1 The EIC Accelerator Project

EIC Accelerator Program Overview

The EIC Accelerator program, part of the European Innovation Council (EIC), is designed to support innovative startups and small to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Europe that are developing breakthrough technologies. The program aims to accelerate the scale-up of high-risk, high-potential businesses by providing financial support, including grants and equity funding, and by facilitating access to private investment. The program is particularly focused on DeepTech innovations, which encompass advanced technologies that may require significant research and development efforts.

Funding Structure

The EIC Accelerator funding is categorized into two main components: grants and equity investments.

Purpose and Impact

The EIC Accelerator plays a crucial role in the European DeepTech and startup ecosystem by addressing the funding gap often faced by innovative companies. Many startups struggle to attract private investment, especially in the early stages of development when the risks are high. By providing both grant and equity funding, the EIC Accelerator mitigates some of these risks, making it easier for companies to secure additional financing from private investors. The program also offers mentoring, networking opportunities, and access to a wide range of resources, enhancing the chances for successful commercialization of their innovations.

Case Study: DRACULA TECHNOLOGIES and the LAYER® Project

Company Overview: DRACULA TECHNOLOGIES, based in France, is a pioneering company focused on developing organic photovoltaic (OPV) technologies. The company aims to revolutionize renewable energy solutions by creating lightweight, flexible, and efficient solar panels that can be integrated into a variety of surfaces.

Project Overview: The LAYER® project, which secured funding through the EIC Accelerator, centers around the development of an organic photovoltaic module capable of generating energy from ambient light. This innovative approach to energy harvesting not only enhances the efficiency of solar energy collection but also expands the potential applications of solar technology in everyday life.

Technology Background

Organic photovoltaics (OPVs) represent a significant advancement in solar technology. Unlike traditional silicon-based solar cells, OPVs use organic materials to absorb light and convert it into electricity. This technology offers several advantages, including:

• Flexibility: Organic solar cells can be produced on flexible substrates, allowing them to be integrated into various surfaces, from building facades to wearable devices.
• Lightweight Design: The materials used in OPVs are significantly lighter than traditional solar panels, making them easier to deploy in a range of environments.
• Cost-Effectiveness: The manufacturing processes for organic solar cells can be less expensive than those for silicon-based cells, potentially reducing the overall cost of solar energy solutions.

The LAYER® project aims to harness these advantages by creating a module that not only generates energy efficiently but also adapts to diverse applications where traditional solar panels may not be feasible. By focusing on ambient light harvesting, DRACULA TECHNOLOGIES seeks to provide a sustainable energy solution that can be utilized in urban environments, on vehicles, and in consumer electronics.

Conclusion

The EIC Accelerator program serves as a vital catalyst for innovation in Europe, particularly within the DeepTech sector. By offering a unique blend of grant and equity funding, the program enables companies like DRACULA TECHNOLOGIES to advance groundbreaking projects such as LAYER®, ultimately contributing to a more sustainable energy future. The support from the EIC Accelerator not only fuels the growth of innovative startups but also strengthens the European ecosystem, promoting collaboration and investment in transformative technologies. For further information, visit DRACULA TECHNOLOGIES.

2 The Funding Rounds

Financing Raised

Since winning the EIC Accelerator funding in March 2022, Dracula Technologies (France) has raised several financing rounds through a mix of grants, equity investments, and debt instruments. Key financings include:

• A €1.6 million grant from the EIC Accelerator following their successful application in March 2022.
• A Series A funding round closed in September 2022 amounting to approximately $5–5.3 million.
• Additional debt financing of €3.5 million secured from Bpifrance in May 2023.

Estimates suggest total funding raised by Dracula Technologies since inception is between $8–8.49 million across at least two main rounds.

