action."
Freerk Bisschop
Managing Partner Energy at Rockstart
Julian Jacob
Manager Accelerator Programs at Rockstart
Nick Stokman
Investment Director at Rockstart Ventures Management
Hongsie Namingha
Program Associate Energy at Rockstart
Artem Galchenko
Venture Analytics Lead at Rockstart
Gem Kua
Venture Analyst at Rockstart
If your team is dedicated to turning your startup into a high-growth company that drives positive change, Rockstart Energy is a radical opportunity to push your startup forward. Rockstart has run multiple accelerator programs since 2012, assembled an extensive mentor, partner, and investor network and developed a customized curriculum that provides validation opportunities and hands-on access to experts in the Energy field. Rockstart Energy offers follow-on investments (as a co-investor) in participating startups up until years after the program.
Yes. Your investor(s) would probably like you to join a Program because they know what kind of support you can get by participating. Seed investors often spend a lot of time to coach the companies they invest in to increase their survival rate, but cannot organize a mentor network or provide the expertise that an accelerator can. Rockstart’s Energy Program will help you to scale faster and bring your startup to the next level by teaching your team how to think through your business proposition, open doors that have been closed, help you with funding, marketing & PR and make sure you lay the foundation for growth plus lots more. We tailor the program to meet your needs.
Rockstart Energy is looking for startups with a team that already runs a business and has traction. Ideally, the team already consists of not only the co-founders but has also hired its first employees. You and your teammates should have complementary skills and positive team dynamics to be able to make your business work. Team dynamics is, in fact, a critical component of the selection process.
Startups accepted to the Rockstart Energy Program receive a convertible note of in total €100,000 – consisting of €35,000 cash and €65,000 in-kind investment. The in-kind investment is the Energy Program (see also question 5., more about the program content in a section above).
The €65k is based on cost-prices of program activities and many bulk-buy services, -tools and -privileges. These include essentials for every startup that could easily cost you twice as much outside the program, such as workshop & sessions (group & 1on1), networking events (e.g. investor events, mentor events), connections to potential customers, external management assessment, intensive mentorship, support in legal setup, documentation, tax, accountancy & subsidy questions, software packages through our startups deals (https://www.rockstart.com/deals/), entrance tickets for conferences, a program team dedicated to you and a lot of small things you do not think of.
There are several components that make up our selection criteria. Firstly, we believe in the power of a great team. It is important that you have a strong team in place with a track record, motivation and potential. We’re also looking for innovation. It doesn’t mean that you have to come up with a totally original idea, but your execution of that idea has to be unique. Here, we focus on digital tech (more about it in a section above) and companies that are data driven. You should have a running business which is incorporated in the European Economic Area (see also question 9.), shows some traction and ideally has already its first customers or users. Since we’re looking to change the world with the startups we work with, there needs to be a clear mission of how your company helps drive positive change in the energy domain.
In order for us to help you get the most out of the program, we’re primarily looking for startups that have developed at least a MVP (Minimal Viable Product), have customers or users and some traction. However, if your idea is still on the back of a napkin at the moment or just at the beginning of the startup journey, we still encourage you to apply for our program to get visible on our radar, start to know each other and can keep an eye on you. We could then suggest your next steps and what it needs to get ready for us.
Rockstart’s Energy Program is based in the heart of the startup hub Amsterdam. Known for its entrepreneurial climate, open lifestyle, and central location, it is the place for any startup to grow internationally. And no, you do not have to relocate. While designing the program, we aim to be as founder-friendly as possible. We require 2-3 core team members to be in Amsterdam one week per month throughout the duration of the program to participate in our Deep Dive Weeks. This helps us to ensure a soft landing for your startup in a new market and for you to get the best of our network.
Yes, there are geographical restrictions. We only invest in startups from the European Economic Area – that means they need to be already incorporated in one of the Member States of the European Union (EU) or Iceland, Liechtenstein or Norway.
If you have more questions, please send us an e-mail at team@rockstart.com.
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