Hello, Stefan here! This month's newsletter explores the impact of regulatory changes on business opportunities, focusing on the energy sector as a prime example. We'll delve into how decentralization in energy production and consumption has created over ten corporate venture opportunities. It's important to note that regulatory shifts driving new business prospects aren't exclusive to the energy industry. Other sectors can and should look to transformative changes within their own domains, identify, and then crucially capitalize on the related emerging opportunities. But first, here are a few other highlights from this month.

Energy production and consumption are increasingly decentralized

The energy sector is at the forefront of Europe's journey towards climate neutrality by 2050, aligned with the ambitious goals of the European Green Deal. As a result, the entire industry is undergoing a profound transformation on the path to Net Zero.

Most notably, the energy transition is changing how we produce and consume energy across Europe. And with such significant disruptions, many new business opportunities arise.

As a result of this shift, new market actors called "active customers/consumers and citizens" and "energy communities" are being established. These entities are crucial in decentralizing, optimizing, and making the energy system more flexible and efficient. There are over nine thousand operational energy communities across the EU, showcasing the scale of this transformative shift.

This shift is opening up new business opportunities

We've identified over ten business opportunities for corporate ventures within the energy sector.

While many of these are as are not unheard of, they are increasingly gaining momentum and shaping the future of the energy industry landscape. The current shift marks the formation of tomorrow's industry leaders as adoption extends beyond innovators and early adopters to include the early majority.

Austria stands out as a front runner in energy community regulation, driving significant change. It has established precise rules and regulations facilitating energy sharing. Despite the persistent administrative complexities, these regulations offer incentives to participants including reduced grid fees for utilized grid portions and are progressively advancing toward greater user-friendliness.

At our office in Vienna, we've witnessed firsthand the profound impact of this ongoing transition.

Creating a service offering for energy communities with Wien Energie

We've been working with Wien Energie to create a digital service for energy communities. As Wien Energie fosters its engagement in venture building, we have the opportunity to work with the New Business Development & Ventures team to develop the service offering for energy communities. The aim of the offering is to provide a digital, all-in-one solution that enables B2B and B2C users to found and manage an energy community quickly and easily.

Here's a glimpse into our approach, from inception to market launch:

📊 Business opportunity identification: Analyzing market dynamics, regulatory frameworks, and competitive landscapes.

📝 Business model definition: Crafting a robust value proposition, identifying target demographics, and strategizing pricing models.

🔍 Validation: Engaging with experts, potential customers, and partners to refine our offering.

🚀 Implementation/MVP: Developing a user-centric platform, rigorous testing, and refining user experience.

🛠 Ongoing support: Continuous guidance in strategy, product management, sales, and stakeholder engagement.

Excitingly, we've supported Wien Energie onboarding the first-ever Austrian-wide energy community with:

✅ 6 PV and 4 wind power systems

✅ 3 GWh renewable power generation

✅ 55% self-efficiency

✅ 1.300 tons of CO2 savings

Curious to see for yourself what the platform can do? Check it out for yourself here.