Over the past six months, almost every Ukrainian has become a connoisseur of mobile generators. However, even before the energy crisis in the country, the founders Vacuum Gravity Energy presented at our Virtual Incubation Program vol.2 a project of an ecological generator of renewable energy that works on... gravity! And they won a grant. How the unique technology works, how many other victories the startup has won and how the invention can help the Armed Forces - Tverdyslav Filatov, co-founder of Vacuum Gravity Energy, told.
About the startup
We develop a mobile renewable energy generator with a capacity of 10 to 40 kW of the same size as a diesel generator of similar capacity. Our 100% generator is environmentally friendly, because its energy source is only atmospheric pressure. It works stably 24 hours a day regardless of weather and location.
About the idea
Today, some Ukrainians can spend up to 20 hours a day without light and heat. And sometimes longer. Both individuals and entire enterprises that need autonomous power supply suffer. In particular, Ukrainian agribusiness cannot work stably, because products spoil and deadlines for orders are interrupted.
Installation of solar or wind power plants requires from 40,000 euros, but at the same time they work unstable, because they depend on weather conditions and occupy a large enough area.
We have found a solution that solves all these problems.
We offer the first, unique product of its kind, the principle of operation of which is the difference between atmospheric pressure and vacuum pressure. It is similar to the operation of a heat pump, only the energy multiplication factor is twice as large.
About war
Our entire team, since the beginning of the war, has not stopped working on the startup for a single day. Even in the first two days, during the bombings, we competed online at the international climate technology competition in Brazil Climate Smart Cities Challenge.
The whole year 2022 was very active for us: we took part in 10 different competitions and acceleration programs, in an international conference in Stuttgart (Germany) and passed the accelerator there AXEL. We even applied for a Military Innovation and USF Dual Purpose Competition with an adapted version of our product to provide stable, silent power to mobile hospitals and headquarters. We believe that our startup can be useful to the Armed Forces of Ukraine and help the post-war reconstruction of Ukraine. In particular, it can provide electricity to bomb shelters.
"If we sum up the year 2022, we won 30,000 $ grant funds"
About the program
And yet, our first victory took place at the Virtual Incubation Program. We really liked the mentors, lecturers and mentors with their practical advice. I especially want to mark Pitch Day, because out of all 10 programs (*in which we participated during 2022), it was the best organized, without delays.
It is absolutely worth applying to all possible programs, and to the Virtual Incubation Program in particular. Training there takes place on the basis of a high-quality, convenient training platform with an internal chat between participants and a support team that responds quickly to inquiries. From our experience, homework should be done thoroughly and on time. They help you better understand your product, its positioning in the market, business model and ways to scale your startup. I also advise you to go through training with the whole team, because this is a real course for a young fighter, which hardens, inspires, gives a new vision and ambitions.
About next steps
Currently, our team has already received part of the grants for 2022, and we are actively engaged in the development of a demo version of the 2 kW generator. We have assembled an international consortium and plan to apply for Horizon EU grants. This will allow us to create an MVP of a VGE generator with a capacity of 10-40 kW. We have found partners for the implementation of our small-scale production at their base in Kyiv. In addition, our company is the founder of the subregional program Amber+, within the framework of which we plan to participate in the microgrid of renewable energy sources to reduce the cost of "clean" electricity for end consumers and energy security of the Carpathian subregion.
"VIP participants learn to lay the right foundation for creating sustainable companies"
About the future of Ukrainian business
I know that Ukraine will win the war, because our people have done it many times in their history. We have the richest land and the most hardworking people. Most of our businessmen have remained in Ukraine and, despite all the problems and risks, are holding the economic front. I know that already this year, international financial aid in the form of grants, and later direct investments, will come to Ukraine. Our startup ecosystem has shown tremendous resilience - investments came right during the war! AND Virtual Incubation Program already plays an important role in the formation of Ukrainian business. Based on the best global experience, program participants learn to lay the right foundation for creating sustainable companies.