SoHHytec is a Swiss cleantech startup whose technology enables decentralized production of hydrogen along with oxygen, electricity and heat with no CO2 emissions. Its core product is the artificial tree 'Arb' system, developed over more than eight years of R&D and claimed to deliver unprecedented solar-to-hydrogen conversion efficiency. The technology is reported to be ready for industrial use and the company has won several entrepreneurship awards. Prior to this round SoHHytec secured approximately $1.6M in non-dilutive funding, which supported development of the Arb system. The recent $2M seed financing will support commercialization, industrialization and expedited deployment of systems for industrial customers. Management plans to leverage the investor's network for large-scale demonstration and market entry, targeting decarbonization opportunities including clean transportation. SoHHytec has developed the Arb, an “artificial tree” that uses concentrated sunlight and water to simultaneously produce highly pure hydrogen, oxygen, electricity, and heat. The patented integrated device reportedly shows record stability, high solar-to-fuel and solar-to-electricity efficiency, and cost-effective fuel and power production. The company is completing long-term testing of an Arb pilot located on the EPFL campus and is advancing a commercial-scale pilot called Arbs Garden to supply a steel processing factory in Switzerland. Planned follow-on commercial pilots are targeted in the EU, US, and India to address the growing clean-hydrogen market, which is estimated at EUR 120 billion. SoHHytec is a spin-off from EPFL’s Laboratory of Renewable Energy (LRESE) and was founded by Saurabh Tembhurne (CEO) with Prof. Sophia Haussener as scientific advisor and Meng Lin as Asia head. The startup received CHF 150,000 from Venture Kick to develop its commercial pilot, close partnership deals, and prepare for industrialization and internationalization. SoHHytec develops the "Arb," an artificial tree that produces hydrogen, electricity and heat on-site using only water and sunlight. The system is built around SoHHytec’s patented integrated photo-electrochemical device and a patent-pending system controller aimed at cost-effective, lower-carbon fuel and power production. The company was incorporated in 2020 by Saurabh Tembhurne (CEO), Sophia Haussener (co-founder and scientific advisor) and Meng Lin, with support from team member Daniel Brandenburger. Its first pilot system is under completion at the EPFL Lausanne campus. The newly obtained CHF 100,000 Tech Seed loan from FIT will fund long-term validation and automation tests, pilot product hardware and software development, and customer and partner acquisition. SoHHytec has also received R&D support from Venture Kick, BRIDGE PoC, the Swiss Federal Office of Energy and the European Space Agency, and has won multiple entrepreneurship prizes.

Total raised

$2M

Funding rounds

3

Latest round

Seed

Latest activity

Jan 2022