The efforts to lead progress in the Smart Energy sector account for way more than a mere attempt to embellish yet another “on paper” decennial strategy. If we are to investigate the factors that had created a favourable environment for fintech development and compare them to the existing conditions in the Smart Energy field, we will find several parallels.
Favourable conditions for a viable ecosystem
“The involvement of all major stakeholders – regulatory institutions as well as public and private sectors – played a major role in fintech development. Based on rich experience in fintech, we introduced the most successful measures in creating an appealing ecosystem in the Smart Energy sector,” said Rokas Pečiulaitis, the founder and executive partner of one of the most active European energy and e-mobility venture capital funds Contrarian Ventures.
Among other important initiatives, R. Pečiulaitis signaled out the special regulatory and infrastructure environment sandbox that allows both legacy and still developing market players to test their business capabilities and product offerings in a simulated real-time legislative and infrastructural environment.
Having conquered fintech, ready for victories in smart energy
It is safe to say that no serious fintech sector player, regardless of their location, needs needs explaining on what and where Lithuania is. According to R. Pečiulaitis, pretty soon this will also be the case with the Smart Energy sector.
On April 21-22 more than three hundred leading energy and electrified transport sector stakeholders, including such energy sector giants as Japan’s Tepco, Italy’s Enel, the UK’s British Petroleum, the Netherlands’ Shell, and U.S.-headquartered Chevron will gather for the Energy Tech Summit 2020 held in Vilnius, Lithuania. The event will also feature representatives from the most substantial venture capital funds, including delegations from Bill Gates’ Breakthrough Energy Ventures and BMW’s risk capital fund BMW i Ventures.
Goal – to host the largest event in northern Europe
According to one of the brains behind and organisers of the Energy Tech Summit R. Peciulaitis, the idea to organise a conference of this scale was born two years ago.
“From a one-day event tailored to our venture capital fund portfolio companies and co-investors just two years ago, we have grown to a conference that is about to become the most important Northern European and, later, the entire continent’s energy and e-mobility leader summit. When it comes to the sector’s start-ups, this will provide them with an unprecedented opportunity present their ideas and to attract investment from the largest global energy and transport companies,” he said.
The Energy Tech Summit will take place in the Palace of the Grand Dukes of Lithuania and is expected to welcome more than 500 participants. Beyond the main event space where the Smart Energy sector leaders will discuss the global marketplace and the latest challenges, the participants will be invited to partake in six specialized discussions on the topics of batteries, electrified mobility, hydrogen, digitalisation, artificial intelligence, and future grid.
Event for both start-ups and seasoned market players
According to Rokas Pečiulaitis, the event program is designed to generate the highest possible value to all – from large global players and international investors, to small, yet highly driven and ambitious start-ups or even those who are only seeking to gain feedback on their completely fresh ideas.
“The event program was designed to appeal to as many market players as possible,” explained R. Pečiulaitis. “For example, early-stage start-ups will be invited to pitch their vision to investors during the PowerUp competition organised together with one of the five European Institute of Innovation and Technology curated communities InnoEnergy. The summit will culminate in a head-to-head of the best business ideas during the event called New Energy Challengers. The winner will be decided by the world’s largest investors, public and private sector players, as well as international media representatives.”
About Contrarian Ventures
Contrarian Ventures is a risk capital fund that invests in new energy and electrified mobility technology start-ups. The company manages the Ignitis Group energy tech fund and invests in early-stage companies in Europe and Israel. So far, Contrarian Ventures has invested and holds in its portfolio 14 companies in six countries and is one of the most active seed risk capital funds for energy and electrified mobility in Europe.
