From prototype to platform – accelerating sustainable change
How 1to3 energy is streamlining renovation, speeding up climate action and building momentum for greener futures
When Henning Löbbert and Lea van den Berg set out to solve one of sustainability’s stubborn problems — tripling building renovation rates across Europe — they knew the answer was likely to be found in systems change. Their startup 1to3 energy is reshaping how homes are renovated by making the path to energy efficiency faster, clearer and far more accessible for those ready to reduce their environmental impact.
“It has been truly inspiring to witness 1to3 energy grow into a success story, through the commitment of its incredible founders, Henning Löbbert and Lea van den Berg. They joined our DESIS Lab community through the Prototyping Fund, participating and being awarded in both the Fall 2023 and Spring 2024 editions. At the time, they were finalizing their Master’s in Impact Entrepreneurship and Innovation at Nova School of Business and Economics and from the start, their passion and drive were undeniable.
Since then, they have fully dedicated themselves to transforming 1to3 energy into a thriving startup operating in Germany, receiving well-deserved recognition and grant support along the way. By making the renovation process smoother, faster, and more efficient, their work is actively tackling one of the biggest sustainability challenges in the built environment: tripling renovation rates and paving the way for a greener future. ” – DESIS LAB hosted by the ERA Chair in Social Innovation
We caught up with co-founder Henning Löbbert to learn more…
Tell us about 1to3 energy
Our goal is to make sustainable building renovation significantly faster, more reliable and transparent for everyone involved. 1to3 energy is our platform that streamlines energy-oriented building renovations by connecting homeowners, certified energy efficiency experts, and the businesses of qualified tradespeople (which we call craft businesses here in Germany). We simplify the renovation journey end-to-end — from initial energy consulting and funding eligibility checks to planning and selecting execution partners.
What first drew you to start 1to3?
Buildings in the European Union must be decarbonized by 2050, yet the current rate of energy renovations is far too slow. While speaking with homeowners, energy experts and craftsmen, we saw how fragmented processes and communication barriers were causing avoidable delays. Starting 1to3 energy emerged as a way to remove those barriers and help accelerate the transition to more sustainable futures.
Tell us more about the journey to date
The idea began during our Master’s at NOVA, where Lea van den Berg and I started testing initial assumptions through rapid prototyping. We formed a founding team of three — two of us from the Impact Entrepreneurship program and one software engineer from Germany — and later grew to a team of five. Since then, we’ve onboarded both homeowners and more than 100 professional partners, built our product iteratively, and secured initial funding to support our growth.
How has DESIS Lab – hosted by the ERA Chair in Social Innovation – enhanced your journey?
The DESIS Lab, through the Prototyping Fund, enabled us to quickly move from concept to a functional first iteration of our startup. The workshops on rapid and ‘imperfect’ prototyping helped us validate assumptions early, instead of building in isolation. The grant funding and the visibility of the award added credibility that directly supported us in raising around €250k in follow-on funding.
What have you found successful, surprising, challenging?
We’ve found that homeowners deeply appreciate having one clear point of contact — it reduces stress and speeds up decision making. A surprise was how much coordination is required on the professional side: aligning energy consultants and craft/trades businesses takes not just matching, but also trust-building. One ongoing challenge is ensuring consistent quality standards across regions and partners. To address this, we invest heavily in feedback loops and structured onboarding processes.
How have you been measuring success and building a compelling case to your funders?
We track progress through metrics like project conversion rates, time-to-renovation decision, and customer satisfaction. To measure these metrics we make use of the Objective and Key Results (OKR) methodology throughout the company.
How do you find balancing your relationship approach and efforts between 2 very different stakeholders – energy consultants and trades businesses?
These two groups operate differently and have distinct workflows, so listening and adapting our platform features to each is essential. We act as a facilitator: translating needs, aligning expectations, and ensuring both sides benefit. Clear communication and reliable processes are what keep both engaged.
What are your hopes and dreams for the future of 1to3?
We want 1to3 energy to become the leading platform for seamless and trustworthy energetic renovations in Germany. Our broader vision is to make sustainable renovation the default. If we can make the process easy, transparent, and well-coordinated, we believe we can meaningfully accelerate building decarbonization.
What words of advice would you give to those starting a new social innovation venture?
Start small and test assumptions directly with the people you aim to serve — their feedback will shape your path more than any business plan. Expect the journey to be non-linear and keep iterating. And surround yourself with people who care about the mission as much as you do!