Ekstera Closes a Pre-seed Round to Revolutionize Industrial Energy Production
Toronto, ON – September 10, 2025 – Ekstera, based in Toronto, has developed patented Stirling engine technology that can convert a wide range of heat sources, including industrial waste heat, into clean, affordable, and reliable electricity. Ekstera’s new innovation enables industrial facilities like steel mills and cement plants to reduce their electricity bills and greenhouse gas emissions by generating electricity on site using the waste heat they are currently discarding.
With approximately 70% of the energy produced globally being discarded as waste heat, there is an incredible opportunity to make use of this abundant and valuable energy source to generate electricity. Ekstera’s new Stirling engine technology finally makes it possible to use this energy because the engines are scalable and highly efficient, meaning they can easily be retrofitted into existing industrial facilities and produce enough electricity to be economically viable. At the same time the demand for electricity is rapidly increasing and Ekstera’s technology can meet this demand with affordable, clean, and reliable electricity.
“We’re excited about the extraordinary opportunity to turn underutilized heat into the electricity industry urgently needs,” said Brendan MacDonald, CEO of Ekstera. “Our breakthrough technology delivers sustainable electricity that is also reliable and affordable, meeting a critical need.”
Ekstera raised $600,000 from investors across Canada and the US, including the UCeed Energy Fund, who led the pre-seed funding round. This investment was also matched by Ontario’s Ready 4 Market Investment Fund (R4M), through the Ontario Centre of Innovation (OCI) in the amount of $250,000, providing support as the Company expands.
About Ekstera
Ekstera has developed and patented Stirling engine technology that can convert a wide range of heat sources, including industrial waste heat, biomass, biofuels, and many others, into electricity. They are commercializing technology that was originally developed at Ontario Tech University in Oshawa.
Ekstera is currently working with a steel mill partner on an upcoming pilot project to convert their abundant waste heat into electricity on site.
The Ontario Centre of Innovation (OCI) brings industry, academic, and government partners together to invest in collaborative R&D, technology development, and commercialization opportunities that generate the highest return on innovation for Ontarians.
As an ecosystem connector, OCI initiates unparalleled partnership opportunities, develops and manages successful industry-academic collaborations, supports high-potential SMEs in commercializing ground-breaking research, and provides hands-on training and skills development opportunities for the next generation of highly-skilled talent.
OCI drives economic growth and job creation through investments in the development, commercialization, and adoption of advanced technologies.
