Voltiris, a Swiss startup that has developed color-optimized solar modules compatible with agriculture, has raised CHF 1.4 million (~USD 1.5 million) in a pre-seed funding round with participation from Serpentine Ventures, Business Angels Switzerland, SICTIC, Swiss Climate Foundation, and the Fondation pour l’Innovation et la Technologie.

The funding will be used to accelerate the company’s development and commercialization through expanding commercial pilots, preparing for industrial production, and recruiting key team members.

Founded in 2021, Voltiris has developed color-optimized solar modules which can be used to generate energy in greenhouses. The modules are able to filter the light field to transmit the light waves needed for crop growth and generate electricity from the remaining light. This enables the double use of agricultural land by producing electricity without reducing the yield of crops placed underneath. Voltiris will begin solar projects on tomato and flower farms in Switzerland and the Netherlands in 2023, with plans to carry out full-scale commercialization in 2024.