Enter SolarMente, a Barcelona-based upstart with a dream bigger than just decking Spanish roofs with solar panels.
Their grand plan? To shake the Spanish solar scene from its siesta and make solar installations as common as tapas in Spain. With the EU gunning for a greener grid by 2026, SolarMente’s timing couldn’t be more perfect. Despite Spain’s abundant sunshine, it’s been playing catch-up in the solar department, thanks to a not-so-sunny “sun tax” that only saw its sunset in 2018.
Wouter Draijer, a man who decided to swap Dutch clouds for Spanish sun, co-founded SolarMente after an epiphany from 30,000 feet above, noticing Spain’s bare rooftops. Teaming up with Victor Gardrinier, they ventured into solar installations before pivoting to a solar energy management system post-pandemic – a slick move given the crowded space and falling panel costs. SolarMente’s pitch? A subscription model that dodges upfront costs, preferring houses over apartments to dodge regulatory hoops and eyeing the bigger fish.
They’re not just stopping at solar panels. SolarMente eyes the whole energy management pie, adding batteries, EV chargers, and heat pumps into the mix, tailoring energy solutions that don’t just save the planet but also make sense for the wallet. Leonardo DiCaprio, Hollywood’s poster boy for environmental activism, has thrown his weight behind SolarMente, marking his first Spanish investment. This nod from DiCaprio not only adds star power but signals a growing trend of celebrity-backed sustainability efforts.
SolarMente’s energy arbitrage game, explained by Gardrinier, revolves around optimizing when to sell or consume solar energy. It’s not about trading energy with the neighbors just yet, but their super app aims to make energy management as smooth as sipping sangria on a sunny Barcelona beach. The financial journey from Y Combinator alum to DiCaprio’s investment highlights SolarMente’s vision to make solar energy accessible, akin to gym membership pricing.
With DiCaprio’s backing, SolarMente is set to supercharge its home energy super app ahead of a Series A. Spain, with its solar potential yet to be fully harnessed and SolarMente’s upscale yet accessible solution, could play a pivotal role in stabilizing energy prices and boosting EV adoption.
As SolarMente spreads its solar wings across Spain, the future looks bright, and not just because DiCaprio says so.
