Dutch wave-energy tech startup Weco raises €600K

Hague-based Weco secures €600K to continue its work on wave-energy systems and prepare for future development with support from partners.

The Hague-based Weco, a company working on wave-energy technology, has secured €600K in new funding. The round includes contributions from the Netherlands Enabling Water Technology fund (NEW-ttt), Init Power B.V., and investor Cyriel de Jong.

Sybo Zijlstra, Investment Manager NEW-ttt, says, “We are proud to support Weco in their mission to harness the power of the sea and turn it into sustainable energy. Their technology perfectly aligns with our vision to drive groundbreaking innovations that accelerate the energy transition – even on the open sea.”

Frank van Beek of Init Power BV adds, “Weco’s combines strong engineering fundamentals with a clear vision for impact. We see significant potential for this system in the offshore energy transition going forward.”

Turning waves into watts

Wave Energy Collective BV, or ‘Weco’ in short, was founded in 2023 by Luc Hogervorst and Cas van de Voort. The company works on power production from ocean waves and aims to support a global shift toward energy systems that do not rely on fuel or emit greenhouse gases. 

Its work centres on a wave energy converter that uses the motion of waves to generate electrical power for offshore platforms, remote communities, sensors, and autonomous equipment.

The company’s main system, the Kaizen Wave Energy Converter, draws power from the horizontal motion of waves. The design includes a frame, a screen that interacts with waves, floaters for buoyancy, and an anchoring system linked to a main shaft through a belt mechanism. When waves move the device, one belt pair unrolls and the other rolls up, producing torque on a generator. This process turns wave motion into a continuous electrical output. A control unit uses data from load cells, a rotation sensor, and an IMU to adjust system behaviour in response to incoming waves.

Development of the system began during a master thesis and advanced through simulations, numerical models, CFD work, small-scale tests, and full-scale prototypes. Trials took place in controlled environments and later in the ocean. Findings from these stages shaped the mechanical design, the belt setup, and the control strategy, and confirmed that the system can capture wave motion and convert it into usable power.

Wave energy comes from the natural movement of water caused by swell and wind transfer. Because waves occur throughout the year, wave energy systems can provide steady power without fuel use or emissions. This supports efforts to reduce reliance on fossil-based sources and encourages the use of local, ocean-driven energy.

Weco follows principles that limit disturbance to marine environments and seeks to expand the use of wave energy for broader energy security. The company invites people from various backgrounds to join its work and contribute to the ongoing development of wave-based power systems.

Capital utilisation

Weco is building a system that turns ocean movement into clean electrical power. With the new funding, Weco plans to progress its development program and carry out open-sea tests. These trials will support work on the next prototype stage and prepare for broader demonstrations.

Cas van de Voort, co-founder of Weco, says, “This investment marks a major step forward for Weco. It provides us with additional resources to secure the next steps in validating our technology under real sea conditions. We’re excited to continue our mission of turning waves into watts.”

What’s next?

Weco is preparing for a new round of testing in 2026 with support from local and international partners. The effort will examine system performance, confirm reliability, and move the technology toward commercial use.

The company states that its long-term aim is to place wave energy within the global energy transition by turning wave motion into electrical power.