David Balensiefen

David Balensiefen is a visionary entrepreneur and leader in the energy industry. He is best known as the co-founder and former CEO of gridX, a smart energy company based in Munich, Germany.1

Career Highlights

Founding and Leading gridX: David founded gridX in 2016 and served as its CEO until April 2023.1 Under his leadership, gridX became Europe's leading smart energy company, developing an IoT platform called XENON that enables monitoring and management of distributed energy resources.2 The company experienced significant growth, with its revenue and employee count more than doubling in recent years.2

Exit and Transition: In 2021, ON (presumably E.ON) acquired a majority stake in gridX.1 In April 2023, David stepped down as managing director of gridX, transitioning to an advisory role.24

Current Role: As of April 2023, David has taken on the role of Founder and General Partner at FundX, a venture capital firm focused on investing in CleanTech startups.1

Education and Background

David has a strong educational background in engineering:

• Master of Science in Engineering from RWTH Aachen University (2013-2015)
• Additional studies at Technische Universiteit Delft and Aalto University
• Bachelor of Science in Engineering from RWTH Aachen University (2010-2013)1

Professional Experience

Before founding gridX, David gained experience in the energy sector:

• Research Associate at Helmholtz-Gemeinschaft, studying hydrothermal systems at the Guaymas Basin (June-July 2015)
• Business Analyst at Trianel GmbH3

Skills and Expertise

David is known for his:

• Visionary approach to the energy industry
• Expertise in IoT solutions for the digital energy world
• Leadership in scaling a startup to a successful exit
• Focus on clean technology and sustainable energy solutions

David Balensiefen's journey from founding gridX to his current role at FundX demonstrates his commitment to advancing the energy sector and supporting innovative CleanTech startups.