Beanstalk, the boutique corporate finance advisor, has helped building energy efficiency software company Sefaira secure the largest series A funding round in the cleantech sector in the UK for over two years, with funding of USD10.8m.
The international series A funding round was led by New York-based venture capital fund Braemar Energy Ventures, in partnership with Netherlands-based Chrysalix SET and London-based Hermes GPE.
Founded in 2009, Sefaira has developed a unique whole building physics-based approach to managing sustainable building design. Sefaira enables architects, engineers and building owners to rapidly optimise the energy and environmental aspects of building design, and retrofit areas such as energy consumption and water use much earlier in the building design process. Having secured their first strategic customer deals, the company began a search for series A funding to accelerate business development activity as well as fund R&D, support and engineering.
With the founders looking to focus on the commercial opportunities that were opening up, Sefaira turned to Beanstalk to help and advise on securing funding. Beanstalk delivers specialist advice for mid-market companies throughout Europe, including finding buyers for businesses, raising investment funds (venture capital and private equity) and developing growth strategies. The company founders were attracted by Beanstalk’s experience in the sector and understanding of the market as well as its strong network of investment contacts. Beanstalk acted quickly, putting together a comprehensive investment memorandum and supporting discussions with potential investors. Beanstalk then worked closely with the Sefaira management team on the term sheet negotiations and project managed the due diligence process with Sefaira’s lawyers SJ Berwin.
Mads Jensen, CEO of Sefaira, says: “The team at Beanstalk helped move things forward for us with investors, while allowing us to concentrate on growing the business. They supported us every step of the way through the investment negotiations and due diligence. Their help and advice has been critical in moving us on to the next phase in our growth.”
Richard Baker (pictured), co-founder of Beanstalk Management, says: “Sefaira is creating a new and exciting market with a unique approach and patented technology addressing a rapidly expanding sector. We were delighted to have helped deliver this notable result for the company.”
