Social Cooling, a startup from Vienna, offers a sustainable air conditioning solution that modernizes old cooling methods. The young company wants to offer an environmentally friendly and affordable cooling system that uses up to 90 percent less electricity than conventional air conditioning units with similar performance. Founder Philippe Schmit sat down with our startup interviewer and talked to him about social cooling.
Can you introduce us to your startup?
Our startup is called Social Cooling and we are developing an air conditioning system called TerraBreeze, which uses up to 90 percent less electricity and at the same time requires no installation or exhaust hose. We want interior cooling to go from a luxury to an accessible convenience for everyone.
Who is on the founding team?
I (Philippe Schmit) run the startup with two master’s degrees in law and a master’s in sustainability as well as three years of professional experience in international law firms and the UN. Milan Demko is CTO with a strong background in mechanical engineering, he brings 10 years of professional experience from the automotive industry (VW, Porsche) and IAEA. Finally, Ben Assa, CFO with two bachelor’s degrees, one in business administration and one in physics. He is currently completing his master’s degree in quantum physics. He also brings two years of startup experience.
What is the story behind your startup?
The idea came about when I was a student. I faced many problems here: a very low budget, no flexibility and rental apartments that are not equipped with the latest cooling equipment. So I started tinkering around alongside my studies for a few years. Ultimately, the idea came after I had already settled into the professional world and was able to incorporate new inspiration and food for thought. When the first mini prototype actually worked, I made the decision to quit my corporate job and turn the idea into a startup.
What differentiates your startup from the competition?
Our USP is that we offer an air conditioning system that requires no installation and also uses so little electricity that it can even be powered off-grid with built-in photovoltaics.
What technologies do you use or what in-house tech have you developed?
We combine ancient cooling methods with the latest technology. We have a patent on this in Austria and Luxembourg. Additionally, we can say that we have found a way to convert some of the excess heat into electricity. A patent will soon be filed for this technology as well.
Who is your target group and how do you reach them?
Our target group is primarily private households in urban areas. Space in an apartment is very limited and so is the budget for interior cooling, but it is still something that is urgently needed with the current heatwaves. We currently reach our target group mainly via social media; we are very active on Instagram, but also LinkedIn. We also rely heavily on the visibility we get from various awards, challenges and competitions. As a pre-seed startup, this is the biggest validation of a product before it hits the market.
What about previous financing? Are there already investors?
At the moment we have financed everything ourselves. But we have now started talking to angels and investors so that we can expand the team and everyone can work on the vision full time.
Can you explain your business model to us?
First and foremost, we will sell the air conditioning directly to customers. After a certain period of time we will then offer leasing and rental options. Since we do not require installation, we have this unique advantage of renting an air conditioner. After we have validated our product in the market, we will then move on to IP licensing in order to achieve greater reach more quickly, which is very difficult to achieve as a small startup.
What are the next steps for your startup?
Our immediate goal is to test the prototype in the field and have the first reports this summer. This is very closely linked to our second goal, namely to hire the entire team full time and thereby generate stability in the startup.
Do you have any tips for other founders?
Don’t give up and continue to believe in the idea, but only as long as you are willing to learn and accept well-intentioned advice. It’s important to have a good mix of stubbornness and openness. Stubborn so that the goal remains clear in sight. Openness so that you can achieve the goal and adapt to the environment in which you want to achieve the goal.
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