Very successful exit: sonnen sold to Shell
PORTFOLIO NEWS“sonnen is one of the global leaders in smart, distributed energy storage systems and has a track record of customer-focused innovation. Full ownership of sonnen will allow us to offer more choice to customers seeking reliable, affordable and cleaner energy,” Mark Gainsborough, Executive Vice President New Energies at Shell, said. “Together, we can accelerate the building of a customer-focused energy system in support of Shell’s strategy to offer more and cleaner energy solutions to customers.”
Shell New Energies is the perfect partner for helping us grow in a market that is expanding rapidly. With this investment we’re excited to help more households to become energy independent and benefit from new opportunities in the energy market. Shell will help drive the growth of sonnen to a new level and help speed up the transformation of the energy system.
Christoph Ostermann,
Chief Executive Officer and Co-Founder of sonnen
“With its intelligent, decentralized approach sonnen revolutionized the energy industry and has found with Shell the ideal partner to expand its leading market position” adds Dr. Paul-Josef Patt, CEO of the VC lead investor eCAPITAL. “We are proud, that we successfully supported sonnen as the first external investor together with later co-investors MVP, SET Ventures, GE Ventures and Inven Capital on its journey from a small German startup with 20 employees to a global innovation leader.
sonnen offers smart energy storage and digital energy services to customers via its sonnenCommunity platform. For example, the sonnenBatterie optimises the use of solar power in a household and supplies energy at night using stored solar power generated in daytime. By combining its technology with new business models for a decentralised energy system sonnen has been a pioneer in the energy market. Recently, sonnen put Germany’s biggest virtual battery into operation, which is based on a network of home electricity storage systems across the country to help balance power supply and demand on the power grid.
About sonnen
The sonnen Group is one of the leading manufacturers of smart residential storage systems and is a pioneer of technologies for a clean, decentralized and connected energy system. As one of Germany’s and Europe’s fastest growing tech companies, sonnen has received multiple international awards. With its virtual battery that is based on digital connected residential storage systems, sonnen offers new and highly innovative energy services for grid providers and customers. sonnen offers its products in many different countries and has locations in Germany, Italy, UK, Australia and the USA. For more information, go to www.sonnengroup.com
About Shell New Energies
Shell established its New Energies division in 2016. Shell New Energies focuses on two main areas: new fuels for transport, such as advanced biofuels and hydrogen; and power, being involved at almost every stage of the process, from generating electricity, to buying and selling it, to supplying it directly to customers. Shell aims to make electricity a significant part of its business.
About eCAPITAL
eCAPITAL is a venture capital firm that provides early to growth stage funding to technology companies in the fields of software & information technology, cybersecurity, industry 4.0, new materials and cleantech. Founded in 1999, eCAPITAL has a history of supporting entrepreneurs determined to build companies with lasting significance. Partnering with eCAPITAL means joining an international network of business leaders, entrepreneurs, technologists and potential partners. eCAPITAL is located in Germany and currently manages funds with over EUR 220 million under management.
Contact
sonnen GmbH
Mathias Bloch
Am Riedbach 1
87499 Wildpoldsried, Germany
Tel.: +49 8304 929 33 426
Email: m.bloch(at)sonnen.de
Internet: www.sonnenbatterie.de
eCAPITAL ENTREPRENEURIAL PARTNERS AG
Sylvia Richter
Hafenweg 24
48155 Münster, Germany
Tel.: +49 251 70 37 67 0
eMail: info@ecapital.vc
http://www.ecapital.vc