Helsinki-based Capalo AI secured €11 million in a Series A funding round led by Heartcore Capital, with participation from Tesi and full re-participation from existing investors VentureFriends and Inventure.
Led by CEO Henri Taskinen, Capalo AI operates an AI-powered virtual power plant (VPP) that optimizes the trading and dispatch of grid-scale batteries. The platform’s “Zeus VPP” architecture utilizes multi-layered algorithms to synchronize dispersed energy resources into a single market entity, balancing supply and demand in real-time. This move toward automated, high-velocity grid stability follows the institutional backing seen in TWAICE’s predictive battery analytics.
Market Signal
- The Aggregation Alpha: Capalo AI has achieved 1GW of contracted battery capacity—a fivefold increase in less than 12 months. By pooling these assets, the platform creates a powerful network effect: as more batteries join the VPP, the system’s trading accuracy and data edge improve, allowing investors to maximize returns across intraday and ancillary markets that are otherwise too volatile for manual oversight.
- Strategic Versatility: The platform is evolving beyond standalone batteries to optimize hybrid “source-to-socket” facilities where storage is co-located with wind and solar. With a 48-member team including PhDs in mathematics and physics, Capalo is positioning itself as the high-precision coordination layer for Europe’s energy independence.
- The Interconnection Friction: A primary execution hurdle is “Regulatory Fragmenting”; as Capalo expands from the Nordics into Poland, Spain, and Greece in 2026, it must navigate distinct national grid codes and 15-minute intraday trading interval reforms that vary significantly across the EU energy market.
Key Details
- Funding: €11M
- Lead Investor: Heartcore Capital
- CEO: Henri Taskinen
- Use Case: AI-driven virtual power plant optimization and energy storage trading
