Frequently Asked Questions | VERBUND X

As of right now, the program with all workshops and events are planned in person or hybrid. Changes might occur during the process, but  any changes will be announced on this website.

Yes, if traveling is required in the program, reasonable travel expenses (transportation to and from Vienna, accommodation for non-residents) will be reimbursed following VERBUND travel expenses rules (train, flight economy, taxi/rental car/own car if necessary). However, if the event won’t take place on-site but remotely, no travel and accommodation expenses will be covered.

Please hand in workshop input, documentation, and pitches in English. While you are working in your team, the language of your choice can be spoken.

No. We are equally interested in startups, SMES and research institutes working on technologies, solutions, or services that could be used for the energy and infrastructure industry but have not yet provided an application in this field.

Apply here on the website by clicking on one of the “Apply Now” buttons, fill out the application form and provide the core information about your company. It takes approximately 15 minutes to register and present your startup. If we require further information, we will contact you for a personal interview.

Application deadline is the 10th of August 2022, 23:59 CET

The best startups will be invited to a remote/digital pitch in front of the managers and domain experts from VERBUND and its partners to discuss their business model, technology, and potential use cases. Successful candidates will then be invited to the Innovation Camp.
The selected startups will enter the Acceleration (Proof-of-Concept) phase and will pitch at the final event in front of the top management of VERBUND and its partners. Successful teams will then be given a chance to enter a cooperation with VERBUND or its use case partners Alperia, Österreichische Post AG, OMV, voestalpine Steel Division, or RHI Magnesita.

A jury consisting of the members of the top management of VERBUND and its use case partners Alperia, Österreichische Post AG, OMV, voestalpine Steel Division, and RHI Magnesita.

• For the search field Innovative Carbon Capture Technology, management from OMV, voestalpine Steel Division, and RHI Magnesita will decide about further participation.
• For the search field Innovative Carbon Utilization Technology, management from voestalpine Steel Division, RHI Magnesita, OMV, Alperia, and VERBUND will decide about further participation.
• For the search field Advanced biomass to aviation fuels and chemicals, management from OMV will decide about further participation.
• For the search field Heat Pumps: Retrofit technologies & services and innovative hardware (B2C), management from VERBUND will decide about further participation.
• For the search field Advanced Data Analytics for Wind farms & PV plants, management from VERBUND will decide about further participation.
• For the search field Innovative Energy Storage, management from VERBUND will decide about further participation.
• For the search field Innovative solutions for PV surplus and E-Fleet energy optimization from Österreichische Post AG will decide about further participation.

Community partners are members of the overall VERBUND X Accelerator network. They will be involved in key events of the program as guests and also can play an expert and mentoring role for startups and other partners. But they are not involved in decision-making in the Selection and Acceleration Phases of the program.
Community Partners of the VERBUND X Accelerator 2022 are: ÖBAG, BIG, Speedinvest, and AIT.
Use case partners are also members of the comprehensive VERBUND X Accelerator network. In addition, they will be involved in decision-making in the Selection and Acceleration Phases and will work together with the selected startups on a specific use case.
Use case partners of the VERBUND X Accelerator 2022 are: Alperia, Österreichische Post AG, OMV, VERBUND, voestalpine Steel Division, and RHI Magnesita.

During the Innovation Camp (18.10. - 20.10.2022), the business units of the participating use case partners and startups will jointly identify a pilot project for their potential collaboration. Then there will be decided by the top management of VERBUND and its use case partners of which startup can enter the Acceleration phase. The Acceleration Phase (November 2022 to the end of March 2023) is designed to execute the pilot projects directly and, therefore, validate the collaboration.

Each startup-corporate team defines its own pilot scope during the Innovation Camp (18.10.2022 – 20.10.2022) for the following Acceleration Phase (November 2022 to the end of March 2023). As the projects are vastly different from each other in their technologies and timelines, we are looking for pilots that get the partnership started.
Budget for testing, field trials, and prototyping are foreseen (the amount depends on the project scope, subject to negotiations), reasonable travel costs are covered. 

VERBUND X Ventures is the Corporate Venture Capital Unit of VERBUND AG, as such, it looks for investment opportunities to boost the transition to renewable energy.

VERBUND X Accelerator is VERBUND´s innovation collaboration program with startups and leading corporate partners. The focus of the Accelerator program is on connecting Europe´s biggest players in the energy, manufacturing, and logistics sectors with innovative startups/ SMEs/ research institutions to join forces and realize pilot projects together. 

We invest in climate tech startups with a special focus on decentralized energy systems, energy storage, e-mobility and digital solutions.

We offer investments from 0.25M€ up to 5M€.

1. Profound Market Knowledge: With over 70 years of experience in the energy industry we provide our portfolio companies with extensive market know-how.  
2. Growth Investments: We are a long-term investor. Thus, if your business grows we are prepared to lead or participate in larger financing rounds.
3. Smart Money: Not only do we provide financial resources and funding but we also support our startups with sparring & coaching to help them scale.
   
   

You can simply submit your pitch here. Alternatively, you can also reach out directly to one of our Investment Team Members.