As EV charging networks continue to expand in size and complexity, operating critical charging infrastructure increasingly requires intelligent orchestration of thousands of interconnected assets, systems, and operational processes. Operating fast-charging infrastructure in 2026 is about using AI effectively to orchestrate operations across these large-scale systems.

A growing challenge for operators is that infrastructure scales faster than operational teams. As networks expand, maintaining complete operational awareness becomes increasingly difficult through manual processes alone. Critical issues can be overlooked, response times increase, and hidden problems may persist longer than necessary, impacting network performance and customer experience.

“We are proud to support Q8 Electric on this journey and to be part of their future electrification efforts.”

said Sofus Laub Erdal, CEO at Lumina

Every company operating assets faces the same operational constraint: teams scale linearly while networks grow exponentially. As complexity increases, maintaining full operational awareness manually becomes increasingly difficult. Critical issues are missed, manual workflows consume valuable time, and problems can remain hidden indefinitely.

To address these challenges, Q8 Electric will deploy Lumina’s agentic decision layer across its charging operations in Belgium, the Netherlands, and Luxembourg. The solution is designed to continuously monitor network conditions, prioritize issues based on operational impact, coordinate responses across multiple simultaneous failures, escalate decisions when required, automate routine actions, and learn from historical resolutions to improve performance over time.

“Working chargers and sessions that start without any friction. This is no longer a competitive edge, it is the bare minimum EV drivers expect from a fast charging network. That’s why Q8 Electric is partnering with Lumina AI,”

said Nicholas Maes, Fast Charging Insights & Systems Coordinator at Q8

The deployment will support Q8 Electric’s efforts to deliver reliable, high-performing charging services across the Benelux region while creating a more scalable operating model for the future.

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The funding round includes HICO Investment Group, a Singapore-based family office with a background in shipping, aligning well with Elonroad’s focus on port logistics. HICO will become Elonroad’s third-largest shareholder, with its CEO, Chris Hartnoll, joining the board. The other investors are Tamar Ventures (USA) and Butterfly Ventures (Finland), a deep tech specialist.

“At Elonroad, we believe electrification requires not only smarter software, but smarter infrastructure. Infrastructure that keeps operations moving while contributing to a more resilient and efficient energy system. This investment will help us accelerate deployment across ports, logistics hubs and industrial transport operations globally,”

says Karin Ebbinghaus, CEO at Elonroad

The current funding round is reported to value Elonroad at €22 million pre-money, reflecting growing confidence in hardware-focused solutions after a long period of investor hesitation. The funds are expected to sustain the company for 1.5 to 2 years, with the potential for additional capital depending on market development and ambition.

“While much of today’s conversation revolves around AI, software and digitalization, we still live in a physical world. Goods need to move, ports need to operate, and energy needs to reach vehicles and machines when and where it’s needed,”

says Karin Ebbinghaus

This capital injection provides Elonroad with the financial stability needed to intensify sales efforts and industrialize its product, transitioning from small-scale prototypes to commercial deployment. The company’s most significant commercial success to date is a €1.9 million contract with a California port terminal, won nearly two years ago. This deal has solidified port logistics as Elonroad’s primary market.

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The investment will accelerate the rollout of PerPlant’s AI-driven precision spraying technology, which can reduce chemical use by up to 90%, a potential game-changer for farmers facing regulatory pressure and sustainability demands.

AI Gives Tractors “Eyes” to Slash Chemical Use

PerPlant’s real-time AI scanning system mounts onto tractors, using high-resolution cameras and machine learning to detect weeds and apply herbicides only where needed. Unlike traditional methods, which often rely on blind or broad-spectrum spraying, PerPlant’s technology delivers centimeter-level precision, far surpassing the 10–30 meter resolution of satellite imagery or the coverage of agricultural drones.

“I’ve always been fascinated by internet, networks and swarms and their ability to connect intelligence across the world. If you see around majority of technologies we use today are all derived from these. We’re building PerPlant Nexus with the same philosophy for agriculture.”

says Sumod Nandanwar, co-founder and CTO, about the technology

For an average farmer with 200 hectares, the system can cut herbicide use by 90% and fertilizer by 30%, enough to recoup the investment in a single season.

