Berlin’s Trawa Secures €10M to Leverage AI for Simplifying Renewable Energy Purchases for SMEs

The devastating Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 shocked businesses reliant on oil and gas, thrusting renewable energy into a vital role for survival. Suddenly, the question arose: how can companies effectively procure renewable energy?

This challenge sparked the concept for trawa, a Berlin-based renewable energy supplier that recently secured €10 million in a seed funding round led by Balderton Capital. With this latest round, trawa has now raised over €12 million in total capital.

Trawa aims to simplify energy procurement and management for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) through two key innovations: an AI-driven platform that facilitates purchasing from renewable sources, and user-provided data detailing businesses' energy consumption patterns.

Amid Europe’s ongoing energy crisis, electricity prices have surged, reaching levels two to three times higher than those in the U.S. This spike has severely impacted Eurozone manufacturing, which has been in decline for over a year. Experts predict that German industry will shrink by 1.5% this year due to rising energy costs and interest rates.

While renewable energy presents an opportunity for businesses to mitigate these challenges, many companies face hurdles in navigating the complexities of green energy and ensuring a consistent supply.

Trawa’s co-founder and CEO, David Budde, conceived the idea of leveraging AI to optimize green energy procurement during his tenure at Bain & Company. He recognized that businesses were grappling with concurrent economic pressures and sustainability regulations.

“Prices soared, volatility intensified, and their core operations were affected. Suddenly, their products became unprofitable due to skyrocketing energy costs,” Budde explained. “Simultaneously, the European Commission and German government were implementing stricter regulations. Businesses had to confront both issues. In the past, transitioning to green electricity often came with a premium. That’s precisely where we step in.”

Budde emphasized that trawa equips SMEs—typically lacking energy procurement expertise—with the necessary tools to structure their energy purchasing. The AI analyzes consumption patterns and constructs an optimal energy mix from various sources. By purchasing electricity in staggered installments, trawa enables significant cost savings for its clients.

Additionally, trawa’s management software integrates with clients’ rooftop solar systems or batteries, enhancing their energy strategy. The startup claims that its AI-driven approach to purchasing and management can lead to annual energy cost savings of up to 30%.

Trawa has already attracted several industrial clients in the DACH region, including textile manufacturer SETEX-Textil, Amano Hotel Group, solar energy firm Sunmaxx, logistics provider Loxxess, and automotive supplier Coroplast Group.

“In light of the climate crisis and the unpredictable energy market, renewable energy empowers companies to secure their energy future. Trawa delivers a tailored energy procurement solution, protecting SMEs from price surges, maximizing investments in smart assets like batteries and solar power, and supplying detailed data for ESG reporting,” stated James Wise, general partner at Balderton Capital.

The funding round also saw participation from German climate tech investor AENU, as well as existing investors Speedinvest, Magnetic, and Tiny VC.