Enapi, a promising German startup pioneering connectivity solutions for the electric vehicle (EV) charging sector, has successfully secured €2.5 million in pre-seed funding. The round was led by Project A Ventures, with participation from Seedcamp and HelloWorld, marking a significant milestone for the company. This infusion of capital will fuel Enapi’s development of transaction broker and clearing house functionalities, aimed at unifying a currently fragmented industry and enhancing the EV driver experience.
Jakob Kleihues, CEO and co-founder of Enapi, along with CTO Dennis Laumen, a veteran in charging technology with over a decade of experience at tech consultancy iHomer, are at the helm of this ambitious project. Both founders have firsthand experience with the challenges of EV charging, which propelled them to join forces in 2023. Their vision is to address the lack of standardization and interoperability that plagues the EV charging market, contributing to its fragmentation.
Kleihues highlights the historical context that led to the current state of the industry, noting the dominance of early players like Hubject and Gireve. These entities, despite their early entry, were criticized for their closed-source protocols, scalability issues, and lack of data quality control, all of which contributed to the market’s fragmentation. Moreover, the initial drive by major utilities, oil and gas companies, and car manufacturers was focused more on gaining market share than on investment returns, further complicating the landscape.
Enapi’s solution aims to tackle these challenges head-on by leveraging open protocols like OCPI, which have now gained industry-wide acceptance. The startup promises to enhance the accuracy, utilization, and efficiency of charging infrastructure, providing real-time availability data and facilitating better connectivity. This approach not only benefits EV drivers through reduced costs and wait times but also encourages broader adoption of eMobility solutions.
Philipp Werner, Partner at Project A Ventures, expressed confidence in Enapi’s potential to serve as a scalable connectivity layer that could redefine the industry. The startup is launching its service in partnership with key players across Europe, including Electra in France, Monta in the Nordics, and JUCR in Germany, with plans for further expansion.
Despite operating with a lean team of six people across multiple countries, Enapi’s ambitions are grand. Kleihues envisions Enapi as not just a technological solution but as a vital contributor to the global sustainable mobility movement. By revolutionizing connectivity in the EV charging market, Enapi aims to propel the industry forward, making a substantial impact on environmental sustainability and the global push for greener mobility solutions.
