FAQ

Everything you need to know

1. What does the Energy Starter consist of?

EDP’s Energy Starter is an open innovation program designed to fast-track the adoption of technologies that drive the energy transition. It connects EDP’s decision-makers with startups and scaleups from across the globe, providing an impactful platform for the creation of long-term collaborations. Each edition addresses three critical areas of the energy sector through sequential tracks: Future Grids, Renewable Energy & Green Hydrogen, and Client Solutions.

2. What are the benefits of joining Energy Starter?

EDP’s Energy Starter is a program focused on business development for startups looking to scale their solutions rapidly. By working with EDP, startups will gain a global energy leader as an innovation partner, with presence on multiple continents and a proven track record in developing and adopting groundbreaking technologies. Benefits of participating in the Energy Starter program include:

  • Foster an innovation partnership to scale alongside a global energy leader.
  • Fast-track business opportunities with EDP across 28 markets.
  • Engage directly with decision-makers and end-users from EDP’s business units.
  • Access EDP’s assets, data, and partners through paid pilots.
  • Access funding opportunities with EDP Ventures, the venture capital arm of EDP.
  • Retain full ownership of your equity and intellectual property, with no exclusivity obligations.
  • Covered travel expenses and minimal time commitment required.

3. Is Energy Starter a traditional accelerator program?

No, EDP’s Energy Starter is a business development program for startups and scaleups in the energy sector. The selected startups will embark on a collaborative journey with EDP’s decision-makers and end-users to refine, validate, and implement their proposed pilot projects. These projects will be fully funded by EDP and will involve access to its data and assets, along with ongoing feedback to ensure the solutions are tailored to EDP’s needs. The goal is to fast-track these innovative projects toward commercial viability, paving the way for impactful long-term partnerships that contribute to drive the energy transition forward.

4. What type of solutions is EDP searching for?

Through Energy Starter, EDP is seeking startups that demonstrate a strong alignment between their proposed solutions and EDP’s innovation priorities across the program’s tracks: Future Grids, Renewable Energy & Green Hydrogen, and Client Solutions. 

EDP prioritizes startups with pilot-ready technology and a scalable business model, indicating readiness for market deployment, to ensure that participating startups are well-positioned to leverage the program’s resources to scale effectively and create a meaningful industry impact.

5. Where can I learn more about EDP?

EDP is a global energy leader operating in 28 markets, with strategic hubs in Europe, Asia, North America, and South America. It has a total installed capacity of 29 GW worldwide, a distribution network of 387.000 km, and over 9 million retail customers. This ranks it as one of Europe’s largest energy players and the world’s fourth-largest wind energy producer. Looking ahead, EDP is deeply committed to the challenge of the energy transition, with very ambitious targets: coal-free by 2026, all-green by 2030, and net-zero by 2040, investing more than €17 billion into the energy transition by 2026.

You can learn everything about EDP through the website: www.edp.com.

6. What can be expected at each stage of the program?

EDP’s Energy Starter is designed to fast-track the adoption of innovative technologies by connecting EDP’s decision-makers with startups and scaleups and providing a platform for the creation of impactful long-term collaborations. Each stage of the program has been carefully crafted to evaluate, validate, and implement cutting-edge solutions that align with EDP’s innovation priorities. Below, you’ll find an overview of the key stages that shape this program:

  1. Application: you will be asked to provide information about yourself, your solution, your team, and your company in an online form on the F6S platform. Once your application is submitted, EDP will review your responses to confirm your suitability for the program and follow up with the next steps. 
  2. Online Pitch: as part of the evaluation period, EDP will select startups to showcase their solutions in an Online Pitch event. This stage serves as a platform for startups to demonstrate the value of their projects to key decision makers, ensuring alignment with EDP’s strategic priorities and identifying the most promising participants for further engagement in the program.
  3. Bootcamp: after this evaluation period, the selected startups will participate in a 3-day immersive Bootcamp. This dynamic in-person event provides participants with the opportunity to work closely with EDP’s decision-makers and end-users from various business units and innovation teams, with the aim of accelerating the co-development of pilot projects and commercial agreements.
  4. Pilot Development: following the Bootcamp, the selected startups will embark on a collaborative journey with EDP’s teams to refine, validate, and implement their proposed pilot projects. These projects will be fully funded by EDP and will involve access to its data and assets, along with ongoing feedback to ensure the solutions are tailored to EDP’s needs. The goal is to fast-track these innovative projects toward commercial viability, paving the way for impactful long-term partnerships that contribute to drive the energy transition forward.

7. Are travel expenses covered in the program?

Yes, if selected for the program, you will be invited to attend a 3-day in-person Bootcamp, with travel and accommodation expenses covered through a previously defined allowance. We believe this immersive face-to-face experience is essential for gaining a deeper understanding of both the startups’ solutions and EDP’s innovation needs, enabling the co-design of future long-term collaborations.

8. Will there be funding opportunities?

You will have the opportunity to connect with EDP Ventures, the venture capital arm of EDP, for funding prospects.

You can learn more about EDP Ventures through the website: https://www.edp.com/en/innovation/edp-ventures#what-we-do

9. Who is Beta-i? What is their role in this program?

Energy Starter is EDP’s flagship open innovation program delivered with the support from Beta-I, a collaborative innovation consultancy.