SMELA reduces energy consumption of industrial drives by up to 90 % – financing secures growth

At a glance:

• Energy efficiency for sustainable production: SMELA reduces the energy consumption of industrial drives by up to 90 %.
• Targeted growth strategy: The funds flow into sales, marketing and production optimization.
• Strong investor confidence: the Companisto network and bmp Ventures participated in the financing round with a total of € 2,547,340.

Energy efficiency for sustainable production

SMELA develops compact electric linear actuators for short-stroke movements that consume up to 90 % less energy than conventional pneumatic solutions. With their space-saving design and high performance, they offer companies an economically attractive alternative to existing systems. This not only helps to reduce operating costs, but also cuts CO₂ emissions in production.

Targeted use of capital for growth and market penetration

The capital raised will be used specifically to expand sales and marketing activities in order to further increase market acceptance. SMELA is also investing in optimizing its production structure in order to exploit economies of scale and further reduce costs. The involvement of strategic partners is intended to accelerate international market entry and ensure stable growth structures in the long term.

Strong investor confidence

Nicky Hughes, Senior Investment Manager at Companisto, comments on the investment: “With SMELA, we were impressed by the combination of energy savings, high performance and compact design. This makes the drive technology the ideal choice for industrial and high-tech applications.” In addition to the Companisto business angels who participated in the financing round, bmp Ventures also supported SMELA’s growth strategy as a co-investor – a strong signal of the technology’s potential.

“We are very pleased to welcome the Companisto Business Angels to our circle of shareholders. With the joint investment, we are driving forward our successful expansion,” says Ywes Israel, Principal at bmp Ventures.

SMELA concludes: “The financing round with Companisto was characterized by a high level of professionalism. The great interest and the frequently specific questions from Companisto investors have proven that an expert network can be reached here. The very successful closing was a more than positive surprise for all of us, which we are taking with us as momentum. We look forward to scaling with and through our (new) shareholders.” Benjamin Horn, Managing Director of SMELA GmbH.

About SMELA GmbH
SMELA GmbH develops, produces and sells electromechanical actuators for linear movements in automated industrial systems. Compared to pneumatic systems, up to 90 % energy can be saved and up to 80 % installation space can be saved in the systems compared to existing electrical solutions. The actuators are used in production lines, machine tools, in the packaging industry or in logistics.

About COMPANISTO
Companisto is a leading crowdinvesting platform in Europe that enables private investors to invest in innovative startups and growth companies. Since its foundation in 2012, Companisto has offered numerous investment opportunities and built a strong community of investors. With a focus on transparent and accessible investment processes, Companisto supports both young companies in raising capital and investors in participating in promising business ideas. The platform has established itself as a major player in the field of digital investment and contributes to the promotion of entrepreneurship and innovation.

About bmp Ventures
bmp Ventures is one of the most experienced venture capital investors in Germany, with a track record of more than 250 investments across nearly all technology segments, the majority of which are in the early stage. In addition to direct investments, bmp has managed venture capital funds for KfW Bankengruppe and DEG – Deutsche Investitions- und Entwicklungsgesellschaft. Currently, bmp manages the IBG funds in Saxony-Anhalt and employs around 20 people at its offi ces in Berlin and Magdeburg.

About the IBG Funds
The IBG funds, based in Magdeburg, are the venture capital funds of the state of Saxony-Anhalt. They provide equity capital to young, innovative technology companies with above-average growth potential headquartered in Saxony-Anhalt. At the end of 2023, the new venture capital fund RKF IV was launched with a volume of €63 million. The fund is fi nanced by the state of Saxony-Anhalt and the European Union and invests in startups in the seed, early-stage, and growth phases. The IBG funds are managed by bmp Ventures AG.

Press Contact

bmp Ventures AG
Josephine Gantze
Marketing und Events
Tel.: +49 391 5328 140
jgantze@bmp.com