Optiml raises $4M Pre-Seed for ESG-compliant assets

Optiml, a digital platform for Net Zero real estate investment and renovation planning, has closed a $4M pre-seed extension funding round. The round was led by BitStone Capital, and supported by KOMPAS VC.

An ETH Zürich spin-out, Optiml’s AI-powered software analyses portfolio assets across the most relevant ESG and regulatory data points. This provides a rating that real estate developers and asset managers can use to make financial and sustainability decisions.

The funding will be used to accelerate the development of the technology and expand its team to serve the increasing customer demand in the DACH region and the UK.

Optiml is built on proprietary algorithms researched and validated over 5 years, leveraging AI to handle complex datasets and requirements. The solution provides insights for portfolios & building assets such as indicative ESG due diligence, optimal decarbonization & investment strategies, detailed Net Zero renovation action plans, and alignment to company requirements over the entire building lifecycle.

With stringent regulatory frameworks across Europe compelling action on CO2e reductions in real estate portfolios—a must-have that is no longer up for debate—financial opportunities are now emerging, motivating companies to actively decarbonize.

Optiml has demonstrated strong market traction, having completed over 30 successful pilot projects with major industry players like AXA, Credit Suisse, and Grosvenor, and is now onboarding first large Asset Managers and Consultancies, some of which are already using the solution and offering it to their clients.

Commenting on the investment, Evan Petkov, CEO and Co-founder of Optiml, explained: “It’s an exciting time at Optiml as we have grown out of the lab 2 years ago with the original founders to now nearly 20 people all focused on our vision to develop the new category of Real Estate Decision & Intelligence platforms – accelerating cost-effective Net Zero with data-driven investment strategies in sustainable buildings. We are using this funding to expand our product’s features, enrich data availability, build APIs, automate data onboarding & ease-of-use, along with an improved customer experience in different geographies.”

Andreas Winter-Extra, Partner at Kompas VC said: “Our investment in Optiml reflects our commitment to back the most innovative companies that will decarbonize the built environment. The power to make effective decision making comes from truly understanding your data and buildings, and Optiml provides the real estate and construction sector with actionable insights to undertake renovation planning at scale.

“With regulatory frameworks only getting more stringent, and the real estate sector actively looking for a reliable solution to decarbonize the building stock, Optiml is poised to become a leader in this critical market and we look forward to supporting the talented team in the years to come.”

Manfred Heid, Managing Partner at BitStone Capital, noted: “BitStone Capital is excited to be invested in a solution for the real estate industry that has never been seen before. Optiml’s decarbonization and renovation software not only serves as a critical tool for achieving Net Zero goals but also as a comprehensive asset management solution, driving portfolio strategies and planning while ensuring strong business returns.

“The Power of Artificial Intelligence to generate rich insights with few data points, together with the impressive capacity of the team and the positive feedback from satisfied customers have convinced us that this technology is a game changer. We see a great opportunity with Optiml’s software to bring the real estate industry towards a more sustainable future.”