Funding Rounds: Timing and Amounts

Date	Round Type	Amount	Investors
May 18, 2020	Seed/Pre-series	€2.2 million	MGI Digital Technology, ISRA Cards, WiSEED (crowdfunding)
June 2022	Grant	€1.6 million	EIC Accelerator
September 20, 2022	Series A	$4.98–$5.31M USD (€5M)	Multiple investors; see below
May 2023	Debt	€3.5 million	Bpifrance

</em>Note: The seed/pre-industrialization round included both direct industry investment and a crowdfunding component.

Investor Information

• EIC Fund: Provided non-dilutive grant support via the EIC Accelerator program (€1.6m).
• Bpifrance: Supplied debt financing of €3.5m.
• MGI Digital Technology & ISRA Cards: Industrial partners contributing both capital and expertise during pre-industrialization.
• WiSEED: Crowdfunding platform facilitating additional capital raise during early stages.

Names of specific Series A or equity investors post-March/September 2022 are generally undisclosed publicly; however, multiple sources confirm the presence of several institutional and possibly strategic investors involved in these later rounds.

Company Valuations

Dealroom.co estimated Dracula Technologies' enterprise valuation at around $24–36 million as of September 2022 following its major Series A raise. No updated valuations have been disclosed for subsequent periods.

Exit Events (IPO or Buyouts)

As of April 24, 2025:

• There are no reported IPOs or public listings involving Dracula Technologies.
• No buyout or acquisition activity has been disclosed since their major financings post-EIC win.

The company remains private with ongoing commercialization efforts centered on its LAYER® organic photovoltaic technology platform for IoT devices.

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Sources

• Dracula Technologies company information, funding & investors - Dealroom
• Dracula Technologies Series A (2022) Funding Round - Seedtable
• Dracula Technologies Stock Price, Funding & Valuation - CB Insights
• Company Information – Seedtable
• Fundraising press release – Dracula Technologies
• Funding Overview – Seedtable
• EIC Accelerator award details – Dracula Technologies official site

3 The Press Releases

Dracula Technologies: Post-EIC Accelerator Funding Developments Since securing EIC Accelerator funding in March 2022, Dracula Technologies has focused on advancing its Organic Photovoltaic (OPV) energy-harvesting solutions, particularly its flagship LAYER® technology, while expanding partnerships and scaling production. Below are key developments:

Technology Advancements

• LAYER® Efficiency Boost: In March 2025, Dracula announced a 15% increase in power efficiency for LAYER modules, enabling smaller designs without compromising performance. The update includes aesthetic refinements like silver bus bars and customizable coatings to blend with product designs.
• Low-Light Performance: The latest LAYER modules operate effectively under <100 lux indoor lighting, reducing reliance on traditional batteries for IoT devices.

Strategic Partnerships

• STMicroelectronics Collaboration: Integrated LAYER® with STM32U0 microcontrollers to create energy-autonomous sensors and IoT devices. This partnership leverages ST’s low-power electronics and Dracula’s OPV expertise.
• e-peas PMIC Integration: Demonstrated a combined OPV-PMIC solution at Embedded World 2024 for indoor energy harvesting applications like smart sensors.

Production Scaling and Commercialization

• Green MicroPower Factory: Relaunched production in France (September 2024) with plans to quadruple capacity by 2026. Automation initiatives aim to eliminate defects and standardize output quality.
• Key Contracts: Signed a multiyear agreement with COOLR for autonomous fridge-monitoring cameras (~hundreds of thousands of units annually). Targeting additional markets like digital price tags and livestock geolocation trackers.

Team Growth and Sustainability Goals

• Workforce Expansion: Grew to 40 employees (2024), targeting ~100 hires by 2026 across engineering, production, and business development roles.
• €40 Million Sales Target: Aiming for this milestone by 2026 through scalable OPV solutions that replace disposable batteries in IoT ecosystems.

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Sources
Dracula Technologies Partners | LAYER Technology Update | STMicroelectronics Collaboration | e-peas Partnership | Production Relaunch

4 The Technology Advancements

Dracula Technologies, a French company specializing in organic photovoltaic (OPV) solutions, has significantly advanced its capabilities and market presence since receiving the EIC Accelerator funding on March 23, 2022.

