When Dominique Balassi moved from Italy to the Netherlands for his master’s program, he wasn’t planning to build a startup. But what he discovered during his studies and what he saw happening in the Dutch energy market changed everything.

“There’s a huge issue here with grid congestion. Businesses want to electrify, but the infrastructure can’t support them.”

So he built VEMS: a platform that simplifies the complexity of energy transition through real-time monitoring, optimization, and digital twins of energy assets like solar panels, batteries, and EV chargers.

Turning Theory Into a Scalable Business

“What I learned in academia could actually solve a real-world problem. That’s when I knew I had to build this.”

Dominique knew that digitization would be key to the energy transition. He calls it the Internet of Energy, a connected, digital ecosystem where every energy asset is intelligent, optimized, and efficient.

VEMS helps businesses:

  • Understand their best energy mix (solar vs storage)
  • Model energy costs and ROI before investing
  • Monitor performance in real-time
  • Automate optimization for peak efficiency

“We’re not just tracking energy; we’re helping companies make smart, confident decisions.”

Bootstrapped Beginnings, Validated by the Market

Dominique is the first to admit he had to learn the hard way to listen more and assume less.

“I used to think my idea was the product. But your idea is just the beginning. Your real job is to uncover the actual pain people are feeling and build around that.”

That insight led VEMS to spend its first year in deep validation mode interviewing customers, learning their language, and refining the problem-solution fit. Today, they’re live at 20+ locations, with more in the pipeline.

“We’ve got our beta testers. Some are converting into paid clients. We’re just now hitting the inflection point.”

Dominique’s humility and drive shine through. He’s proud not just of the product, but of the path it took to get here.

“Looking back, maybe I thought we’d be further ahead by now. But honestly? I’m proud. We’ve built something real, and we did it right.”

The €655K Win: Circular Energy Meets Smart Tech

That traction helped VEMS become a key partner in a €655K MIT R&D-backed project, in collaboration with Biosphere Solar, JansZon BV, and the City of Amsterdam.

The initiative is pushing circular energy forward by installing recyclable solar panels and using VEMS to ensure performance and predictive maintenance, turning the system into a self-optimizing, sustainable loop.

“This project proves our model works and that we can scale it.”

Growth Channels That Are Working

For a B2B2B SaaS company, Dominique’s growth strategy is a blend of the digital and the personal:

  • LinkedIn and newsletter campaigns are driving awareness, especially as subsidies like the MIT R&D open up new opportunities.
  • In-person conferences have been powerful: “In just a short time frame, I met a lot of the right people,” he says.
  • Pilot partnerships and face-to-face meetings remain critical in converting interest into long-term relationships.

And while the company has been bootstrapped, the government subsidy has helped supercharge their biggest proof-of-concept yet.

Funding, Revenue, and the Road Ahead

VEMS is still mostly bootstrapped, with a key subsidy supporting their flagship project. But they’re preparing for scale:

  • €150K ARR projected by the end of this year
  • Working toward the traction needed for a strong funding round
  • Refining pricing and sales workflow to accelerate growth

“We gave our souls to this project. Now it’s about proving we can grow it.”

Founder Advice: “Listen More Than You Pitch”

Dominique doesn’t sugarcoat the journey. But he’s also quick to pay it forward to others just getting started.

“If you’re an aspiring founder, don’t fall in love with your idea. Fall in love with the problem and with the people who have it.”

His advice?

  • Validate early: “Before you build, talk. Then talk more.”
  • Stay grounded: “If no one’s buying, it doesn’t matter how cool the tech is.”
  • Trust takes time: “In B2B, relationships matter. Build them.”

Above all, Dominique wants more founders to listen deeply and build bravely.

“You won’t have all the answers on day one. But if you care enough to listen really listen, your customers will guide you to what matters.”

Final Thoughts: Building With Empathy and Vision

In a short time, Dominique Balassi has gone from master’s student to clean energy founder, with real traction, a major government project, and a team committed to making energy systems smarter, cleaner, and more human.

“Tech is important. But trust, empathy, and focus, that’s what really moves the needle.”