Who we are
Start Up Energy Transition (SET) is a global innovation platform supporting innovation in 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.

Our mission
‘’Strengthening the impact that energy innovators have in reaching climate neutrality’’
Through our activities, we support, promote, and create opportunities for start-ups in the energy sector to scale-up impact and accelerate the global energy transition in order to reverse climate change.
“A fast and global energy transition is key to the response to the rapid climate change. Societies must put emphasis on green innovation in all sectors if they want to achieve their climate goals.”
Andreas Kuhlmann, CEO of the German Energy Agency (dena)Our work
Since its inception, SET continues to enable connections through dena’s and World Energy Council’s unique position at the crossroads of the private and public sector. At its core, the SET platform is built on three pillars: the SET Award, the SET Tech Festival, and the SET Newsroom.
Our activities make SET an important and well-recognized international platform for innovation in the energy transition.
SET Award
An annual international competition for start-ups and young companies innovating for the global energy transition. In the last six years, the award has received more than 2,700 applications from 102 countries. The SET100 list with the best 100 start-ups of 2022 has been released. Check it out now!
Download the SET100 list of 2022SET Tech Festival
An annual one-day event bringing together innovators shaping the future of energy: the best start-ups in the field of energy solutions, innovation-driven corporates, investors, and public organisations leading the energy transition. The SET Tech Festival 2022 is coming soon. Stay tuned!
Learn moreSET Newsroom
Unique content (articles, videos and events) featuring news from the energy world, the successes and challenges of SET start-ups and other trending topics valuable to our network.
Learn moreOur team
We support innovation.
Our team is composed of passionate experts from a range of backgrounds with a common mission: to support start-ups and innovation in order to reach net-zero emissions as rapidly as possible.

Andreas Kuhlmann
CEO, dena
Andreas has been the CEO of dena since July 2015 and is the initiator of “Start Up Energy Transition”. The graduate physicist sees the energy transition as one of the most fascinating change processes of the present day, which despite the challenges, brings immense, meaningful opportunities.

Tania Baumann
COO, World Energy Council
Tania is the Chief Operating Officer of the World Energy Council and leads the World Energy Council’s engagement with the SET platform. She is responsible for the Secretariat’s global operations, including people, legal, and financial performance. Tania oversees the activities and relations with member communities and leads the Council’s events including the triennial World Energy Congress and World Energy Leaders’ Summits.

Dr. Angela Wilkinson
Secretary General & CEO, World Energy Council
Angela provides direction and innovative leadership for SET and is the Secretary General & CEO of the World Energy Council. Angela has a PhD in Physics and has become one of the world’s leading global energy futures experts. She has 30 years of experience in leading national, international and global multi-stakeholder transformation initiatives on a wide range of economic, energy, climate and sustainable development related challenges.

Pia Dorfinger
Team Leader, SET (dena)
Pia is responsible for all the SET activities and works with the aim of sustainably expand our SET endeavour. Originally from Austria, she has worked in the renewable energy and climate change sector for over 10 years with stops in France, the UK and the Philippines before coming to Berlin. Her background lies in International Business Administration and International Energy and Environmental Management.

René Böhm
Senior Expert Start-up Ecosystem, SET (dena)
Throughout the years, René has gathered professional expertise in event management. He is responsible for the SET Tech Festival. The dyed-in-the-wool Berliner has his background in Business Administration with a focus on Marketing, Business Informatics and Entrepreneurship.

Michael Müllneritsch
Senior Expert Start-up Ecosystem, SET (dena)

Tahar Kechrid
Expert Start-up Ecosystem, SET (dena)
Tahar is responsible for our Newsroom and supports the team with the SET Award and Tech Festival. Having worked and lived in Germany, France, Argentina, Tunisia and the US, he aims to engage the most innovative energy start-ups from all corners of the world. Tahar has a background in International Relations with a focus on Sustainability and Security.

Canelle Mengual
Expert Start-up Ecosystem, SET (dena)
Canelle is responsible for managing the SET communications and video content. She also frequently works on partner communication for other start-up-related projects. Her enthusiasm for sustainability and equality led her to work for different social businesses before joining the energy sector. Canelle studied in France and in the USA and holds a Master’s Degree in Marketing and Strategy.

Sophie Detsch
Expert Start-up Ecosystem, SET (dena)
Sophie is responsible for the SET Award and supports the team with the SET Tech Festival. The perfect mix of technical and interpersonal skills for this graduate in Environmental Engineering (B.S.) and Energy Technology (M.Sc.) who loves to meet inspiring people!

Tess Höke
Project Assistant, SET (dena)
“Communication is key” is the motto of Tess, the SET project assistant in communications. With her dynamism and positive mindset, she supports the team with social media and partnerships. Tess studied Communication Sciences, worked in different fields and even had her own small business!

Manuel Rotärmel
Working Student, SET (dena)
As a working student, Manuel supports the SET team in the execution of various projects. After two years as a development engineer in medical technology, he decided to make his contribution to the energy transition and to enroll in a Master’s Degree in Industrial Engineering for Energy and Environmental Resources in Berlin.

Akanksha Ranjan
Working Student, SET (dena)