Eni, alongside CDP Venture Capital, has invested €550,000 in the startup EXE Engineering, announcing a collaboration aimed at advancing carbon offset initiatives across Africa. The funding will help the startup accelerate its roadmap and expand projects into new markets, including Europe.
The investment round was led by Zero and Eni Next, Eni’s Corporate Venture Capital arm, which focuses on startups with high technological potential. Zero operates as part of CDP Venture Capital’s National Accelerator Network, developed with Zest and Elis, and includes Eni as the main corporate partner through its entrepreneurship school, Joule.
EXE Engineering previously participated in the Zero acceleration programme from 2024 to 2025, developing a pilot project (Proof of Concept) with Eni. This collaboration later evolved into a cooperation agreement in Africa to explore innovative solutions for emissions reduction and waste valorisation.
“The EXE Engineering transaction is a clear example of how the National Accelerator Network model promoted by CDP Venture Capital can turn innovation into real industrial development opportunities.
"Through Zero, we supported the startup along a path that combined entrepreneurial growth, technological validation and collaboration with a major partner such as Eni,” said Stefano Molino, Head of the Accelerators Fund at CDP Venture Capital. “The entry of Eni Next into the investment further strengthens the industrial and strategic value of the transaction.”
Clara Andreoletti, CEO of Eni Next, added: “The acceleration path through Zero was key in enabling Eni Next’s investment in EXE Engineering. It not only supported the team’s industrial and managerial growth, but also fostered, through a structured experimentation process, strategic alignment and greater clarity on the medium-to long-term development potential. This transaction validates our integrated open innovation model, which structurally links acceleration programmes with corporate venture capital activities.”
EXE Engineering has already earned notable recognition. In 2025, it was listed among the “Top 100 Italian Startups” by Forbes and Ventive and received the special mention “Eni Joule for Entrepreneurship” at the Eni Award. The award was presented by the President of the Italian Republic, Sergio Mattarella, at the Quirinale Palace.
“The partnership established with Eni,” said Gianni Cordaro, CEO and Founder of EXE Engineering, “marks an important milestone for the growth of our startup, which focuses on developing and deploying cutting-edge technologies to close the waste cycle, particularly in the capture and utilisation of biogas from landfills.
"This optimisation delivers not only a clear improvement in environmental impact, but also significant economic returns. It is therefore a great source of pride to collaborate with our partners and continue growing the company.”
Elena Martelli, Portfolio Manager at Zest, also celebrated the move: “With this first milestone, which marks the start of a long-term collaboration with a positive impact on the planet."
"During the Zero acceleration programme, we saw the team quickly strengthen its structure and begin thinking at scale, bringing innovation and execution capabilities to a sector that is still underserved – landfills – yet crucial for the ecological transition. EXE Engineering demonstrates that even from landfills, where everything may seem ‘at the end of the line’, innovation, energy and efficiency can emerge. We are proud to have planted the first seed and to see its fruits grow.”
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