EUROPE'S #1 PITCH COMPETITION FOR ENERGY TECH STARTUPS
Get in front of the continent's leading energy investors, build your brand in Europe's most active climate tech market, and make connections that convert into partnerships and funding.
Challengers
7
Tracks
70
Finalists
1
Winner
Accelerate your business at the heart of Europe's energy transition
Energy Tech Challengers Europe is the continent’s premier competition for startups and entrepreneurs pushing the boundaries of energy and climate technology. Each year, the most innovative companies from across Europe and beyond converge to pitch breakthrough solutions to the people actively shaping the future of European energy.
Challengers gain direct exposure to Europe’s most active climate investors, top energy corporations, and a network of industry leaders who have the mandate — and the capital — to back what’s next. It’s a rare opportunity to accelerate growth on a stage that the European energy industry actually watches.
The competition culminates at Energy Tech Summit in Bilbao, Bizkaia, Spain — Europe’s leading energy industry conference — where finalists pitch live before a panel of expert judges, competing for category recognition, investor attention.
How does it work?
A distinguished panel of industry-leading experts from top corporations, venture capital firms, ecosystem builders, and media partners selects ten standout companies in each of the five tracks.
These Top startups earn the opportunity to pitch live at Energy Tech Summit, taking place on April 15-16, 2026, in Bilbao, Bizkaia, Spain. As Europe’s top industry conference, the summit offers unparalleled media exposure and networking opportunities.
One exceptional company will be crowned the ultimate winner of the Energy Tech Challengers award, marking a significant milestone in their journey to revolutionize the energy sector.
APPLICATION CRITERIA
TIMELINE
WINNERS of 2026
ULTIMATE WINNER
Flexiramics, develops Flexiramics® – a lightweight, flexible ceramic material that retains key properties like heat resistance, electrical insulation, and corrosion resistance, with applications across electronics, filtration, energy storage, and thermal management.
TOP 7 CHALLENGERS
- Green Energy Infrastructure
- AI For Energy
- Climate Hardware X
- Climate Software X
- Future of Materials and Manufacturing
- Climate X (wild card)
- Energy for AI
Redoxblox is a thermochemical energy storage technology developer for solutions decarbonizing industrial processes and natural gas power generation. It helps facilities cut carbon emissions, lower costs, and improve grid resilience by integrating with existing infrastructure.
Heimdall Power is a Norwegian tech company that helps electricity grid operators get more capacity and reliability out of existing power lines. They use sensors and software to give real-time insights into how the grid is performing, so utilities can run it more efficiently and safely.
Tokamak Energy is working to deliver clean, safe fusion energy in the 2030s. It develops compact spherical tokamaks and high-temperature superconducting magnets, which are key technologies for making fusion power practical.
Noon Energy is a clean energy startup building energy storage systems that help store renewable power for days or longer. Their goal is to make solar and wind energy available whenever it’s needed, despite its production time.
FINALISTS
JURY MEMBERS OF 2026
Gaetan Bonhomme
Partner @ Breakthrough Energy Ventures
Andrew Beebe
Managing Director @ Obvious Ventures
Veery Maxwell
Partner @ Galvanize Climate Solutions
Gabriel Kra
Managing Director and Co-Founder @ Prelude Ventures
Neha Manaktala
Global Head of ClimateTech Investments & Innovation @ JP Morgan
Gabriel Scheer
Senior Director of Innovation @ Elemental Impact
Christian Patino
Executive Director, Global Technology Team, Consumer Internet & Impact Tech @ UBS
Vikram Raju
Head of Climate Investments @ Morgan Stanley
James Lockyer
Director, Climate Innovation Fund @ Microsoft
Léo Fillion
Investment Manager @ EDF Pulse Ventures
Stephane Lauzon
Head of Oil, Gas & Energy @ SAP
Hussein Shel
Director, Chief Technologist, Energy and Utility @ AWS
Jon Slowe
Partner @ LCP
Hans Middelthon
Managing Director, Europe @ Aramco Ventures
Julien Cristiani
General Partner @ SE Ventures
Edouard Bulteau
Operating Partner @ Marble
Jonathan Foiret Hurbin
Managing Director @ Stifel
Georg Schumacher
Head Innovation and Ventures @ Axpo Group
Mario Jankovic
Associate, Innovation & Ventures @ Axpo Group
Mayank Kapoor
Principal @ Carbon Direct Capital
Isaac Charlton
Consultant – Strategy & Transactions @ LCP Delta
Christian Adelsberger
Founder & CEO @ NECTURE
Raffaele Giaquinto
COO @ NECTURE
Bala Nagarajan
Managing Director @ S2G Ventures
Irena Spazzapan
Founder and Managing Partner @ Systemiq Capital
Takeshi Kodama
Head of JERA Ventures and Managing Partner @ JERA
Min Dhillon
Principal @ Carbon13
Maciej Lehmann
Associate @ Future Energy Ventures
Kristyna Machova
Investment Director @ Inven Capital
Tushar Kumar
Head of ICS @ Just Climate
David Janashvili
Managing Partner @ Surami Partners
Anaïs Leleu
Investment Manager @ TiLT Capital
Nathanaël KRIVINE
Co-Founder & Managing Partner @ TiLT Capital
Daan Hendriks
Investment Associate @ Eneco Ventures
Lisa Schneider
Investment Manager @ Aramco Ventures
Talia Rafaeli
Partner @ Kompas VC
Arfa Karani
Investment Director @ Alantra Energy Transition
Alfonso Carranza
Investment Manager @ Elewit Ventures
Mahmoud Dhimish
Senior Lecturer @ University of the Built Environment
Derek Higashihara
Principal @ Acario Innovation
Andy Bradley
Partner @ LCP Delta
David Leiva Fuente
Account Manager Energy @ Google Cloud
Eriz Sainz Gurtubay
Partner PwC & Director BAT @ BAT & PwC
Max Werny
Investor @ Zero Carbon Capital
Jose M. Garcia
Business Development Executive Director @ SETT
James Garcia
Deeptech Investor @ Speedinvest
Paul Eisenberg
Principal @ Extantia
Iris ten Have
Principal @ Visionaries Tomorrow
Laia Gelabert
Deputy Molins Venture Director @ Molins
Philipp Kirchhoff
VC @ Allianz
Derek Brooks
Principal @ 2150
Cindi Bough
Managing Director @ Climate Investment
Lukas Zitz
Deputy Austrian Trade Commissioner New York @ ADVANTAGE AUSTRIA
Ruben Devogelaer
Head of Unit, Cleantech Equity & Growth Capital Division @ EIB
Summit Rosenberg
Senior Associate @ Kompas VC
Alex Fuiks
Investment Manager @ Siemens Energy Ventures
Roberta Franchi
CVC @ Honda Innovations
Nachiketa Sharma
Executive Director, Climate Tech Innovation & Investments @ J.P. Morgan
Tomosaku Sohara
General Partner @ NordicNinja VC
Moritz Jungmann
General Partner @ Future Energy Ventures
Jonas Wolff
Lead Engineer, Innovative Supply Chain and Process Industries Division @ EIB
Beau-Anne Chilla
Partner @ Forward one
Abhishek Bhattacharya
Venture Capital Director @ Molins
Abhinav Jain
VentuAnalyst @ Marble
Would you like to connect with some of Spain's most iconic energy-related corporations as part of the Energy Tech Challengers initiative?
As part of ETC Europe, we’ve partnered with BAT – B Accelerator Tower, a world-renowned entrepreneurship and innovation ecosystem headquartered in Bilbao, Bizkaia, Spain, to give selected startups direct access to some of Spain’s most influential energy companies — including Iberdrola, Arteche, Enagas, and many more.
Startups that capture the interest of these corporations will be invited on a fully sponsored trade mission to the Basque Country, where they’ll meet face-to-face with corporate innovation and venture teams in one of Europe’s most dynamic energy regions. BAT covers flights and accommodation for selected participants.
Travel support covers up to €400 for Spain-based companies, €1,000 for European companies, and €2,000 for companies based outside Europe — including flights and accommodation for one individual. Full conditions will be communicated to finalists upon selection.
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