Leiden-based Currentt, a Dutch cleantech startup, announced that it has raised €1.7M in a pre-seed round to support the rollout of its energy management system, the Currentt Navigator.
Developed in the Netherlands, the energy management system addresses challenges related to grid congestion, the phase-out of net metering, and cyber risks in the energy sector. The funding supports Currentt’s goal of enabling businesses and households to manage their energy use locally and securely.
The investment came from a group of investors and entrepreneurs. The group contributes knowledge across the energy value chain, including product development, production, marketing, sales, and scaling. It includes specialists in cybersecurity, strategy, B2B hardware and software, energy, SaaS, and e-commerce.
Towards a sustainable and affordable energy future
Founded in 2024 by Koen Mulders, Mark van den Brink, and Rick Goud, Currentt aims to solve the Dutch electricity grid congestion problem that affects both businesses and consumers.
According to the company, the Netherlands faces a crisis where over 12,000 companies are waiting for power connections, preventing business expansion and sustainability initiatives. This congestion causes the country to lose €10B-€35B in economic benefits annually. Consumers experience delays in housing projects and pay feed-in tariffs for unused electricity returned to the grid.
The problem will intensify when the Dutch net metering scheme expires on January 1, 2027. Households currently use only 30 per cent of their solar power, feeding the remaining 70 per cent back to the grid and offsetting it against their energy bills.
Without net metering, this surplus electricity will yield minimal returns, creating financial losses for millions of households. The infrastructure investments needed to strengthen the grid are estimated at €200B, translating to over €20,000 per Dutch household.
Currentt addresses this through the Currentt Navigator, a compact energy management system installed in the meter cupboard/utility cabinet.
The system coordinates energy generation, consumption, and storage by controlling devices, such as solar panels, charging stations, batteries, and heat pumps. This maximises local use of sustainable electricity rather than feeding it back to the grid, considering different energy prices for dynamic contracts. This approach reduces grid dependency for businesses and households while relieving pressure on the electricity infrastructure.
The Currentt Navigator operates independently of brands and cloud services, providing local control, cost reduction, cybersecurity, and stability while supporting the transition to sustainable energy.
“We are bringing back simplicity”
Currentt CEO, Koen Mulders, says, “We are bringing back simplicity. Our energy system has become very complex — with, on the one hand, a growing share of renewable energy sources and therefore variable and unpredictable generation, and on the other hand, changing regulations and the use of increasingly energy-intensive appliances. The solution lies locally. That is where we can intelligently balance supply and demand.”
“With the Currentt Navigator, we are bringing simplicity to the energy transition — via a single, intuitive system where everything works together seamlessly. As a user, you always have the lowest bill and maximum use of your own sustainable electricity.”
“This investment enables us to make an impact at scale — towards a more sustainable society,” adds Mulders.
Max ter Horst, Managing Partner of Rockstart Energy Fund, mentions, “Our electricity system is under increasing pressure from the growing share of renewable energy sources, which are not continuously available. Real-time energy management systems are therefore indispensable, but they are vulnerable to cyber attacks.”
“Currentt offers advanced energy management systems that are inherently more secure and provide the protection that businesses and society need. The startup is rapidly gaining ground in the market and is preparing for series production. We are proud to have an experienced and ambitious team with a lot of execution power on board!”
