São Paulo, May 17, 2018 - EDP, a company that operates in all segments of the electric sector, created the first investment vehicle of venture capital (Venture Capital) of the Brazilian electric market the EDP Ventures Brazil, focused on the provision of startups. Initially R$ 30 million will be earmarked for projects developments in six standings: Customer Focused Solutions, Digital Innovation, Renewable Energy, Energy Storage, Intelligent Networks, and business support areas.

At the creation of an investment vehicle will permit the development of innovative technologies that will provide improvements to the Brazilian electricity sector. In addition to direct investment, the Company also offers financial support for the realization of a pilot project, access to the EDP Group business areas and activities and its partners in 15 countries, and monitoring a network of incubators, accelerators and Brazilian and international investors.

At the strategic and financial focus of EDP Ventures Brasil will be directed to startups in the early stages of development (seed investment) until more mature startups, in scale and traction in the market (series A), as well as the possibility of co-investing with other corporations or partners.

"In recent years, we have developed open innovation programs such as EDP Starter, focusing on accelerating startups and expanding the EDP award Open Innovation. Now, with the creation of a Corporate Venture Capital, we consolidated our pioneering position in innovation in the electric sector, besides contributing to the development of the entrepreneurial ecosystem at a national level, " reinforced Carlos Andrade, vice president of new EDP.

At the EDP Group has a global corporate venture strategy, by means of an existing vehicle in Portugal created in 2008, which has already invested 26 million euros in 18 projects.

Nopen innovation platform of EDP Brazil

In Brazil, EDP supports national entrepreneurship in the energy sector since 2015, with initiatives that help in the development of solutions from the initial idea to the investment, passing through the processes of prototyping, acceleration and pilot project. The EDP Open Innovation Award and the EDP Starter Brazil and Free Electrons acceleration programs are the main entry points for the Company approach.

At the second edition of EDP Starter Brazil is open for registrations. Interested parties can register until  May 31, through the website www.edpstarter.com/brasil. The teams selected during the screening process will have access to a complete structure to support the development of your business, with specialized consultancy in innovation, company executive mentoring and market experts, co-working space at Wework, and advisory in various business areas, customized for the needs of any entrepreneur. One of the main differentials of the program is the possibility of receiving investments of up to R$ 10 millions.