SENNA

Amsterdam Startup Yasu Secures €850K for AI-Powered Cloud Cost Optimization

Amsterdam-based startup Yasu has raised €850,000 in pre-seed funding to further develop its AI-driven platform for reducing cloud infrastructure waste. The round was led by Akka, with participation from Empower Impact, building on earlier support from Antler.

Yasu's technology uses autonomous agents to continuously monitor cloud usage and spending, identifying opportunities to optimize costs without impacting performance. According to the company, its platform has already reduced 77 tonnes of CO2 emissions for early customers, underscoring the environmental benefits of its cloud cost management solution.

"From our first meeting, it was clear that Yasu embodies the kind of founders and impact we look for," said Wim van Ginkel and Eric Koek, Partners at Empower Impact. "They're operating at the intersection of cloud infrastructure, AI, and sustainability — a combination with immense potential."

The fresh capital will allow Yasu to expand its engineering team and accelerate product development as it targets growth across Europe. The startup faces a sizable market opportunity, with cloud infrastructure spending expected to reach $1.3 trillion globally by 2025, according to IDC.

"Businesses are under increasing pressure to optimize their cloud usage and costs, but the complexity of modern cloud environments makes that a major challenge," said Yasu co-founder and CEO Sander Rensen. "Our autonomous agents use AI to continuously analyze data, identify waste, and take action to drive down expenses without disrupting operations."

Yasu's technology is designed to complement the tools offered by major cloud providers like Amazon Web Services, Microsoft Azure, and Google Cloud. By layering its intelligence on top of these platforms, the startup aims to provide a comprehensive solution for enterprises grappling with sprawling cloud footprints and ballooning costs.

The funding comes at a time of heightened focus on cloud sustainability, with companies increasingly looking to reduce the environmental impact of their digital infrastructure. Gartner estimates that the IT sector accounts for 2-3% of global greenhouse gas emissions, a figure that is likely to grow as cloud adoption accelerates.

"Sustainability is a key priority for our investors and a major driver of our business," added Rensen. "By helping companies optimize their cloud usage, we're not only saving them money, but also cutting carbon emissions in a meaningful way."

With the new capital in hand, Yasu plans to double down on product development and sales as it seeks to establish itself as a leading player in the burgeoning cloud cost optimization market.