March 4 - Combinder, the fast-growing DePIN for decentralized energy resources (DERs), has successfully closed a $500,000 pre-seed funding round for a $10 million valuation. Backed by leading investors from Web3, Energy, and AI sectors including 1kx, Outlier Ventures, DGFO, Moonrock Capital, MN Capital, and Prosper, this round will drive Combinder’s mission to build the world’s leading network for DERs. By connecting devices to Combinder’s global virtual power plant, people will be able to earn rewards in its $BIND token for sharing their energy use data and adjusting their energy consumption to offset high demand periods. 

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This milestone follows Combinder’s open beta launch, which has already seen 3,000 users join in. The DePIN, which is building on peaq, the layer-1 for the Machine Economy, has secured nine B2B partnerships across key sectors including smart hardware, virtual power plants, carbon finance and has also fostered an engaged and expanding community of DER owners. Now, Combinder is set to scale its network further, onboarding more devices and partners to shape the future of decentralized energy.

The demand for energy flexibility and decentralized solutions is growing rapidly. Traditional power grids are highly centralized, making them inefficient in adapting to modern energy needs. Smart and sustainable power grids must be flexible, which requires decentralization. Our grids function best when households complement centralized resources with their own, such as solar panels and battery storage, while adjusting consumption to peak demand hours. 

By shifting control away from centralized utilities and enabling individuals and businesses to participate directly in energy markets, decentralized grids can improve efficiency in a way that benefits everyone. This is where Combinder steps in. By connecting device owners, businesses, and innovators, Combinder creates a decentralized energy network that empowers participants to stabilize the grid, optimize renewable energy distribution, and generate economic value through smarter energy management. 

"Due to a massive energy data gap, our grids are blind to everything that happens behind the regulated metering infrastructure — Combinder is the answer. We connect device owners, businesses, and innovators to create an open, decentralized energy network that benefits everyone,"  said Kai Siefert, Founder & CEO of Combinder.

With this new capital, Combinder will accelerate development and expand its network by enhancing the Combinder API to support more device manufacturers and energy asset types. The investment will also allow Combinder to introduce new features in the Combinder App to maximize user benefits from their energy sources and develop an SDK to onboard AI agents and innovative applications built on the Combinder API.

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About Combinder

Combinder is a community-driven energy data network that transforms everyday electrical devices into active participants in the energy market. By connecting rooftop solar units, HVAC systems, EV chargers, and other devices, users can earn token rewards and monetize their energy flexibility.

Through Combinder’s user-friendly app, device owners can easily join its global energy pool, supporting grid stabilization, energy sharing, and renewable energy certification. Energy service providers also gain access to a standardized API, enabling them to streamline their demand response, build virtual power plants, and enable peer-to-peer energy trading.

By bridging millions of untapped energy assets, Combinder democratizes access to energy markets, ensuring that everyone — not just corporations — can benefit from the decentralized energy revolution. For more, visit https://www.combinder.io/