Current Capabilities

Dracula Technologies excels in designing and manufacturing flexible OPV modules using a patented digital inkjet printing technique. The company focuses on providing sustainable battery alternatives for ultra-low-power IoT devices through its three strategic divisions:

• LAYER® LAB for R&D and prototyping,
• LAYER® Factory for large-scale production,
• LAYER® Solutions offering turnkey IoT products without batteries.

The OPV modules are designed to harvest energy efficiently even in low-light indoor conditions such as warehouses or factories with illuminance as low as 500 lux, making them suitable for industrial-grade IoT applications where traditional batteries are limited or environmentally harmful.

Advancements Since EIC Accelerator Funding

Since March 2022, Dracula Technologies has made several notable advancements:

In June 2023, they announced a new generation of LAYER® OPV modules with a 25% performance improvement over the previous generation. This improvement allows either generating more power from the same surface area or reducing module size while maintaining power output (e.g., achieving about 750µW under 1000 lux instead of prior levels). This advancement also reduces costs and environmental impact by enabling smaller designs that require less maintenance. In October 2023, Dracula Technologies unveiled the Green MicroPower Factory in Valence, France—a fully automated OPV production facility spanning approximately 2500 m² capable of producing up to 150 million cm² of OPV modules annually using inkjet printing technology. This factory is reportedly one of Europe's largest dedicated to organic PV devices.

The factory aims to serve high-volume customers from early 2024 onward and marks a major scale-up in manufacturing capacity. It also aligns with European regulations aiming to phase out non-rechargeable batteries in IoT devices.

Dracula Technologies developed prototype trackers powered solely by their printable OPVs combined with LoRaWAN connectivity modules—demonstrating passive (battery-less) operation even under challenging indoor lighting conditions such as dark rooms or "lights-out" factories (~500 lux). These prototypes show practical application viability within industrial IoT environments. Besides EIC funding, Dracula received €5 million from the French government’s France2030 reindustrialization initiative (“First Factory” project) supporting their smart factory development efforts. They have also secured capital investments totaling €25 million from strategic players including Semtech (LoRa chip provider) and BPI France financial investors.

Patents and Publications

While specific recent patents or scientific publications post-EIC funding were not explicitly detailed in publicly accessible sources reviewed here, it is known that Dracula Technologies holds patents related to their digital inkjet printing process for flexible photovoltaics dating back prior years. Their ongoing R&D division (LAYER® LAB) continues pushing innovations internally , suggesting further IP developments may be underway though not publicly disclosed yet.

Summary

Since receiving EIC Accelerator funding in March 2022:

• Dracula Technologies improved their organic photovoltaic module efficiency by ~25%, enhancing power output per unit area.
• They inaugurated Europe’s largest dedicated smart factory for high-volume OPV device production set to start shipments early 2024.
• Demonstrated commercial-ready prototype applications targeting battery-free industrial IoT sensors operating reliably under very low light.
• Secured additional governmental and private investments boosting scaling efforts.
• Committed to expanding workforce substantially toward European supply chain sovereignty.

These milestones confirm significant progress both technologically—improving product performance—and commercially—scaling manufacturing capacity while validating real-world use cases since the award date.

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Sources

• Dracula Technologies Manufacturing
• GreenMicroPower Factory Unveiled
• pv magazine: Organic PV Module Factory
• Dracula Tech Homepage
• RCR Wireless: High Volume Smart Factory
• Company Vision & Divisions
• Performance Improvement Announcement June ‘23
• MMAMA Consortium Profile
• Semiconductor Digest: Green MicroPower Factory Launch

5 The Partnerships and Customers

Dracula Technologies: Partnerships and Advancements Since EIC Accelerator Funding

Dracula Technologies, a French company and winner of the EIC Accelerator funding in March 2022, has been making significant strides in partnerships and technological advancements. The company specializes in organic photovoltaic (OPV) technology, offering sustainable energy solutions for IoT devices.

