Energy, Mobility and Infrastructure Innovation in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland

The DACH region is navigating a historic transition in transportation and energy infrastructure, with emerging technologies ranging from electrified aviation and autonomous robotics to battery storage and EV charging networks. This page examines the startups and challenges driving innovation in energy infrastructure, urban mobility, and autonomous systems.

This page is part of the Startuprad.io Knowledge Center, within the ClimateTech, Energy & Sustainability pillar.

In Short

Germany's eVTOL (electric vertical takeoff and landing) sector experienced significant setbacks in 2024: Lilium Aviation filed for insolvency after the German federal government declined to provide a €50M loan guarantee, and Volocopter applied for insolvency proceedings at Karlsruhe court. Urban mobility platforms like Tier Mobility continue operating shared scooter services across European cities. Energy infrastructure companies address battery storage, EV charging networks, hydrogen systems, and grid management technology. 1KOMMA5° integrates solar, storage, and EV charging at the distributed level. ANYbotics, a Zurich-based autonomous robotics company, raised $50M in Series B funding in March 2024 and an additional $60M in December 2024 led by Qualcomm, bringing cumulative funding to $130M+; the company focuses on autonomous inspection and maintenance robots for industrial facilities. Government green energy transition programs create sustained demand for infrastructure and industrial innovation.

eVTOL and Advanced Mobility Challenges

Germany's advanced mobility ambitions faced headwinds in 2024 as two prominent eVTOL companies encountered financial distress. Lilium Aviation, which had raised substantial venture funding to develop electric vertical takeoff aircraft for regional transportation, filed for insolvency after the German federal government declined a €50M loan guarantee in September 2024. Volocopter, another eVTOL manufacturer, applied for insolvency proceedings at Karlsruhe court in the same period. These setbacks reflect the capital intensity and regulatory complexity of certifying new aircraft types with aviation authorities including EASA (European Union Aviation Safety Agency). Urban mobility solutions like Tier Mobility continue operating in this space, providing shared scooter and e-bike services, though these represent incremental improvements rather than breakthrough transportation models. The setbacks underscore that even substantial venture funding cannot guarantee success in highly regulated mobility sectors.

Battery, Charging, and Grid Integration

Energy infrastructure represents a more mature segment with sustained growth. Companies address multiple layers of the energy transition: battery storage systems for stationary or vehicle applications, EV charging networks for consumer and commercial vehicles, hydrogen production and distribution for heavy industry, and grid management software for managing distributed renewables and flexible loads. 1KOMMA5°, referenced in the ClimateTech section, integrates solar generation, battery storage, and EV charging at the residential and commercial level. Other companies like Sonnen focus on home battery systems integrated with solar; Solarwatt specializes in solar modules and inverter hardware; and Greensmith (United States-headquartered) operates in long-duration energy storage. These companies operate in relatively mature markets with clear regulations and strong government incentive frameworks, creating predictable demand for energy infrastructure upgrades.

Autonomous Robotics and Industrial Automation

ANYbotics, a Zurich-based startup founded to commercialize robotics research from ETH Zurich, has become a global leader in autonomous inspection and maintenance robots. The company raised $50M in Series B funding in March 2024 and secured an additional $60M in Series C funding led by Qualcomm in December 2024, bringing cumulative funding to $130M+. ANYbotics' ANYmal robot is a quadruped platform designed to navigate industrial facilities—power plants, refineries, offshore platforms, mining sites—to perform inspections and maintenance tasks that are dangerous, tedious, or data-intensive for human workers. The company's success reflects both strong venture capital interest in autonomous systems and clear enterprise use cases in hazardous environments. Qualcomm's investment signals confidence that autonomous robots will require specialized computing platforms—likely mobile processors with AI acceleration—creating commercial opportunities across the robotics ecosystem.

What This Page Does Not Cover

• Pure-play ClimateTech and renewable energy startups — see ClimateTech Startups in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland

• Industrial manufacturing and advanced materials — see Industrial and Manufacturing Technology in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland

Where to Go Next

Explore ClimateTech startups in ClimateTech Startups in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland for renewable energy and carbon removal companies. Learn about industrial automation and manufacturing in Industrial and Manufacturing Technology in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. Return to the ClimateTech, Energy & Sustainability pillar for the full sustainability ecosystem.