London-based RYE Raises £867k from CapitalT and January Ventures
This article covers a pre-seed round on 4 September 2025 for RYE, an energy intelligence platform for multi-site hospitality and retail, founded by Diego Vega. The company raised £867k in a round led by CapitalT with participation from January Ventures.
What does RYE do?
RYE is an energy management platform for multi-site retail and hospitality that measures use and checks bills for errors. It helps operators predict demand, provision smart meters, validate bills and monitor site usage to reduce running costs.
Why is RYE useful?
Problem
Multi-site hospitality and retail businesses face high energy costs, poor metering, opaque billing and volatile supply that harm profitability.
Solution
RYE helps by combining on-site data with tailored forecasting, automated bill checks and smart meter provisioning to cut costs. It also aggregates SME demand to enable renewable procurement and simplifies real-time monitoring, payments and dispute support.
How much did RYE raise?
RYE raised £867K in a pre-seed round co-led by CapitalT and January Ventures, alongside existing backers.
Who invested in RYE?
The following are the key investors backing RYE.
- CapitalT: a data-driven venture firm focused on ClimateTech and the Future of Work, known for backing early-stage UK founders.
- January Ventures: an early-stage VC with a focus on UK software and marketplace companies aiming to scale rapidly.
- Norrsken Evolve: the investment arm supporting founders who build sustainable businesses across Europe and beyond.
- Earth: an impact-oriented investor targeting climate and energy startups, recognised for mission-led capital in the region.
- Tony Hunter (Attest): bringing expertise in consumer insights and product-led growth as an angel investor.
- Maex Ament (Centrifuge): an angel investor specialising in decentralised protocols and developer ecosystems.
- Richard Ng (Greenworxs): known for his work as an angel investor with a background in sustainable energy operations and commercial strategy.
If you're researching potential backers in this space:
- Explore our list of energy venture capital firms in the UK
- Browse our directory of energy angel investors in the UK
Who founded RYE?
Diego Vega is the Founder and CEO of RYE.
Where is RYE based?
RYE is based in London, UK.
What sector is RYE in?
RYE operates in the energy intelligence sector. It helps businesses measure, predict and reduce energy use and costs.
Key trends and challenges in energy for multi-site retail and hospitality:
Energy price volatility and cost pressure
Wholesale price spikes, such as those in 2021–22, pushed costs and closure risks for small hospitality chains.
Poor metering and opaque billing
Inaccurate meters and opaque bills create hidden costs and disputes, for example requiring manual bill validation.
Digital energy management and demand aggregation
Digital platforms and smart meters let operators aggregate demand and access cheaper renewables, for example via corporate power purchase agreements.
For a deeper look at innovation in this space, see the energy startups in the UK.
They've invested in RYE
Get to know these energy investors
Click here for a full list of 7,526+ startup investors in the UK