Sefaira Raises $10.8M – Strengthens Market Leadership in Software for Sustainable and Energy Efficient Building Design
April 10, 2012
For Immediate Release
Braemar Energy Ventures Leads Round, along with Chrysalix SET and Hermes GPE
London, UK and New York, NY (April 10, 2012) – Sefaira, a leader in energy efficiency software for the building and building materials sectors, today announced that it has closed $10.8 million in Series A funding led by Braemar Energy Ventures in partnership with Dutch-based Chrysalix SET and UK-based Hermes GPE. The funding will enable Sefaira to bring cloud-based, building physics analysis and design software to architects, retrofit engineers, building owners and materials manufacturers on a global scale. In connection with the funding, Neil S. Suslak, Managing Partner of Braemar Energy Ventures, and Rene Savelsberg, Managing Partner and CEO of Chrysalix SET, will join Sefaira’s Board of Directors.
With high energy prices and mounting environmental concerns, cost effective and energy efficient low carbon building design has never been more important. Across many countries, legislation increasingly demands higher performance of both new and existing buildings. Designing and retrofitting low and zero energy buildings is a complex and capital intensive process, and the pressure is on to adopt tools that deliver significant building performance improvements with reduced complexity and investment. Sefaira’s cloud technology helps meet this need by allowing users to rapidly optimize the energy and environmental aspects of building design and retrofit, while simultaneously improving the capital and operating costs of buildings. The company’s unique whole-building analysis engine, based upon deep building physics expertise, exploits the computational power of cloud computing to perform sophisticated analysis in a fraction of the time and cost previously required.
“Sefaira’s innovation in cloud-based data driven design brings a whole new level of analysis to the industry,” said Mads Jensen, CEO of Sefaira. “Through intuitive software, we aim to put the most powerful analysis in the hands of designers and decision-makers everywhere. Data driven design is all about making better decisions, which lead to better, more cost effective and greener buildings. We are excited to work with Braemar, Chrysalix SET and Hermes GPE to drive the next phase of growth for Sefaira, as we continue to enable the industry to deliver high performing, economical and sustainable buildings with game-changing cloud technology.”
“Sefaira’s technology is at the forefront of enabling wide scale energy efficiency improvement and emissions reduction for buildings and building products,” said Mr. Suslak. “Sefaira’s robust engine allows designers to make rapid design and engineering choices that enable measurable savings to a building’s energy costs and environmental footprint.”
Mr. Savelsberg added, “Our confidence in Sefaira is demonstrated by their impressive track record of rapid customer adoption, new market expansion and global presence. We are excited to help further accelerate their growth plans.”
Sefaira’s corporate finance advisor was Beanstalk Corporate Finance and their legal counsel was SJ Berwin.
For more information, call +1 212 812 8257 (US) / +44 2031 166403 (UK) or visit www.sefaira.com.
About Sefaira
Founded in 2009, Sefaira is a leader in software for high-performance building design. Using Sefaira, architects and other building designers now have the real-time analysis capabilities that enable them to practice Performance-Based Design. This enables designers to create buildings that have the very best performance characteristics in terms of energy use, daylighting quality, carbon emissions, thermal comfort, construction and operating costs. Sefaira has won a variety of industry awards and has been named as a Global Cleantech 100 company in 2013, 2014 and 2015.
For more information, please visit sefaira.com.
About Braemar Energy Ventures
Founded in 2003, Braemar Energy Ventures is a leading venture capital firm focused on investing in transformative energy-tech and related companies contributing to global sustainability and combating climate change. Using sector expertise and experience, Braemar aims to be an engaged partner with its portfolio companies to best help them navigate the path to creating significant global impact. For more information, visit braemarenergy.com.
About Chrysalix SET
Chrysalix SET is the Amsterdam-based management company of SET Fund I and SET Fund II. These independent clean energy focused venture capital funds invest in early-stage, European-based companies that offer a unique clean energy technology, product or service, and/or enjoy a competitive market position with a high upside potential. The target companies take all advantage of the active market transition from the traditional use of conventional hydrocarbons to a more sustainable energy infrastructure and/or an increased efficiency of the energy produced. Chrysalix SET’s current investments include, among others, AlertMe Ltd, General Fusion Ltd, PhotoSolar A/S, NGentec Ltd, EnOcean GMBH and SolarTotal Holding BV. For more information, visit www.chrysalixset.com.
About Hermes GPE
Hermes GPE is one of Europe's leading independent specialists in global private markets with assets under management of £4.2 billion*. The team has a significant investment and advisory track record in private markets spanning 20 years, making it one of the most experienced investors and portfolio advisers in international private equity, including direct co-investment programmes and infrastructure. Hermes GPE invests in and advises on a diverse range of products on behalf of its institutional clients, including primary fund investments, co-investments and secondary investments. Hermes GPE creates bespoke long-term partnerships with its institutional clients and investment solutions are tailored to meet their specific objectives. Hermes GPE is an active proponent of responsible investing. The firm is a signatory of the United Nations-backed Principles for Responsible Investment.
Registered address: Lloyds Chambers, 1 Portsoken Street, London E1 8HZ, United Kingdom
For more information, visit www.hermesgpe.com
*As at 31 December 2011
About Beanstalk Corporate Finance
Beanstalk Corporate Finance delivers specialist advice for technology companies throughout Europe, including finding buyers for businesses, raising investment funds (venture capital and private equity) and developing growth strategies. For more information, visit www.beanstalkmanagement.co.uk.