French energy tech startup Inicio, which helps turn land into solar projects using technology and local partners, has raised €4 million in a seed funding round to accelerate the energy transition. The round was led by ISAI, with participation from EDF Pulse Croissance Holding and CapHorn.
- Founded in 2022 by Thomas Moulia, Romain Batby, and Lucas Petigny, Inicio accelerates solar energy development by connecting landowners with solar developers through a streamlined, tech-driven process.
- It uses a proprietary algorithm based on image recognition and data analysis to scan vast areas and identify sites with high solar potential.
- According to the startup, the algorithm can analyze all of France in under 48 hours and has already reviewed 170 million hectares across Europe, identifying over 15,000 viable plots in France.
- Once potential land is flagged, Inicio conducts site visits and technical assessments to confirm feasibility, then facilitates agreements between landowners and developers.
- The process is fully guided for landowners, from initial analysis to a customized project proposal, while developers gain access to pre-qualified sites via a dedicated platform with detailed risk evaluations.
Details of the deal
- The investment round was led by French VC firm ISAI, EDF Pulse, and CapHorn, a Paris-based venture capital firm that invests in climate tech, health tech, and enterprise software, with ticket sizes ranging from €1 million to €15 million.
- With the fresh €4 million funding, Inicio plans to accelerate its growth by multiplying high-potential solar opportunities in France, reinforcing its presence in Italy, and expanding across Europe.
