smartworks innovation GmbH

Smartworks Innovation GmbH, launched in 2020 as the corporate venture capital arm of Wien Energie and Wiener Stadtwerke—key players in Vienna's infrastructure including energy, grids, transport, and mobility—focuses on partnering with startups to drive innovation and climate protection for the Wiener Stadtwerke Group. Headquartered in Vienna, Austria, it targets scalable technologies in decarbonisation, decentralisation, digitalisation, mobility, elderly care, smart asset management, smart metering, and telecommunications, primarily in the DACH region to enhance the group's competitiveness in sustainable energy and mobility transitions.[1][7] Notable portfolio companies include triply (mobility data platform, ~€0.5M equity investment), UBIQ (e-mobility shared services), Necture (AI-driven fleet management bridging mobility and energy, Series A-II), alongside Bitpanda, Blockpit, and smino, demonstrating a track record of co-investments with firms like Speedinvest, VERBUND X Ventures, and Pioneers Ventures.[2][3][4][5][8] Their investment philosophy emphasizes early-stage bets on startups that empower energy providers to improve sustainability, leveraging operational synergies, customer access (e.g., Wiener Linien), and hands-on support from experienced managers with over 30 deals in tech, healthcare, and consumer goods across DACH.[1][2] Geographically, they concentrate on Austria and the DACH area, fostering local ecosystem synergies for global scalability in energy transition solutions.[1][2][6]

General technology focus

Core thematic spaces, technologies, and target market segments of interest.