Shared 16 February, 2024
Next Sense, the new entity resulting from the merger of two software companies, additionally raised capital immediately after this merger to accelerate the mission of data-driven sustainability of real estate even further. EDGE Technologies, the parent company of EDGE Next, invests in this mission together with Timeless Investments, SHAPE Capital and Job Dura, shareholders in PHYSEE. Last year, parties worked confidentially on one platform that better maps and reduces energy waste of the infinite number of square meters of office space.
The decarbonization need of the real estate industry has been indicated as one of the more complex challenges to solve in the energy transition. The European Union, as part of the HORIZON program, has made it clear that real-time simulations on digital building twins are necessary to achieve climate neutrality by 2050. With the launch of Next Sense, this is the chosen approach of all parties involved. The platform will help owners to collect data from their buildings, by using simulations to create a clear roadmap for their portfolio to become Paris-proof and reduce energy consumption of every square meter through AI-based building control logics.
Ferdinand Grapperhaus, CEO at Next Sense, explains why the merger of two individual software platforms is necessary for the commercial real estate market to meet its environmental goals more quickly: “In a saturated market, blinded by offers from single-point solutions, this merger not only brings together two companies and products, but also connects two missions, networks and customer bases to increase joint impact. 2030 is just around the corner, so there is no more time to waste. Neither for us, nor for our clients.”
There is an urgent need for standardized solutions to decarbonize the built environment. As the leading shareholder driving this merger, Coen van Oostrom, Founder and CEO at Edge, believes Next Sense is ready to drive a sustainable transformation of commercial real estate: “The global market urgently requires a unified and standardized approach to reduce the carbon footprint of our buildings. Next Sense is ready to fulfil this critical need. I’m confident that all stakeholders engaged with Edge will eagerly welcome the next-generation software platform designed to support them in tackling this huge challenge of decarbonization confronting us all.”
About Next Sense
Next Sense is a pioneering force in sustainable real estate, resulting from the merger of EDGE Next (daughter company of EDGE Technologies) and Sense by PHYSEE. As a certified B-Corp with a diverse team, Next Sense is committed to making every building Paris-proof. Next Sense offers performance insights, advanced monitoring, and AI-driven solutions to revolutionize the industry. The strategic merger and investment position scale-up Next Sense as a frontrunner in this slowly changing industry. To go even faster and have even more impact the company is already in discussions with various international Climate Tech Venture Capital partners to strengthen the now initiated acceleration. The climate goals are approaching fast, and to meet them on time, collaboration will be the key to our future.
About Edge
Edge is a leading real estate developer focused on sustainable, technology-based office spaces with operations in the Netherlands, Germany and the United Kingdom, as well as joint ventures in the United States. Edge is committed to making the built environment greener, smarter and healthier, while delivering on its mission to provide better buildings to the world. In 2022, Macquarie Asset Management acquired a significant minority stake in Edge on behalf of one of the funds alongside founder and CEO Coen van Oostrom.
About SHAPE Capital
SHAPE Capital is a private investment fund that invests through growth capital, but also by making its know-how and network available to fast-growing companies, preferably in the scale-up phase. Represented by Daan van der Vorm, SHAPE Capital has invested in companies with a particular focus on impact.
About Timeless Investments
Timeless Investments is the investment fund and family office of the Van Veggel family that invests internationally in projects ranging from real estate concepts and developments, start-ups, scale-ups and PE funds. Based in Amsterdam and operating from their own companies in the Netherlands and the US, in addition to financial knowledge, they also add strategic and commercial know-how with a focus on a long-term growth strategy, driven by entrepreneurship. Creativity, people and quality are always central.
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