Stockholm Startup Elvy Lands €500M to Turn Solar and Heat Into a Monthly Service
Swedish clean-energy startup Elvy has secured €500 million in financing to expand its subscription-based model that allows homeowners to access solar power and modern heating systems for a fixed monthly fee.
Founded in 2023, Elvy aims to remove the high upfront costs and complexity that often slow the adoption of renewable energy technologies. Instead of purchasing equipment outright, customers pay a predictable monthly price that covers solar panels, heat pumps, battery storage, installation, and ongoing maintenance.
The company positions itself as a full-service energy provider rather than a hardware seller. Its digital platform uses data and automation to optimise how homes generate, store and consume energy, helping households reduce electricity bills and reliance on the grid while maintaining comfort year-round.
“Elvy is about making clean energy simple and accessible,” said CEO and co-founder Johan Outinen. “Homeowners want lower energy costs and reliable heating without having to make large investments or manage complex systems.”
The new funding will be used to scale operations across Sweden and support expansion into additional European markets. Elvy expects demand to grow as energy prices remain volatile and governments push households to transition away from fossil fuels. The company plans to significantly increase customer numbers over the next year while continuing to develop its software-driven energy management capabilities.
Elvy’s raise reflects a broader trend in climate technology toward service-based business models, where sustainability is paired with consumer-friendly financing. By bundling clean energy technologies into a single monthly subscription, the company hopes to accelerate adoption among homeowners who may otherwise be hesitant to invest in solar or heat pumps.
As Europe’s energy transition gathers pace, Elvy is betting that convenience, predictability and affordability will be key to bringing renewable energy into everyday homes.
Gracia AI Lands $1.7M for AI-Powered Ultra-Photorealistic Volumetric Videos for VR and AR
Gracia AI, a young startup working at the intersection of artificial intelligence and immersive media, has raised $1.7 million to advance its technology for creating ultra-photorealistic volumetric videos designed for virtual and augmented reality experiences.
The company is developing an end-to-end platform that enables the capture, processing and playback of dynamic, three-dimensional video that viewers can move around and explore naturally. Unlike traditional video, volumetric content allows people, objects and environments to be experienced from multiple angles, making it especially valuable for VR, AR, gaming, film and interactive storytelling.
At the core of Gracia AI’s approach is an AI-driven rendering pipeline based on next-generation 4D scene representation techniques. These methods allow highly detailed, lifelike motion and lighting while remaining efficient enough to run on modern standalone VR headsets. The result is video that feels closer to reality, without the heavy hardware or manual workflows traditionally associated with volumetric capture studios.
Gracia AI aims to lower the barrier to entry for creators and studios by offering production tools that fit into existing workflows. Its platform supports cloud-based processing and integrates with popular real-time engines, enabling developers and content teams to deploy volumetric video directly into immersive applications.
The new funding will be used to grow the company’s engineering and research teams, refine its production tools and scale its infrastructure. Gracia AI also plans to work closely with early customers in entertainment, advertising and enterprise training to tailor its technology to real-world use cases.
As VR and AR adoption continues to grow, demand for high-quality immersive content is increasing rapidly. By making volumetric video more accessible, scalable and visually convincing, Gracia AI is positioning itself as a key enabler of the next generation of immersive media — where digital experiences feel less like simulations and more like real presence.
London-Based Lightrock Invests $40M in Sun King’s Off-Grid Solar Growth
Sustainable investment firm Lightrock, headquartered in London, has invested $40 million in Sun King, a leading provider of off-grid solar energy solutions, to support the company’s continued expansion across emerging markets.
Sun King is one of the world’s largest developers of decentralised solar systems, serving households and small businesses in regions where access to reliable electricity remains limited or nonexistent. The company offers a range of solar-powered products — from basic lighting and phone-charging kits to larger home and commercial systems — combined with flexible pay-as-you-go financing that makes clean energy affordable for low-income customers.
The new investment will help Sun King scale its operations in Africa and Asia, strengthen distribution and service networks, and expand its product portfolio. A key focus will be deepening the company’s presence in existing markets while entering new regions with high demand for off-grid power. Sun King also plans to grow its workforce of field agents responsible for sales, installation, maintenance and customer support, which is critical for reaching remote communities.
Beyond electricity generation, Sun King is increasingly bundling energy-efficient appliances such as fans, refrigerators and other essential devices into its financing model. This approach enables customers to improve quality of life and productivity while reducing reliance on expensive and polluting fuels like kerosene and diesel.
For Lightrock, the investment aligns with its strategy of backing scalable businesses that deliver measurable social and environmental impact. Off-grid solar is widely seen as one of the fastest and most cost-effective ways to close the global energy access gap while supporting climate goals.
The funding marks another milestone for Sun King as it works to bring affordable, reliable solar power to millions more people. With energy demand rising and grid expansion lagging in many regions, decentralised solar solutions are expected to play an increasingly central role in the global energy transition.
OpenAI Strikes $1B Deal to Bring Disney Characters to ChatGPT and Sora
OpenAI and The Walt Disney Company have announced a $1 billion partnership that will bring Disney’s most beloved characters to OpenAI’s AI platforms, including the Sora short-form video generator and ChatGPT image tools. The deal represents a landmark collaboration between a major entertainment studio and a leading AI company, enabling new creative possibilities for fans and developers alike.
Under the agreement, OpenAI will gain rights to use over 200 iconic characters from Disney, Pixar, Marvel, and Star Wars. Users will soon be able to generate AI-powered short videos and images featuring characters such as Mickey Mouse, Iron Man, Cinderella, and Darth Vader, all through simple prompts in Sora or ChatGPT. The licensing covers animated and illustrated representations, ensuring creative flexibility while respecting the original IP; however, it does not include the likenesses or voices of actors.
Disney’s investment also positions the company as a major enterprise partner for OpenAI. Beyond enabling fan creativity, the tools will be integrated into Disney’s internal workflows and consumer-facing products, potentially enhancing services such as Disney+ and other digital offerings. The initiative may even showcase select user-generated content, combining fan engagement with official brand approval.
The partnership reflects a broader shift in the entertainment and technology sectors, addressing earlier concerns about copyright, AI ethics, and content ownership. By officially licensing its characters, Disney sets a precedent for responsible collaboration with AI developers while providing users with studio-approved creative assets.
OpenAI and Disney have emphasized that the collaboration is designed to encourage safe and responsible AI use. Fans and creators can expect access to branded AI content in early 2026, opening up new ways to tell stories, experiment with characters, and engage audiences in interactive media. The deal underscores the growing synergy between artificial intelligence and entertainment, signaling a future where iconic characters can live and interact in digital spaces powered by generative AI.
