Openvolt, a UK firm unlocking access to energy data, has raised €1.5m in a pre-seed financing round.

Openvolt’s API can provide developers with a seamless way to access a wealth of energy data.

“We believe that combating climate change requires actionable data-driven options,” said Dave Curran, co-founder and CEO of Openvolt. “Access to granular energy data is a missing component in achieving a sustainable future. With our API, we are ultimately removing the financial, legal and technical barriers that prevent innovators from accessing these data. By abstracting away this complexity, we believe we can unlock innovation in energy management.”

As the world aims for a sustainable future, Openvolt’s API empowers software developers and companies to create applications that can contribute to reducing the world’s carbon footprint. These include applications focused on improving energy efficiency in domestic and commercial properties, applications that enable a better electric vehicle charging experience, as well as enabling new emerging technologies such as demand response for the electric grid.

The money will help Openvolt accelerate the development of its API. The company is growing and is recruiting for a number of key roles, including remote software engineers based in Europe.

Alongside the recent fundraising, Openvolt is announcing the imminent launch of its beta API, granting access to meter-level energy consumption data in the UK. Software developers who share Openvolt’s vision for innovation and sustainability are invited to test the beta and explore the transformative potential of energy data applications.

“Openvolt’s product is a game-changer for developers,” said Don O’Leary, co-founder and CTO of Openvolt. “By simplifying access to user-permissioned energy data, we’re empowering developers to focus on what they do best – innovating. With our API, they can seamlessly integrate energy data into their applications, creating a new wave of options that drive energy efficiency and shape a more sustainable world,”

With a proven track record of entrepreneurial success, Curran brings insights from his previous venture Love Mondays, which was acquired by Glassdoor in 2016. Complementing this expertise is O’Leary, who previously led Stripe’s Dublin office and has experience in building APIs.

The funding round was led by Berlin-based early-stage investor Cavalry Ventures (cavalry.vc), with participation from Swiss climate investor Übermorgen Ventures.

“Openvolt’s API represents a transformative leap akin to what open banking ignited in the financial sector,” said Claude Ritter, managing partner at Cavalry Ventures. “Just as open banking revolutionised how we manage and access financial data, Openvolt’s API can unlock a wealth of possibilities for fresh energy management and fuel the accelerated growth of new ventures in the sector.”

Openvolt (www.openvolt.com) is building the API for energy data. As the world accelerates its efforts to reach net zero, energy data are becoming increasingly important for enabling the efficient use of energy resources. With an initial focus on smart meter data, Openvolt is removing the regulatory, financial and technical hurdles that impede energy innovators from integrating these data into energy applications.