Turin, 27 November 2024 - Reefilla, the Italian start-up developing energy storage and mobile power generation solutions also based on second-life batteries, has completed a new 4.5 million euro capital increase.

Round details

This round was led by CDP Venture Capital through the Green Transition Fund–PNRR, financed with NextGenerationEU resources with the goal of stimulating growth, alongside a co-investment from the PiemonteNext fund, established and managed by CDP Venture Capital Sgr and subscribed by the FinPiemonte regional finance company to maximise innovation-focused investments in the area. The round also involved HCapital (a Portuguese venture capital fund making its first investment in Italy), Azimut through the AZIMUT ELTIF - Venture Capital ALIcrowd III fund, and Motor Valley Accelerator (already an investor in Reefilla, set up by the CDP Venture Capital accelerators fund and Plug and Play). The purpose of the transaction is to support Reefilla in its mission to make energy accessible everywhere ("energy everywhere")

Founded in Turin in 2021 by Marco Bevilacqua, Pietro Balda and Gabriele Bergoglio, Reefilla quickly became a benchmark in mobile energy storage and power generation solutions, adopting a circular economy process by giving batteries a second life. After the success of Fillee, the first mobile charging device for electric vehicles, the company is preparing to launch new off-grid power generation solutions in 2025 to meet growing market demand for energy.

This new equity injection follows the 1 million euro round closed in 2022, which enabled Reefilla to bring its technology to market and build a high-profile client portfolio, including corporate fleets, car sharing services and partnerships with leading mobility companies. The capital raised marks a further step in Reefilla’s growth, which began at the I3P incubator of Turin Polytechnic and developed with the support of the Motor Valley Accelerator in Modena.

"We are proud to have attracted interest from Italian and international investors in support of a clear vision and a concrete industrial project", said Marco Bevilacqua, CEO and Co-Founder of Reefilla. “We want to build a circular supply chain that promotes the reuse of batteries and offers tailor-made energy solutions for people and companies. We believe the future of energy must be responsible, accessible and zero-emission, and we are committed to contributing to this revolution in a tangible way".

Use of the capital raised and next objectives

The new capital will be used to expand Reefilla’s presence in the Italian and international markets and to support the research and development of advanced technologies Made in Italy for qualifying second-life batteries, turning end-of-life batteries from a problem into a resource.

In 2025 Reefilla will open a Competence Centre at its new Turin headquarters dedicated to battery testing and qualification to enable a second life, and to the production of a new range of products. This will be an important opportunity for the region and for Italian innovation, creating new jobs and attracting talent.

 

"This sixth investment by the Green Transition Fund-PNRR in Reefilla confirms that venture capital is the tool needed to support new entrepreneurs and create the companies of the future", commented Cristina Tomassini, Senior Partner of CDP Venture Capital and Head of the Green Transition Fund. "With its technology, Reefilla provides solutions to accelerate the deployment of sustainable mobility and small-scale electrical storage, which is necessary to reduce CO2 emissions in various sectors: households, construction, boating as well as mobility".

“Reefilla’s future will be shaped by the strengthening of its existing products and services, the continued development of innovative solutions with high strategic and technological value and expansion into new international markets”, said Gonçalo Sousa Coutinho, Associate Partner at HCapital. “We are excited to support this growth, convinced that investor support will play a key role in strengthening Reefilla’s position in the energy storage sector”.

"We believe in Reefilla’s technology and the superior expertise of its team, composed of engineers from the automotive sector who have already proven their ability to bring innovation to market", said Guido Bocchio, Head of Venture Capital at Azimut Libera Impresa SGR S.p.A., delegated manager of the AZIMUT ELTIF - Venture Capital ALIcrowd III sub-fund.

"We are increasingly committed to maximising start-up investments in responsible innovation and R&D in advanced technologies in strategic sectors like energy and environmental sustainability. Indeed, the co-investment in Reefilla through the PiemonteNext fund represents yet another opportunity for our region given the imminent opening of a new Competence Centre in Turin dedicated to testing and production of the new product range", said Mario Alparone, Director of Finpiemonte.

Equity crowdfunding campaign

In addition to the capital raised from venture capital funds, Reefilla decided to open its capital to private investors through an equity crowdfunding campaign on the Mamacrowd platform, with a fundraising target of 800 thousand euro.

The campaign aims to involve those who share the vision of a sustainable and innovative future Made in Italy, offering the opportunity to participate not only as investors, but also as active supporters of an Italian company oriented towards responsible innovation and the growth of a strategic sector.