Poland-based, NapiFeryn BioTech (NFB) has developed a (patented) process to obtain rapeseed proteins (Raptein®) from the side stream of (canola/ rapeseed) oil pressing. In doing so, NFB is able to transform a low-value/ widely available raw material into a high-value & quality protein, at an affordable price (as “20% of our raw material is made up protein”). NFB thus seeks to innovate in the "plant-based protein" market, beyond the usual crops like soy, wheat & peas (ps: for startups innovating in the "insect protein" market, see our coverage of Entocycle). The startup was able to test its tech (dubbed “Alseos”) with grant support from Horizon 2020 & will use the new funds to bring it...

Founded in 2011 by Christian Deilmann (CEO) & Johannes Schwarz (CTO), Germany-based tado has built energy-efficient smart thermostats & services (with the advantage that they're "compatible with <95% of homes in Europe"). Easy to self-install, the offering can reduce heating costs (through e.g. geofencing – which controls a home’s temperature based on whether anyone’s in the house - & open window detection) by 22% on average (or a customer payback time of less >6 months). The company plans to use the new funding to combine its smart thermostats with “time-of-use” energy tariffs; essentially encouraging users to consume electricity at specific times when its cheaper. To do so, tado last year acquired Awattar, which provides power...