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Smartworks Innovation
Smartworks Innovation works with the innovation management of Wiener Stadtwerke Group to bring new solutions and technologies from start-ups into the group.
Smartworks Innovation
Smartworks Innovation works with the innovation management of Wiener Stadtwerke Group to bring new solutions and technologies from start-ups into the group. The focus is on solutions with high innovation or climate protection potential that are technologically and economically scalable. This strengthens the innovative ability and competitiveness of the WSTW Group and creates solutions for the sustainable mobility and energy transition.
General information
Firm type
Private Equity
Year founded
2019
Location
Region
Europe
Country
Austria
City
Wien
Corporate office
Thomas-Klestil-Platz 13, 1030 Wien, Austria
Principals
Christian Fencz
CEO
Felix Markulin-Wegene r
Start-Up Collaboration
Astrid Kührer-Wielach
Start-Up Collaboration
Monika Unterholzner
Chairwoman of the Investment Committee
Karl Gruber
Deputy to the Chairwoman of the Investment Committee
Sector focus
Frequently asked questions
What is the relationship between Smartworks Innovation and Wiener Stadtwerke?
Smartworks Innovation shares a domain and primary contact with Wiener Stadtwerke, the municipal utility and public-transport holding group owned by the City of Vienna. The firm's Vienna address sits in the same complex as Wiener Stadtwerke. While the exact legal structure is not publicly detailed, the arrangement points to Smartworks operating as a strategic investment entity or corporate-venture arm rather than a third-party independent fund. This gives its portfolio companies a direct line into one of Europe's largest integrated urban infrastructure operators.
Who runs investment decisions at Smartworks Innovation?
The firm does not publish a team page, and no principals are named on the website or in Altss research records. The publicly listed contact is Christian Fencz, with an email tied to the Wiener Stadtwerke domain. No biographies or investment committee composition are available.
How is IONATE relevant to Smartworks Innovation's mobility thesis?
IONATE's hybrid intelligent transformers give distribution-grid operators real-time power-flow control and harmonic correction. For a firm whose portfolio also includes an EV-charging hardware OEM (Easelink) and a fleet-electrification analytics platform (NECTURE), IONATE addresses the grid-side infrastructure that large-scale electric fleet depots will require. The investment creates an integrated hardware-software-grid stack across mobility electrification.
Does Smartworks Innovation participate in fund commitments or only direct deals?
All displayed activity is direct investing into single companies. The website lists a portfolio tab with operating companies only and solicits pitch decks directly from founders. No fund-of-funds or LP commitments are documented.
Profile maintained by Altss using OSINT (open-source intelligence), regulatory filings, licensed data partners, and verified direct submissions. Read the methodology. Last updated: . Continuous refresh with full update cycles at least every 30 days.
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