Dyneo Technologies: The Venture Leader Cleantech developing data-driven technologies for sustainable thermal networks

16.09.2024 14:33, Rita Longobardi

Meet Max Carrel, Co-Founder of Dyneo. The cleantech startup provides data-driven, machine learning-powered solutions for optimizing the performance and energy efficiency of thermal networks, helping operators reduce greenhouse gas emissions and increase the use of renewables. In November, Max and the other nine Swiss National Cleantech Team members will travel to Munich on a business development and investor roadshow.

Name: Max Carrel
Location: Geneva
Nationality: Swiss
Graduated from: EPFL - Physics
Job title: Co-founder & CTO
Number of employees: 6
Money raised: CHF 300k
First touchpoint with Venturelab: Venturelab Business Growth training in 2023


Can you tell us who your product or solution helps, and how?
Dyneo supports operators of district heating and cooling infrastructure in reducing the carbon footprint of their networks. The solution leverages data-driven technologies to adapt both heat production and consumption to reduce heat loss and increase the share of renewables in their energy mix.

What market are you addressing and what is the potential of your startup in that market?
Heating and cooling are major contributors to greenhouse gas emissions, accounting for half of the energy consumption in Europe. District heating and cooling is a technology that is strategically positioned to decarbonize this sector. It covers the thermal energy needs of 77 million people in Europe and is expected to grow to nearly 100 million by 2023. Our technology serves the operators of these complex infrastructures, allowing them to dramatically increase both their efficiency and sustainability.

How and where did you come up with the idea for your startup?
My co-founder Maël Perret and I were involved in a company that leveraged smart building technologies to improve the energy efficiency of individual buildings. We had frequent contact with energy providers, in particular, district heating and cooling operators and we got familiar with the strong challenges that they are facing. As we exchanged, we realized that a similar approach and technology could address these challenges very efficiently and in doing so would have an extremely important impact.
 
What do you expect from the Venture Leaders Cleantech roadshow, and how will it help you achieve your vision?
We had the chance to demonstrate the value of our technology with major energy providers in Switzerland and are now looking to expand to other European countries. The Venture Leaders Cleantech roadshow represents a great opportunity for us to pave the way to the international market. We are looking forward to exploring valuable partnership opportunities both in funding and business development. We are also eager to challenge our expansion strategy with key insights from experts and fellow entrepreneurs.

What are your team’s key achievements to date?
We have deployed our technologies in four projects by major energy providers in Switzerland. Combined, the infrastructures that our technology manages cover the heating needs of close to 2000 people. In addition to providing solid market traction, these achievements allow us to collect invaluable feedback to enhance the value that our solution provides.

What is the most challenging and rewarding aspect of being a founder?
The amount of uncertainty in building a company can be daunting. This is outweighed by the profound sense of accomplishment that comes from recognizing the achievements of the team we have built. This feeling is even more pronounced in impact companies, where success directly translates into meaningful benefits for society.

What is the most important lesson you have learned as a founder?
Trust! Trusting our team is instrumental in making its members feel truly empowered, which has a significant impact on their autonomy. This is the key to letting me focus my time and energy where it is most needed.

What is your favourite productivity hack/tool and why?
I am afraid that there is no hack! The key to productivity in my view is to gradually increase the cruising speed of the team with supportive but flexible processes. Reflecting on what works and what doesn’t but most importantly acting on it is a strong enabler in my opinion.

What was your dream job when you were a child?
As a little boy, I wanted to be a firefighter-policeman who also served in the military. However, I realized very early that my true mission would be to address climate change. This mission guided my professional choices, ultimately leading to the creation of Dyneo.