Origami raises £20mn in Series C round led by Barclays PLC

The UK-based green energy technology startup, Origami, has raised £20mn in a Series C funding round led by Barclays PLC.

The investment, which saw Barclays take the lead as part of the bank’s Sustainable Impact Capital initiative, is geared to back companies that specialise in sustainability and working towards zero carbon emissions. 

Additional investors in the round were Origami’s existing shareholders, Octopus Ventures, Aggreko, and Cambridge Innovation Capital.

Origami green technology

The Cambridge-based technology company which was founded in 2013, is on a mission to build a green energy world powered by smart technology. It's green energy initiatives focus on transitions to renewables, energy systems, smart and real-time digital solutions. 

Origami's trading and automation software currently provides power traders with real-time data and machine-learning decision support tools to reduce risk, improve visibility and capture valuable opportunities within new and rapidly evolving energy markets.

This new investment will enable the startup to improve its products, serve a growing customer base and scale up for international markets. The success of the funding round, said Origami executives, highlights the increasing investor appetite to back leading tech companies pursuing the reduction of global carbon emissions.

Green energy technology

Peter Bance, CEO, Origami, explained, “This investment recognises that with powerful real-time software solutions underpinning our emerging green energy systems, tackling the world's greatest threat of climate change can also become the world's greatest commercial opportunity. 

“Barclays shares our vision and has a broad customer base in the UK and internationally, which includes many energy businesses. I am looking forward to working with them to help achieve our ambitious goals.”

As part of its broader commitments, Barclays has pledged to invest £175m of its own capital, led by the Principal Investments team, in fast-growing, environmentally-focused companies whose values are aligned with those of Barclays and which target the goals and timelines of the Paris Agreement. 

Speaking about the Origami investment drive, Steven Poulter, Head of Principal Structuring and Investments, Barclays, said, “It is becoming increasingly clear that powerful digital solutions, like Origami’s, are critical enablers for maximising the potential of green energy assets such as renewables, batteries, and EVs.”

He added, “Their technology is essential for a successful and timely transition to a low-carbon economy, and the opportunity for Barclays to partner with such a compelling business in the world-class Cambridge Greentech ecosystem is an exciting prospect.”

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