Interview With Dr. Evan Petkov, Co-Founder and CEO of Proptech Optiml
In this edition of Founder Spotlight, we’re featuring Dr Evan Petkov, Founder and CEO of Optiml, who aims to address the challenges of achieving Net Zero in the real estate sector. The inception of Optiml originated from Dr. Petkov’s PhD research at ETH Zurich, where he developed optimization algorithms that integrate profitability with sustainability considerations. Optiml’s technology not only simplifies decision-making but also aligns corporate goals with environmental objectives, thereby fostering a more sustainable future for real estate development.
Let’s hear from Dr Evan Petkov about how Optiml’s innovative approach addresses the challenges of achieving Net Zero in the real estate sector.
What inspired you to create Optiml, and how did you identify the need for a digital solution in real estate investment and renovation planning?

The idea for Optiml originated during my PhD at ETH Zürich. While working with several large real estate owners on their pain points for optimal decarbonization strategies for buildings, it became evident that there was no scalable solution to help real estate owners and consultants with renovation planning. The research, funded by the Swiss Federal Office of Energy, focused on creating models and data-driven approaches for renovation decisions, and the feedback from potential clients made it clear that a commercial opportunity existed. The founding team realized that there was a significant market gap for a software to support decision-making processes for cost planning & CO2 reduction in real estate portfolios.
Can you explain how Optiml’s platform empowers real estate professionals to balance sustainability goals and profitability?
Optiml provides real estate managers and consultants with a software platform that allows them to make data-driven decisions for renovation and decarbonization strategies. The platform combines financial, technical, and regulatory aspects to optimize for factors like cost, energy efficiency, CO2 emissions, and profitability. It helps professionals navigate through complex decision-making processes by offering tailored renovation plans and decarbonization strategies while considering sustainability goals, compliance, and financial returns. Importantly, we create a graduated data journey from low to high data for assets due to the heterogeneous nature of existing buildings’ data availability.
How does Optiml’s AI-powered asset and portfolio management system streamline workflows for real estate professionals?
The AI-powered platform reduces the complexity and cost of planning renovations by leveraging digital twins, energy simulations, and data enrichment technologies. It automates decision-making processes and enables efficient, detailed analysis even with minimal data. The system quickly identifies properties with the greatest renovation potential and prioritizes them for action, reducing the planning effort by up to 90% and enabling a cost reduction of over 30% in some cases.
You recently raised $4 million in funding. How do you plan to allocate this funding to grow Optiml and improve its platform?
The funding round, led by BitStone Capital and KOMPAS VC, and supported by existing investors & angels, is intended to accelerate product development, expand the team, and meet increasing demand across Europe and the UK. Optiml aims to enhance the product’s features, improve data availability, build APIs, automate data onboarding, and improve the overall customer experience. The goal is to provide a more scalable and user-friendly solution for real estate professionals.

How did Optiml’s cap table evolve post-funding, and how do you plan to manage it effectively?
Post-funding, Optiml has seen a solid mix of investors, including BitStone Capital and KOMPAS VC, along with existing backers like Innovation Endeavors (venture capital firm of former Google CEO Eric Schmidt) and Planet A Ventures. The diverse investor base provides both financial backing and strategic industry support – from PropTech, software, to ClimateTech – to guide Optiml’s growth in key markets.
Could you explain the science behind Optiml’s algorithms and how they balance CO₂e emissions, costs, and energy efficiency?
The platform uses sophisticated optimization algorithms based on over ten years of research and two PhDs. It leverages a combination of data modeling, engineering-level energy simulation, digital twins, and AI-enriched data to make decisions regarding costs, CO₂ emissions, and energy efficiency. The algorithms assess millions of potential renovation strategies to find the most effective balance between sustainability targets and financial objectives.
How do your digital twin and energy simulation technologies help clients improve their renovation strategies?
The digital twin and energy simulation technologies allow clients to have an accurate understanding of the impact of various renovation scenarios on cost, CO2, and energy. We utilize both norm-based and dynamics simulation approaches in our graduated data journey These models consider current building conditions, usage patterns, local climate, and potential future developments. By simulating different scenarios, the platform provides highly accurate and efficient recommendations for improving energy efficiency and reducing CO₂ emissions, aiding clients in making informed decisions.
What challenges did you face while developing Optiml’s AI-based platform, and how did you overcome them?
One of the main challenges was focusing on a limited market initially, specifically the Swiss market. Optiml quickly realized that the demand for their solution was global, which required a shift in strategy. Another challenge was the technical complexity and ensuring that the platform could provide accurate, data-driven decisions while being easy to use for non-technical users in a world-class UX.
Where do you see Optiml in the next 5 to 10 years, and how do you plan to scale the platform to meet future industry demands?
Optiml aims to establish itself as a leader in the new category “Real Estate Decision Intelligence”. The platform’s vision is to be the go-to solution for asset managers and consultants globally, empowering them to make cost-effective, sustainable decisions. The expansion strategy includes broadening the platform’s capabilities, integrating with other systems via APIs, and continuing to grow across key markets like Europe, UK and the US.
What advice would you give to entrepreneurs looking to start companies that aim to solve both financial and environmental challenges?
It is crucial to find the right balance between sustainability and profitability. Solutions should not only help meet ESG standards but also offer clear financial benefits to clients – at this point no one wants another ESG / CO2 reporting or accounting tool. Entrepreneurs should focus on creating scalable solutions that provide transparency, are easy to adopt, and deliver tangible ROI, along with being easy to integrate into existing processes if a B2B case. It’s also important to be ready to adapt to different markets and regulatory contexts quickly.