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Climote's Derek Roddy, left, and Eamon Conway. Tony Kinlan

Industry heavy hitters are backing this Irish startup with their own cash

Climote gets over €1 million from investors who want a piece of the smart-metering company.

TWO ENERGY-INDUSTRY HEAVY hitters have reached into their own pockets to invest in giant-killing Irish startup Climote as part of a million-euro injection into the fledgling firm.

Former Bord Gáis chief executive John Mullins and Ian Marchant, the ex-boss of UK power giant SSE, have each bought a piece of the award-winning smart metering company.

The pair previously oversaw companies with a combined annual turnover of more than €30 billion and both will join Climote’s advisory board as part of the deal.

The Dundalk-headquartered company recently signed a €10 million deal with ScottishPower – beating Google-backed competitor Nest to the contract.

Mullins said the ScottishPower deal proved to him that Climote could “take on the biggest players in the industry and win”.

I have been using Climote’s technology in my own home for many years now, so to be in a position where I will be part of the team driving Climote forward is very exciting,” he said.

“Within the next few years, every home throughout Europe will be able to remotely manage their energy use and Climote is well positioned to play a leading role in this industry-wide change.”

Mullins said he was looking forward to helping Climote enter new markets and create more products, and expand its market share.

Eamon Conway MD climote, Ian Marchant, John Mullins, Derek Roddy CEO climote Ian Marchant, centre left, and John Mullins, centre right, with the entrepreneurs behind Climote.

A big cash boost

Climote was tight-lipped about the value of the pair’s cash injection, but company records reveal Marchant recently bought €100,000 in shares.

Another €300,000 went to Dublin firm Willis Trustsure Ltd and €1.1 million in shares went in two tranches to Global Impact Business Inc, based in the British Virgin Islands.

Earlier this month Climote was named Ireland’s national champion at the European Business awards for its digital meters, which provide remote control of home heating and hot water services – including via its smartphone app.

Climote Twitter / Entechirl Twitter / Entechirl / Entechirl

Since its official launch in 2012 it has signed partnerships with Electric Ireland and Power NI.

The company is the brainchild of ex-Honeywell executive Eamon Conway and smart-homes entrepreneur Derek Roddy.

Some local competition

Nest, which Google bought for about €2.5 billion earlier this year, announced it was launching in Ireland this month in direct competition with Climote.

It claims to be able to save households up to 20% on their heating bills by learning how people warm their homes and automatically adjusting temperatures.

READ: Anyone for a smart thermostat? Google’s Nest to arrive in Ireland later this month

READ: Dundalk smarter homes start-up wins European business gong

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8 Comments
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    Mute Robespierre
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    Dec 17th 2016, 10:08 AM

    If you can’t pull those off you are probably catatonic

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    Mute Brown Boots
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    Dec 17th 2016, 11:04 AM

    I think someone’s been pulling something else off rather than these… Spanner

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    Mute Conor church
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    Dec 17th 2016, 11:05 AM

    Ah have a beer and relax

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    Mute Brown Boots
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    Dec 17th 2016, 11:13 AM

    Bit early, but it’s Christmas, don’t mind if I do, thank you Conor

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    jane
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    Mute jane
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    Dec 17th 2016, 11:31 AM

    It’s too early to use Christmas as an excuse for morning beers, it’s acceptable from Thursday on.

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    Mute Brown Boots
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    Dec 17th 2016, 11:58 AM

    Ah Jane, come on, what harm will it do!… Reading that to myself… I may have used that line previously, inserting different name!!! OK maybe you are right!!!

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