Italy's Gyver Raises $1.5M to Empower Electricians With AI

Jan de Vries · 2026-05-13

Gyver, a Brescia, Italy-based startup building the workforce infrastructure for Europe's new industrial era, has announced a $1.5 million pre-Seed funding round. The money will go toward strengthening its technology, unlocking growth, and improving the experience for both electricians and employers. The round was led by Brighteye, with participation from altitude, Vento Ventures, Zanichelli Venture, existing investor Antler, and several business angels. ### Why Electricians Matter More Than Ever Francesco Defendi, co-founder of Gyver, put it bluntly: "We want the job of an electrician to be as cool as being a VC or famous entrepreneur." It sounds bold, but he's onto something. Electricians are the most important yet neglected workers in the modern economy. They combine brain and manual craft in ways AI can't replace, yet they've been left behind by modern technology. The future of work in the AI age, Defendi argues, is the future of manual craft. "This funding allows us to build the infrastructure that will elevate this profession," he added. "It ensures that the people who are the backbone of electrification have the tools they need to thrive." ### The Founding Story Gyver was founded during an Antler founder residency in Fall 2024 by Defendi, Leo Acciarri, and Mattia Zarrelli. The trio had previously worked together building a general contractor for solar installations on industrial SMEs. That's where they saw firsthand how critical skilled labor really is. The company's mission is to become the primary source of electrician workforce for its customers. They help electrical employers hire, manage, and empower the workers who are the essence of their business. Gyver is building what it calls "Workforce Infrastructure for Europe's new Industrial Era" and aims to empower workers who will never be replaced by AI. ### The Talent Crisis in Numbers Here's the problem: while projects like renewable energy, data centers, and grid updates are essential for Europe's reindustrialization, electrical contractors face a massive talent crisis. Currently, there are 28 million skilled blue-collar workers across the EU. But an estimated 5.8 million additional workers will be needed by 2030. That's a huge gap. - 28 million skilled blue-collar workers in the EU today - 5.8 million more needed by 2030 - 2.7 million electrical workers in Europe - $3.2 billion hiring market that's been chronically underserved ### How Gyver Uses AI Gyver tackles the skilled blue-collar workforce shortage with an AI-powered conversational job platform. It replicates how electricians actually find jobs: through referrals and word of mouth. Employers get access to top talent without the usual friction. Over the next few years, the product will expand toward upskilling, learning, and workforce productivity tools for electricians. Gyver aims to make manual craft 10 times more productive, similar to how software transformed white-collar desk work. They plan to do this by providing modern tools for technical skills like electrical design and PLC. ### What Investors See David Guerin, Partner at Brighteye, explained why they invested: "Europe has 2.7 million electrical workers and a $3.2 billion hiring market that's been chronically underserved. The electrification of the world, industrial maintenance, and aging demographics are widening the gap between supply and demand faster than traditional tools can handle." He continued: "Gyver uses AI not to replace skilled electricians but to make each one more productive and more valuable. That distinction matters. We're convinced this is the right answer to a structural problem with powerful tailwinds. We're excited to back Francesco, Leo, and Mattia: founders who know this industry from the inside and are moving with real conviction to build the category leader." ### What's Next With the new funding, Gyver plans to enhance its technology, focusing on AI agents and workflows to drive growth. The goal is clear: make electricians' jobs as cool and efficient as any tech role, while solving one of Europe's most pressing labor shortages. It's a bet on the workers AI can't replace.