Foundation EGI Raises $23M Series A to Revolutionize Grid Infrastructure with AI-Powered Optimization
July 30, 2025
byFenoms Startup Research
Foundation EGI, a rising force in energy grid innovation, has raised $23 million in Series A funding to modernize and optimize the electric grid using real-time data, AI, and digital twin technology. The round was led by a powerful consortium of investors, including Translink Capital, RRE Ventures, McRock Capital, Escape Investment Management (James Scapa), Fifth Growth Fund, E14 Fund, UNION, GRIDS Capital, and Henry Ford III.
The startup, founded by Mok Oh, Ph.D., aims to tackle one of the most pressing challenges in modern energy: building a grid that is smart, responsive, and scalable enough to handle the rising demands of electrification, distributed energy, and climate adaptation.
Redesigning the Grid for a Decentralized Future
Foundation EGI is building what they call a “dynamic digital brain for the grid” - an AI-powered infrastructure layer that can simulate, predict, and optimize grid behavior in real time. By combining data modeling, machine learning, and high-fidelity simulations, the platform helps utility companies make faster, smarter operational decisions and plan infrastructure upgrades with greater precision.
This approach isn’t just about efficiency - it’s about resilience. As utilities struggle to integrate solar, wind, electric vehicles, and decentralized energy storage, Foundation EGI enables grid operators to anticipate bottlenecks, forecast demand surges, and reroute energy intelligently without physical overbuild.
Why This Market Is Ready for Disruption
The electric grid, largely built for centralized fossil-fuel generation, is under enormous strain. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, the U.S. grid suffers from over 500,000 power outages annually, costing the economy up to $70 billion per year. Globally, utilities are projected to spend $13.8 trillion on grid modernization by 2050 (IEA).
Meanwhile, the transition to renewables, EVs, and microgrids is accelerating:
- Global demand for electricity is expected to double by 2050.
- Distributed energy resources (DERs) like rooftop solar and battery storage are expected to account for over 40% of new capacity additions in the next decade.
- The smart grid market is projected to reach $153 billion by 2030, growing at a CAGR of 20.1% (MarketsandMarkets).
Yet most utilities still rely on static models and outdated software tools to manage infrastructure built in the 20th century.
Foundation EGI offers a timely alternative - software-first grid intelligence that scales with energy decentralization.
A Founder Who Bridges Software and Systems
Mok Oh, Ph.D., the company’s founder and CEO, brings a rare combination of experience in data science, human-computer interaction, and industrial systems. Previously, Mok served in leadership roles at Samsung, PayPal, and mobile intelligence startups, blending deep tech knowledge with user-centric design.
His vision is to make energy infrastructure not just smarter, but understandable and controllable in real time, even amid volatile conditions.
“We’re giving utilities the situational awareness and agility they need in an unpredictable, electrified world,” says Oh.
The Investors Backing the Grid Revolution
The $23M raise was backed by leading firms in both climate tech and deep infrastructure:
- Translink Capital – Known for supporting transformational companies at the intersection of software and industrial systems.
- RRE Ventures – An early investor in next-gen climate, logistics, and infrastructure platforms.
- McRock Capital – A firm specializing in digital industrial innovation and smart city tech.
- GRIDS Capital – A purpose-built fund focused exclusively on the future of energy systems.
Notably, James Scapa, founder of Altair, and Henry Ford III, great-grandson of the Ford Motor Company founder, also participated - underscoring the generational relevance of modernizing America’s grid.
What’s Next for Foundation EGI
With its Series A capital, Foundation EGI plans to:
- Expand utility partnerships across North America and Europe.
- Grow its engineering and data science team, particularly in AI simulation and power systems modeling.
- Launch a beta version of its predictive grid planning tool, designed for municipal utilities and co-ops.
- Develop integrations with DER providers, EV fleets, and grid-edge devices.
The startup’s long-term goal is to become the default intelligence layer for global energy systems, bridging planning, operations, and resilience under one unified platform.
Conclusion: Laying the Brains Beneath the Grid
While most of the energy sector focuses on hardware upgrades or new generation sources, Foundation EGI is focusing on the nervous system - the intelligence that allows the grid to evolve, respond, and thrive in a decentralized world.
With $23 million in fresh capital, support from top-tier investors, and a visionary founder at the helm, Foundation EGI is positioned to become one of the most critical energy software companies of this decade.