Voltiris banks CHF 4.8 million to power and electrify greenhouses

Since its launch in 2022, Voltiris, with its solar modules that allow for double use of greenhouse surfaces without affecting crop yield, has achieved several milestones including conducting twelve commercial projects with renowned growers in Europe. The fresh proceeds from the seed funding round will further accelerate the electrification of high-tech greenhouses across Europe. EquityPitcher Ventures and 3M Ventures led the round.

Based in Lausanne, Voltiris has established itself as a leading provider of solar energy solutions for greenhouses. The company developed the first solar modules compatible with greenhouse agriculture and their crops, particularly light-sensitive crops, such as tomatoes, cucumbers, and peppers. Leveraging spectral filtering technology, Voltiris transmits to the crops the essential light components for photosynthesis, while the 'unused' spectral elements are filtered and directed towards solar panels.

Over the past two years, Voltiris has reached significant milestones, including 12 commercial projects with renowned growers in Europe, partnerships with leading energy utilities such as Elektra Baselland and  Romande Energie, and winning multiple industry awards.

The startup has now closed a CHF 4.8 million seed financing round to accelerate the electrification of high-tech greenhouses, a fast-growing CHF 60 billion market. The new funds will accelerate large-scale commercialization and further performance optimization of the proprietary spectral filtering technology—driving ROI for growers in times when energy independence and decarbonization are more valuable than ever.

The round was co-led by the Swiss venture capital firm EquityPitcher Ventures and 3M Ventures, the corporate venture capital arm of 3M Company, joined by the Climate Tech VC fund Satgana and several prominent family offices, reflecting strong support from key opinion leaders.

Nicolas Weber, Co-Founder & CEO of Voltiris, expressed his enthusiasm for the next stages of the company's growth, stating, "This funding marks a pivotal moment for Voltiris as we expand our commercial footprint across key European markets including Switzerland, France, the Netherlands, and Belgium. We are also excited to continue enhancing our technological edge, making solar-powered greenhouses a cornerstone of sustainable agriculture."

Additionally, the funding will catalyze Voltiris' capacity to execute confirmed projects in key markets, reinforcing its position at the forefront of the agrivoltaic industry. The company is also set to expand its team in Switzerland and the Netherlands, enriching expertise in agronomy, solar project development, and sales.

"With this new round of funding, Voltiris is poised to scale operations significantly," added Sascha Horrig, Founding Partner at EquityPitcher. "We are excited to support their journey together with the global leader 3M to elevate and broaden the integration of agronomy and solar energy."

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