Partnerships and Customers

• Atmosic Technologies: Dracula Technologies collaborated with Atmosic Technologies to develop a battery-free remote control reference design. This partnership combines Atmosic’s ultra-low-power system-on-chip (SoC) with Dracula's OPV technology, enabling cost-efficient, low-maintenance IoT devices powered by ambient light.
• STMicroelectronics (STMicro): Recently, STMicro tapped Dracula Technologies to integrate its energy-harvesting OPV cells into STMicro's STM32U0 line of microcontrollers. This collaboration aims to create battery-free IoT devices that can operate using ambient indoor light, aligning with STMicro's commitment to ultra-low power innovation.
• Semtech: Dracula Technologies has a strategic partnership with Semtech, which audited the company's new Green Micropower Factory for mass production of OPV modules. Semtech is also an investor in Dracula Technologies, supporting its ambition to scale up production and distribute technology internationally.

New Partners and Customers

While specific new customer names are not detailed in recent updates, Dracula Technologies' partnerships with key industry players like STMicroelectronics and Atmosic Technologies underscore its expanding network. These collaborations are instrumental in advancing the deployment of OPV technology in various IoT applications.

Nature of New Relationships and Market Positioning

These partnerships position Dracula Technologies as a leader in sustainable energy harvesting for IoT devices. By collaborating with major semiconductor companies, Dracula Technologies enhances its ability to provide innovative solutions that reduce environmental impact and lower costs for IoT manufacturers. The integration of OPV technology into mainstream microcontroller lines, such as STMicro's STM32U0, demonstrates Dracula's growing influence in driving a battery-free future for IoT devices.

Technology Advancements and Scaling

The partnerships and advancements in technology are crucial for scaling Dracula Technologies' operations. The launch of the Green Micropower Factory significantly increases production capacity, allowing for high-volume customization of OPV modules. This expansion supports the company's goal to meet the increasing demand for sustainable power solutions in the IoT sector.

The introduction of the LAYER Solutions division further accelerates the transition to OPV technology by providing developers with fully functional products and licensing support, facilitating faster product development and market entry for IoT manufacturers. Additionally, improvements in OPV module performance, such as a 25% increase in efficiency, enhance the viability of energy harvesting solutions in low-light conditions.

Conclusion

Dracula Technologies' partnerships and technological advancements since receiving the EIC Accelerator funding have positioned the company as a key player in sustainable energy solutions for IoT devices. By collaborating with industry leaders and expanding its production capacity, Dracula Technologies is well-equipped to further its mission of replacing traditional batteries with more environmentally friendly alternatives.

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Sources: - Dracula Technologies

• Atmosic Technologies and Dracula Technologies Battery Free Remote Control Reference Design
• Dracula Technologies Qualifies New Green Micropower OPV Factory
• Dracula Technologies Launches LAYER Solutions Division
• STMicro taps Dracula for battery-less ambient IoT drive

6 The Hiring and Company Growth

Dracula Technologies: Team Growth and Expansion

Dracula Technologies, a French company specializing in sustainable energy solutions for devices, has been experiencing significant growth and expansion since receiving the EIC Accelerator funding in March 2022.

Current Team Size and Growth

As of recent reports, Dracula Technologies has a team size ranging from 41 to 48 employees, depending on the source. The company has grown its employee count by 9% in the past year. Moreover, Dracula Technologies is planning to expand its workforce significantly, aiming to reach a total of 250 employees by 2030.

Hiring and Current Openings

The company is currently hiring additional staff, particularly at its GreenMicroPower Factory, where it plans to hire over 60 skilled professionals. This recruitment drive is part of its ambitious plan to bolster European manufacturing capabilities and reduce reliance on imported batteries.

Key Positions and Recent Hires

One of the key positions Dracula Technologies has recently sought to fill is a business developer to strengthen its sales force. Additionally, the company plans to hire and train production technicians to accommodate rapid business growth.

