The Vienna-based start-up a wattwise focuses on communal electricity generation and use, thereby addressing an important component of decentralized and sustainable energy supply in Austria and Europe. colibrie was designed as a holistic digital platform that largely automates the operation of communal generation plants and energy communities. Among other things, the application facilitates member management, electricity billing, and compliance with regulatory requirements. This significantly reduces existing barriers for energy sharing models and makes it much easier for citizens to participate in energy communities.
The market launch is taking place within the context of a newly created legal framework for energy sharing and communal energy use: The Electricity Industry Act (ElWG), passed in December 2025, significantly advanced the legal basis for energy sharing models in Austria. With a wattwise, co-founders Katharina Porenta, Florian Prasky, and Julian Strobl are pursuing their vision of making the establishment, membership, and management of energy communities accessible to everyone. After an intensive development phase parallel to ongoing consulting work, the software has now been successfully launched.
In addition to partner Georg Gutfleisch (Energy, Corporate/M&A), partner Gabriela Staber and associates Isabella Redl (both Intellectual Property) and Alexandros Hantasch (Corporate/M&A) were involved in the project.
Georg Gutfleisch: “The energy transition needs innovative and flexible entrepreneurs that develop new solutions for the expansion of renewable energies. We are more than happy to accompany and promote such initiatives as part of our CMS Legal Accelerator equIP, through which we provide legal support to innovative start-ups and scale-ups.”
About a wattwise FlexCo
a wattwise specializes in advising and managing energy communities. With colibrie, the start-up is now laying the foundation for effortless active participation in decentralized energy supply and thus the energy transition.
Further information can be found here: colibrie | Digitale Plattform für Energiegemeinschaften & Energiewende