“Over 90% of the world’s farmland operates blindly without precision data. PerPlant’s AI creates transparency at the plant level, bridging the gap between economic gains for farmers and consumer demand for documented sustainability.”

says investor Kræn Østergaard Nielsen to Techsavvy

The system is reported to have already mapped over 200,000 hectares across Europe, nine times the coverage of all Danish agricultural drones combined, making it Nordic’s largest precision farming dataset. This audit-grade documentation can be used for verification by authorities, insurers, banks, and other AgTech providers.

With 15 employees and operations in 12 countries (including the UK, Netherlands, Poland, and Spain), PerPlant is eyeing expansion into the U.S.. The technology is particularly compelling for conventional farmers, but also holds potential for organic and regenerative agriculture.

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The startup just announced that Kalle Nilvér, founder of GoClimate, as a new investor, in a smaller €400K (SEK 4.2 million) round.

“We’re investing heavily in further developing the product, with a strong focus on product calculations and Scope 3. It’s an area where we see clear demand from our customers, since their biggest challenge is often understanding and reducing the emissions connected to the products and services they purchase,”

says Anja Bexelius, CEO of Emission Twin, to Impact Loop.

The startup is focusing on creating a collaborative framework that helps entire value chains align with science-based targets. As one company’s Scope 1 emissions are another’s Scope 2 or 3, their vision is a future where every business only needs to calculate its Scope 1 emissions and contribute that data to a shared digital twin, creating a collaborative framework.

“I am proud that we have managed to combine the market’s most advanced technology with the simplest user experience. It’s precisely this blend of simplicity, flexibility, and powerful simulations that makes customers choose us. Our mission is to accelerate the climate transition, and that ambition permeates every decision we make and every line of code we write.”

says co-founder Tove Nilstun about their ambitions

The investment underscores a shared vision: reporting alone won’t solve the climate crisis, but the right data at the right level can transform decision-making. As businesses face growing pressure to decarbonize, Emission Twin’s tools are positioning the startup as a key player in the next phase of corporate climate action.

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Total number of deals in 2025 in Copenhagen are reported to 20. Totalt number of capital last year: €112 million.

Impact Loops writes that Copenhagen’s climate tech scene reflects it’s heritage in wind power, but that the city’s strongest sector is sustainable food and agritech, anchored by Novo Holdings, one of the most active strategic impact investors in Europe.

Some standout deals for 2025 that Impact Loop highlights are: NORNORM $66.6m Series A (Verdane, Santander, Inter IKEA Group), MATR Foods $22m (Novo Holdings), Enduro $13.2m

Key investors investing in Copenhagen accoridng to Impact Loop are:

• Novo Holdings
• Nordic Alpha Partners
• Climentum Capital
• Rockstart
• Heartcore
• Vestas Ventures

The Swedish side of Øresund is not mentioned in the article, but given that The Drop conference (one of the biggest global impact investment gatherings) takes part in Malmö, and that Pale Blue Dot, one of hte pioneers in Climate Tech investment is based there, should be relevant as well. And of course that the Swedish side of the region is home to Oatly, Qvantum (which last year raised a massive €108 million), Sproud, Emulate Energy, Enjay, Emission Twin, Orbital Systems and many other prominent climate tech companies, we can safely assume the Greater Copenhagen region (which includes all of Öresund) has probably significant better performance then what impact loops reports. Maybe not enough to take the top spot, but probably amongst the best performing in Europe.

You can view the entire list here: impactloop.com

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The company, headquartered in Åstorp, has recently been reported to have secured € 19 million (SEK 220 million) in funding, primarily from existing investors, including Thomas von Koch (former EQT CEO) and the IMAS Foundation, according to data registered with Bolagsverket and confirmed to Rapidus.

“What’s so incredible for us is that we succeeded at scale. We secured orders in multiple European cities, and the pumps started being installed, including in London,”

says Fredrik Rosenqvist, founder and CEO of Qvantum to Rapidus.

