Utilen, a Minneapolis-based technology company focused on improving coordination between utilities and suppliers, closed a seed funding round on Dec. 21, backed by industry leaders from across utilities, EPC firms, and manufacturers.

As utilities work to deliver an unprecedented volume of infrastructure projects to meet rising demand driven by AI, data centers, and electrification mandates, much of the coordination between utilities and suppliers still relies on manual workflows such as email, spreadsheets, and static documents — challenges Utilen was built to address.

“If that model doesn’t change, it doesn’t just impact the reliability of today’s electric grid,” said Sean Dunham, CEO of Utilen. “It limits how quickly the industry can respond to rising demand from data centers, which ultimately puts the U.S. at risk of losing the AI arms race.”

Utilen was founded to replace manual coordination with a secure platform that consolidates shared project information between utilities and suppliers in one place. The technology leverages AI to make new information immediately accessible to teams responsible for execution, reducing delays caused by fragmented or outdated data. