Frankfurt based smart city startup ENVIOTECH has secured €1 million in pre seed funding to modernise public street lighting through intelligent retrofit solutions. The company is addressing a growing challenge faced by municipalities across Europe, where ageing infrastructure and rising energy costs are forcing difficult trade offs between efficiency and public safety.
Investor Support and Early Backing
The funding round was led by Jürgen Fitschen, with participation from Joachim Drees. The investment provides ENVIOTECH with the resources needed to scale its technology and expand its presence across urban environments.
In addition to financial backing, the company has gained early recognition through its acceptance into the EWOR Fellowship, which supports promising early stage founders.
A Personal Story Driving Innovation
ENVIOTECH was founded by Adrian Rhaese and Linh Pham, inspired by a real world incident that highlighted the risks of outdated infrastructure. A cycling accident involving a close friend, linked to reduced street lighting due to energy cost pressures, became a catalyst for the company’s creation.
This experience underscored a broader issue, where essential public systems are often compromised when budgets tighten. ENVIOTECH aims to address this gap by providing solutions that maintain safety while improving efficiency.
Retrofitting Instead of Replacing
Rather than requiring cities to invest in entirely new infrastructure, ENVIOTECH focuses on retrofitting existing street lighting systems. Its technology can be installed quickly, in under 15 minutes, making it a practical solution for municipalities looking to upgrade without significant disruption.
The retrofit kits enable smart control of lighting systems, allowing cities to monitor usage, adjust brightness levels, and optimise performance in real time. This approach reduces the need for costly replacements while extending the lifespan of existing assets.
Improving Efficiency and Safety
ENVIOTECH’s system is designed to deliver both economic and social benefits. By enabling more precise control over lighting, municipalities can reduce energy consumption by up to 80 percent, significantly lowering operational costs.
At the same time, improved lighting management enhances public safety by ensuring that streets remain adequately illuminated when needed. This balance between efficiency and safety is central to the company’s value proposition.
Expanding Pilot Projects
With the newly raised funding, ENVIOTECH plans to expand its pilot projects in collaboration with municipalities and infrastructure partners. These pilots will allow the company to demonstrate the effectiveness of its technology in real world settings and refine its solutions based on user feedback.
The company is also investing in further development of its platform, enhancing its capabilities and preparing for broader deployment across cities.
A Vision for Smarter Urban Infrastructure
While street lighting is the initial focus, ENVIOTECH’s broader ambition is to improve the management of urban infrastructure as a whole. By applying intelligent systems to existing assets, the company aims to create more efficient, sustainable, and resilient cities.
As urban populations continue to grow and energy costs remain a concern, solutions that optimise infrastructure without requiring large scale investment are becoming increasingly important.
With fresh funding and a clear mission, ENVIOTECH is positioning itself as a key player in the smart city space, starting with one of the most visible and essential elements of urban life.
