vilisto

Vilisto GmbH, a Hamburg-based company established in 2016, specializes in digital heat management for non-residential buildings, such as offices, municipalities, and educational institutions. The company was founded by Christoph Berger (CEO), Christian Brase (CSO), and Lasse Stehnken (CTO). The founding idea stemmed from their observation during their university studies that commercial buildings are often heated inefficiently. Berger, an energy engineer from TU Hamburg and UC Berkeley, developed the initial concept. Brase, a behavioral economist, leads sales and marketing, while Stehnken, a software developer with hardware expertise, heads technical development.

The company's core product is a patented, self-learning radiator thermostat system named Ovis. This system uses integrated sensors to detect motion, light, and sound levels, allowing it to learn room usage patterns with the help of self-learning algorithms. By automatically reducing the temperature in unoccupied rooms and raising it just before use, the technology can cut heating costs and CO2 emissions by up to 32%. A key selling point is the system's ease of installation, which can be completed within minutes during normal operations without requiring structural changes or complex IT integration. Vilisto's business model involves selling the hardware for a fixed price and charging a usage fee for its connected online platform. This platform enables facility managers to remotely monitor and manage their properties, viewing real-time data on temperature, energy consumption, and savings.

Initially targeting residential buildings, the founders pivoted to the B2B and B2G markets after realizing the greater savings potential in larger, non-residential buildings where occupants often don't bear the heating costs directly. The company has secured over 300 customers, including companies and public sector clients. Vilisto has raised a total of $7.18 million over six funding rounds. A significant Series A funding round in July 2023 brought in €5 million, led by SET Ventures and E.R. Capital Holding, to fuel sales growth and further product development. The company has received several accolades, including the German Innovation Award for Climate and Environment in 2020 and the EIT Venture Award in 2022.

Keywords: digital heat management, smart thermostats, energy efficiency, non-residential buildings, building automation, cleantech, proptech, B2B energy solutions, CO2 reduction, facility management software, IoT sensors, self-learning algorithms, energy savings, heating control, commercial real estate technology, smart building, corporate climate protection, automated heating, energy monitoring, sustainable buildings