Impact on the Future of the Company

The new team members will play a crucial role in helping Dracula Technologies scale and grow, particularly as it expands its production capacity at the GreenMicroPower Factory. This facility is set to revolutionize indoor IoT energy harvesting by providing sustainable alternatives to traditional batteries. The company's goal is to become a European leader in organic photovoltaic (OPV) technology, and the additional staff will support this mission by enhancing production and sales capabilities.

Major Changes in Management or Founding Team

There are no reported major changes in the management or founding team of Dracula Technologies since receiving the EIC Accelerator funding. Brice Cruchon remains the CEO, leading the company's strategic direction and growth initiatives.

Sources

• Dracula Technologies | Sustainable energy for your devices
• Dracula Technologies Unveils GreenMicroPower Factory
• 'The end of batteries' – high-volume OPV-IoT smart factory to open in France
• Dracula Technologies company information, funding & investors
• Dracula Technologies: Revenue, Competitors, Alternatives
• KIC InnoEnergy: DRACULA Technologies - See the light with organic photovoltaic energy
• Dracula Technologies' LAYER Technology Brings OPV To Indoor IoT
• Dracula Technologies Information

7 The Media Features and Publications

Overview of Dracula Technologies

Dracula Technologies, a French company, specializes in developing innovative energy-harvesting solutions, particularly in the field of organic photovoltaics (OPVs). Since receiving the EIC Accelerator funding on March 23, 2022, the company has made significant strides in expanding its operations and technological offerings.

Media Features and Publications

Dracula Technologies has been featured in various publications highlighting its advancements in energy-harvesting technology:

• PV Magazine has covered Dracula Technologies' relaunch of organic photovoltaic module production in France, emphasizing its goal to achieve significant sales and recruitment by 2026.
• RCR Wireless discussed the company's introduction of LAYERVault, an innovative energy storage solution integrated with low-light OPV energy harvesting, presented at CES 2024.
• Startups Magazine highlighted Dracula's mission to replace batteries with sustainable energy-harvesting solutions, leveraging its OPV modules that operate in low-light conditions.
• e-peas and Dracula Technologies jointly showcased their synergy at the Embedded World Conference 2024, focusing on integrating OPVs with Power Management Integrated Circuits for enhanced indoor energy harvesting.

Content from Publications

Publications often emphasize Dracula Technologies' commitment to sustainable energy solutions and its pioneering work in low-light energy harvesting. For instance, the company's ability to power devices in low-light environments, such as indoor spaces, is a key focus. The integration of OPVs with advanced power management technologies is highlighted as a transformative approach for reducing environmental impact by minimizing reliance on disposable batteries.

Podcasts or Interviews

There is no specific information available about podcasts or interviews involving the team of Dracula Technologies. However, the company's CEO, Brice Cruchon, has been quoted in various articles discussing the company's vision and technological advancements.

Conference and Fair Visits, Presentations, or Participations

Dracula Technologies has participated in several key events:

• CES 2024: The company presented its LAYERVault technology, which integrates energy storage with low-light organic photovoltaic energy harvesting.
• Embedded World Conference 2024: Dracula Technologies and e-peas showcased their collaboration on integrating OPVs with PMICs for enhanced indoor energy harvesting.

Involvement in Events

The company's involvement in events like CES and Embedded World highlights its commitment to showcasing cutting-edge sustainable energy solutions. These events provide platforms for Dracula Technologies to network with industry leaders and demonstrate its innovative products.

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Sources: - Dracula Technologies - Press Releases

• Dracula Technologies relaunches production of organic photovoltaic modules in France
• Dracula Technologies adds energy storage facility to ambient IoT solution
• Beating back batteries: Dracula Technologies' energy harvesting tech
• e-peas and Dracula Technologies Unveil Perfect Combination of OPVs and PMICs for Indoor Applications