This month Qvantum announced that they have reached an agreement with German climatetech startup 1KOMMA5° to enable home energy systems in Sweden. Qvantum’s next-generation heat pumps works with 1KOMMA5°’s Heartbeat AI platform, an intelligent optimization system that dynamically coordinates heating, solar power, battery storage, and EV charging.

This partnership transforms heat pumps from standalone devices into active components of a connected home energy ecosystem, enabling them to respond in real time to electricity prices, grid signals, and renewable energy availability.

“Heat pumps will play an increasingly central role in the future energy system, not just as sources of heat, but as flexible assets that can support the electricity grid. This partnership allows us to connect all kinds of heat pumps into our virtual power plant – lowering energy costs for homeowners and taking pressure off the grid,”

says David Sätterman, CEO of 1KOMMA5° Sweden and Denmark

With 60% of Swedish households already using heat pumps, the collaboration is poised to lower energy costs for homeowners while enhancing grid stability. By leveraging AI-driven automation heating aligns with cheaper, cleaner, and more abundant energy sources, setting a new benchmark for intelligent, fossil-free residential energy systems.

“Future energy systems require connected, intelligent solutions. With the partnership together with 1KOMMA5° we ensure that heating can interact seamlessly with solar power, batteries, EV charging, and the electricity grid. This gives homeowners a system that is ready for tomorrow’s energy landscape,”

says Fredrik Rosenqvist, CEO of Qvantum

Qvantum is now set to further expand its production and sales, operating a factory in Åstorp and another in Nyíregyháza, Hungary. The company currently has operations in seven European countries and is represented in a total of 17 countries across Europe.

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Founded in 2019 by Jakob Wichmann, Anna Søndergaard, and Christian Sparrevohn, The Footprint Firm is more than just a fund, it’s a full-service partner for startups tackling climate challenges. The firm focuses on re-seed and seed-stage companies in sectors like biotech, energy, AI-powered climate tech, circular manufacturing, CO₂ reduction, and food systems, with investments ranging from € 0.5 million to € 2 million.

“With Footprint Fund I, we are doubling down on our mission to accelerate what is necessary. The future worth building will not arrive by chance, it must be ventured into. Europe has the talent, research depth, and industrial base needed to build category-defining climate solutions, and we want to contribute to the success of these teams with funding, ecosystem support and our expertise and network,”

said Anna Søndergaard, co-founding Partner and CEO at The Footprint Firm to EU startups

What sets The Footprint Firm apart is its integrated venture model. Instead of just providing capital and occasional board advice, the firm offers continuous, hands-on support through a team of 45 in-house specialists. These experts help portfolio companies navigate scientific validation, regulatory hurdles, commercialization, and industrial scaling, critical bottlenecks for deep tech and climate ventures.

“Footprint Fund I is built on an integrated venture model that deliberately combines early-stage capital with a large, in-house sustainability and commercial advisory platform. Unlike a classic climate or deeptech VC fund where portfolio support is typically limited to board work, introductions, and periodic strategic input, Footprint Fund I is structurally designed to deploy hands-on expertise throughout the investment lifecycle. “

says Jakob Wichmann to TFN

With the new fund, The Footprint Firm strengthens its role as a catalyst for research-based and scalable sustainable innovation. The investments focus on technologies and business models that can be realised at industrial scale and contribute to the global green transition.

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The funding brings Sproud’s total registered capital to over € 21 million.

Founded in 2018, Sproud has carved out a niche with its sustainable, pea-based milk alternative, which boasts a lower carbon footprint than traditional dairy or almond milk.

Sproud is doubling down on European expansion, capitalizing on rising demand for plant-based, clean-label products. CEO Sara Berger is bullish on the future of the category:

“‘Clean ingredients’ are gaining traction internationally. “

said Sara Berger to Impact Loop

Sproud’s pea-based formula offers a sustainable, allergen-friendly alternative to dairy and nut milks, aligning with consumer trends toward healthier, eco-conscious choices. The company’s focus on transparency and sustainability has resonated in a crowded market, where many competitors rely on less sustainable ingredients like almonds or oats. The company has an impact focus, and was recently was granted a B Corp Certification.

