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ThinkLabs AI, an AI grid startup spun out of GE Vernova, has raised $28 million, CEO and founder Josh Wong tells Axios Pro. 

Why it matters: Power grids are under pressure as energy demand soars. 

How it works: ThinkLabs AI builds digital twins of the power grid that are informed by the real physics of the grid.

Utilities and power grid operators use the digital twins to make planning and operations much more quickly, efficiently and accurately.

Utility Southern California Edison is using ThinkLab's products to help automate the analysis of applications for electrification from industrial companies and EV charging hubs.

The automation can bring the process from months down to minutes, says Wong.

Zoom in: Energy Impact Partners led the round, and new investors NVentures and Edison International participated. 

Existing investors GE Vernova, Powerhouse Ventures, Active Impact Investments, Blackhorn Ventures, and Amplify Capital joined, as well as an unnamed North American investor-owned utility.

The New York City-based company plans to use the funds to continue to develop its products, which help utilities and grid operators automate grid operations and planning.

"There's an AI race for the grid around use cases," says Wong, who previously founded the energy software startup Opus One Solutions, which GE acquired in 2022.

Catch up quick: Wong also helped GE incubate the idea of using of AI to drive autonomy for the power grid. 

That company became ThinkLabs AI and was spun out of GE Vernova in 2024 with a $5 million seed round.

State of play: Entrepreneurs and investors are rushing to build startups that are using AI to make the power grid more efficient. 

Other startups that are automating power grid operations include Gridsight, Camus Energy, Splight and Plexigrid.

Pearl Street Technologies, which automates grid interconnection studies, was acquired by energy SaaS firm Enverus last year. 

GridStrong, which automates grid compliance and operations, raised a $10 million seed round led by Congruent Ventures last year.

The big picture: AI is going to be a key tool to help the power grid address demand growth from AI data centers.

Exclusive: Grid startup ThinkLabs AI raises $28M

There's a race to develop AI tools for utilities and grid planners.

Illustration of a series of lightning bolts with roofs on them

ThinkLabs AI, an AI grid startup spun out of GE Vernova, has raised $28 million, CEO and founder Josh Wong tells Axios Pro. Why it matters: Power grids are under pressure as energy demand soars.

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Exclusive: Grid startup ThinkLabs AI raises $28M

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