Tokyo (SCCIJ) – The Swiss startup Optiml has developed a software platform to decarbonize real estate investments. Its approach: The proptech company from Zurich is using artificial intelligence to integrate climate emission cuts into every transaction.
Less CO2
The spin-off of the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Zurich (ETHZ) offers asset managers, investors, and their consultants decarbonization and renovation software for individual properties and entire portfolios. The software is based on algorithms researched and developed over the years to handle this complex task.
Even with low data availability, the software quickly provides insights such as indicative ESG due diligence, decarbonization, and investment strategies, and detailed energy-efficient renovation plans that reflect not only net zero requirements but also corporate goals across the entire building life cycle. This enables reliable, timely, and cost-optimized measures that are tailored to each building.
On the market, the proptech has over 30 successful pilot projects with industry players such as AXA, Credit Suisse, and Grosvenor, and is currently implementing the solution with particularly innovative asset managers and consulting firms.
Pre-seed financing
Optiml developed over the last years from a laboratory venture with two founders to a team of almost 20 people. CEO Evan Petkov, a PhD student at ETH Zurich and his team developed optimization algorithms that combine profitability requirements with sustainability and forecasting methodologies – the heart and brain of what would become Optiml in November 2022.
In August of this year, the young company secured 3.5 million euros in a pre-seed extension. The investment round was led by BitStone Capital, a venture capital investor for technology companies in the real estate and construction industry, and supported by Kompas VC, which focuses on the construction and manufacturing sector.
Existing investors, the venture capital outlet of ex-Google CEO Eric Schmidt, Innovation Endeavors, and Planet A Ventures, also participated in the round. This financing represented the first closing. The fresh capital is intended to accelerate the development of further software features and expand the team to meet increasing customer demand in Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Great Britain, and beyond.
Award winner
The depth and novelty of the software have earned Optiml in June the “ZIA Proptech of the Year Award”, the Startup Award of the W.A. de Vigier Foundation, with the highest price money of 100,000 francs in Switzerland.
“Optiml’s solution allows budgets, cash flows, and returns to be digitally mapped at the asset and portfolio level during energy-efficient renovations,” said Prof. Dr. Verena Rock, chairwoman of the jury, in her statement. She noted the remarkable fusion of science and practice by the founding team.
Text: SCCIJ with material of Optiml
