it’s electric Named One of the Top 100 Start-Ups Worldwide Fundamentally Shaping the Energy Transition

Last week, it’s electric announced it has been selected for the renowned 2026 SET100 list. Out of more than 470 applications from 79 countries, an international jury of experts named it’s electric one of the top 100 start-ups worldwide that are fundamentally shaping the energy transition.

Start Up Energy Transition (SET) supports innovation in energy and climate technology, operating on the conviction that a sustainable future depends on forward-looking business models and strong political commitment. The platform is powered by the German Energy Agency (dena) and serves as an international interface between the private and public sectors.

SET’s mission is to strengthen the impact of energy innovators in reaching climate neutrality. Through its programs and activities, the platform supports and promotes start-ups in the energy sector, creating opportunities for them to scale their solutions and accelerate the global energy transition in order to address climate change.

Since its inception, SET has leveraged dena’s unique position at the intersection of government, industry, and finance to foster collaboration across the innovation ecosystem. The platform is structured around three central pillars: the SET Award, the SET Tech Festival, and SET Spotlights, which include the SET100 and Newsroom publications. Together, these initiatives have established SET as a recognized international platform for advancing innovation in the energy transition.

The SET Award is an annual international competition for start-ups and early-stage companies developing solutions for the global energy transition. Over the past nine years, the award has attracted more than 4,000 applications from over 100 countries across five categories.

The SET Tech Festival is a one-day annual event that convenes leading energy and climate tech start-ups, innovation-driven corporates, policymakers, investors, and public institutions. The event facilitates high-level dialogue and networking among stakeholders shaping the future of energy.

SET Spotlights provide ongoing visibility through articles, videos, insights, events, and the SET100 publication, highlighting developments in energy and climate technology as well as the achievements and challenges faced by emerging companies.

Pia Dorfinger, Director of the Start-up Ecosystem at dena, emphasizes that achieving net-zero emissions requires innovation at scale, with start-ups, investors, corporates, policymakers, and the broader ecosystem all playing essential roles.

The SET team consists of multidisciplinary experts united by a shared objective of accelerating the path to net-zero emissions by strengthening start-up-driven innovation.

In February 2026, the SET100 list of the most promising energy and climate tech start-ups will be released. The top three companies in each award category will be named finalists for the SET Award 2026. Fifteen finalists will be invited to Berlin to present before a jury of C-level investors and corporate leaders.

it’s electric, Powering Cities for an Electric Future With Innovative Curbside Charging

As electric vehicles (EVs) become more popular across the United States, one major challenge remains: how do city dwellers charge their cars when they don’t have a garage or dedicated home outlet? That’s the question driving the mission of it’s electric, a Brooklyn-born company and first-mover for curbside EV charging, specifically for urban neighborhoods.

Unlike traditional public charging stations that require extensive construction, costly permitting and large infrastructure upgrades, it’s electric takes a community-centered approach. The company partners with property owners in cities across the U.S. to install low-profile Level 2 curbside chargers directly on the curb, powered by existing electrical capacity behind the meter. There’s no cost to property owners for installation or maintenance, and hosts can earn passive income from hosting chargers once installed.

The network is designed with simplicity and urban aesthetics in mind. The chargers are intentionally sleek, with no bulky screens, no fixed cables and no expensive hardware to manage. Drivers who join the network receive a portable, lightweight detachable charging cable that allows them to plug in wherever chargers are available, day or night.

it’s electric is currently expanding into major cities including Boston, Detroit, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Jersey City, Washington D.C., Yonkers, Alameda and more soon. The company’s vision is to make affordable, accessible EV charging a reality for millions of drivers who currently lack home-charging options, particularly those living in dense urban areas where on-street parking is the norm.

This model tackles several key barriers to EV adoption in cities: the lack of convenient charging infrastructure, the high cost and complexity of traditional station deployment, and the inequitable distribution of charging access. By leveraging existing electrical supply and partnering directly with local property owners, it’s electric is helping pave a smoother path toward electrified transportation in communities that need it most.

The future of EV charging in cities could look very different from the sprawling, fast-charging stations we see today. With distributed curbside solutions like these, everyday charging becomes part of the neighborhood fabric, bringing cleaner air, greater convenience and more equitable access to sustainable transportation.

If you’re a property owner, EV driver or aspiring EV driver, join the waitlist.