SET – Start Up Energy Transition

Don’t SET the world on fire. SET the pace. SET the future.

1 platform & 3 pillars

Start Up Energy Transition (SET) is a global innovation platform supporting innovation in energy & climate tech for the global energy transition.

SET is implemented with the conviction that a sustainable future is directly linked to innovative business models and political will. The SET platform is powered by the German Energy Agency (dena), in cooperation with the World Energy Council. We support the global energy & climate tech ecosystem with our three pillars: The SET Award, the SET Tech Festival & the SET Spotlights (SET100 & Newsroom):

SET Award

The annual international competition for start-ups and young companies innovating for the global energy transition. In the last 9 years, the award has received more than 4.000 applications from more than 100 countries within 5 categories.

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SET Tech Festival

Our annual one-day event bringing together innovators shaping the future of energy: the best start-ups in the field of energy & climate tech solutions, innovation-driven corporates, policy makers, investors, and public organisations leading the energy transition.

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SET Spotlights

Articles, videos, posts, insights, SET100 publications and events featuring news from the energy & climate tech world, the successes and challenges of SET start-ups and other trending topics valuable to the global energy transition.

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SET Award

The annual international competition for start-ups and young companies innovating for the global energy transition. In the last 9 years, the award has received more than 4.000 applications from more than 100 countries within 5 categories.
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SET Tech Festival

Our annual one-day event bringing together innovators shaping the future of energy: the best start-ups in the field of energy & climate tech solutions, innovation-driven corporates, policy makers, investors, and public organisations leading the energy transition.
Discover more
SET Spotlights

Articles, videos, posts, insights, SET100 publications and events featuring news from the energy & climate tech world, the successes and challenges of SET start-ups and other trending topics valuable to the global energy transition.
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The #SET100 List start-ups of 2025

Each year, we select 100 of the most innovative energy and climate tech start-ups to join our prestigious SET100 list.

From this group, 5 outstanding innovators are honored with the SET Award – one in each of our five transformative categories. By amplifying their visibility and connecting them to a global network of partners, experts, and investors, we empower these start-ups to scale their solutions and shape the future of sustainable energy.

The SET100 List 2025

The SET100 community network

We spotlight 100 of the world’s most promising energy and climate tech start-ups every year.
Driving innovation, scaling solutions, and accelerating the global energy transition.

Meet some of the leading innovators & success stories SET has championed on their path to scale and success.

SET100 Database

SET partners

We know that solving the climate crisis requires collaboration across borders, industries, and sectors. That’s why partnerships are at the core of everything we do. From accelerating innovation to scaling impact, our partners help turn bold ideas into global solutions.

Our reach is global! We are proud to have a supportive and growing international network of partners from various sectors around the world with whom we are empowering the energy transition together.

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Ecosystem Partners

Our Ecosystem Partners are the backbone of our global network. Their strategic collaboration enables us to build bridges across industries, regions, and sectors – creating the fertile ground where start-ups, innovators, and key stakeholders in the energy transition can connect and thrive.
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Partners

Our Core Partners play a vital role in turning our mission into action. Their commitment allows us to build and grow the SET platform, offer meaningful support to pioneering start-ups, and expand our global efforts to accelerate innovation for the energy transition. By standing behind our work, they help shape a future powered by clean, inclusive, and sustainable solutions.
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Outreach Partners

Our Outreach Partners are key multipliers in our global mission. By actively sharing our initiatives, start-ups, and success stories within their trusted networks, they open doors to new regions, audiences, and ecosystems. Their engagement ensures that clean energy innovation reaches decision-makers, communities, and changemakers around the world—amplifying our collective impact and accelerating the pace of transformation.

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Always up to date

Stay connected with SET through our social feeds.
For daily updates on the latest innovations, events, and industry insights, follow us across our social channels.

SET Newsroom

Dive deeper into the latest trends, innovations, and insights shaping the future of energy and climate tech.

June 23, 2025June 23, 2025

From Waste to Value: How SET Award 2025’s Industry Category Champions Material Transformation

Heavy industries like manufacturing and mining have always been seen as ones that are hard to reduce carbon emissions in. But the SET Award 2025 […]

June 10, 2025June 10, 2025

Heat, Hydrogen, and AI: Inside SET Award 2025’s Clean Energy & Storage Innovation Ecosystem

Clean Energy & Storage remains the powerhouse category of SET Award 2025, comprising 40% of this year’s innovative energy transition start-ups. Driven by growing demand […]

May 27, 2025May 27, 2025

Solar Fridges, Green Jobs, and Hybrid Towers: How SET Award 2025’s Quality Energy Access & SDG-7 Category Breaks New Ground

Having access to affordable, clean energy isn’t just something we talk about – it’s a lifeline for communities all over the world. Just think how […]

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