“We are delighted to be verified by B Lab for this certification. Achieving a score of 109.4 reinforces that we see the planet as our biggest stakeholder and our commitment to being a business that is a force for good.”

said Sara Berger

Swedish Tech News reports the latest round values the company at a pre-money valuation of € 16.5 million, a rebound from recent valuations, though still below its 2022 peak of € 22.5 million.

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The winning startups, selected from 49 submissions, were honored at a ceremony in Axelborgsalen, Copenhagen, each receiving € 6500 (DKK 50,000) and support to further develop their business ideas in food, bio-resources, and circular solutions.

A Showcase of Green Innovation

Organized by Food & Bio Cluster Denmark, in collaboration with Dansk Erhverv, Alliance for Biosolutions, Rockstart, BioInnovation Institute, and Potter Clarkson, the competition highlights the regions leadership in sustainable technology. Previous participants in the Green Leap Challenge have collectively raised over € 200 million (DKK 1.5 billion), demonstrating the competition’s role in accelerating green startups.

The nine finalists pitched their ideas to a jury of experts and a live audience at the “Bio Inspire & Green Leap Awards” event. The winners were chosen based on innovation, scalability, and sustainability impact.

“Every year, we see how innovative green ideas can drive real change, for both the climate and business competitiveness, when they gain access to the right industry-specific networks, necessary support, and proper exposure. With Green Leap Challenge, we aim to give entrepreneurs a small financial boost to fuel their motivation and a platform where their ideas can grow and reach the right stakeholders,”

says Claus Mortensen, Head of Business Development & Internationalisation, Food & Bio Cluster Denmark.

Meet the 2025 Winners

Launch Bioindustries: Turning Yeast Byproducts into Bioplastics
Andrew Chiappetta and Louise Bakke founded Launch Bioindustries, a startup that converts organic yeast byproducts from bio-solutions into PHA (polyhydroxyalkanoates), a fully biodegradable bioplastic. Their technology offers a sustainable alternative to conventional plastics, addressing the global challenge of plastic waste.

Collaborome: Next-Gen Biopesticides from Soil Bacteria
Developed by a team from the University of Copenhagen’s Department of Biology, Thomas Veje Flintegaard, Tanvi Taparia, and Søren Johannes Sørensen, Collaborome is pioneering biopesticides based on consortia of soil bacteria. Their solution provides a natural, chemical-free alternative to traditional pesticides, promoting sustainable agriculture and reducing environmental harm.

Biomimica: Elastic Biofibers Inspired by Spider Silk
Irina Iachina, affiliated with the University of Southern Denmark’s Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, leads Biomimica, a project developing sustainable elastic fibers inspired by spider silk. These biodegradable, high-performance biofibers have potential applications in textiles, medical devices, and packaging, offering a green alternative to synthetic materials.

The Green Leap Challenge not only spotlights innovative ideas but also connects startups with investors, mentors, and industry partners to help them scale.

“Being named one of the winners of Green Leap Challenge 2025 gives us a huge boost and tons of energy for the many hours we’ll now spend in the lab. It’s a tremendous recognition of the work we’re doing with Collaborome, and we’re excited to build on the momentum this competition has given us,”

said Thomas Veje Flintegaard, Collaborome

With sustainability at the core of their missions, these startups are poised to reshape industries and drive Denmark’s green transition forward.

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The company also reports that they reached a commercial milestone recently, reaching their planned revenue target for 2025 of over € 100.000 in October already.

Cyclicor is a deeptech material science company offering bio-based and sustainable polymer material solutions for the furniture, construction, automotive and electronics industry. Their production process and the final polymer are completely free from hazardous chemicals.

“At Cyclicor we want to revolutionize a 75 bEUR market by offering high performance, truly biobased polyurethane solutions with improved occupational health over today’s systems,”

said Bo Häggman, CEO

The company reports the current available funds, increased revenues in 2025 with expected further growth in 2026 will fuel the upscaling and partnership development of their NIPU technology until the end of 2026.

The company reports they are continuing discussions with european potential partners, and a new private placement issue is expected to open by early Q1 2026 to accelerate their growth further.

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