Since its launch in September last year, Smalt has installed over 200 photovoltaic systems, including large commercial and multi-family buildings. The round was led by Noa (formerly A/O), Europe's largest built world VC, with participation from existing investors General Catalyst, Owl Ventures, and Heartfelt (formerly APX).

A key barrier to Europe's energy transition is the lack of skilled labour to install and maintain climate tech products. Smalt is addressing this issue through its workforce development and service delivery platform, which boosts labour supply and productivity at scale. The platform also creates employment opportunities for individuals who may have otherwise struggled to secure long-term work in Europe, thereby tackling broader issues such as labour shortages, the immigration crisis, and productivity within the climate trades.

Smalt's clients include some of Germany's leading energy and clean-tech companies, such as Thermondo, Otovo, and Enviria. These companies use Smalt's platform to place installation and servicing orders, providing on-demand services across Germany. Smalt offers both subcontracting services and full-service solutions, including consultation, financing, and installation.

The company has also established its own accredited academy in Berlin and opened four hubs throughout Germany. Smalt plans to scale through a network of franchised installation and servicing stores across the continent, led by experienced members of its workforce, local entrepreneurs, and skilled trades workers.

"Our franchise platform enables the European craft ecosystem to work more efficiently and thus strengthens European sovereignty in the renewable energy sector. The new financing will accelerate our growth in the commercial solar and maintenance segment," said Marius Westhoff, Co-Founder and Managing Director of Smalt.

Arjun Jairaj, Investor at noa, said: “The shortage of skilled workers is a key bottleneck in Europe's energy transition. Smalt offers a holistic approach to tackling this problem by attracting fresh talent into the industry and expediting their entry to the jobsite by blending digital and on-site training, and combining this with a technology platform to ensure repeatable high-quality service delivery.”

“This funding round will accelerate our plans to expand into the commercial PV space, as well as regionally into the south of Germany and beyond. We are super excited to welcome the noa family to the cap table with its deep expertise in the built world, to complement our existing investors from the education and B2B software technology space,” added Khurram Masood, Co-Founder and Managing Director of smalt.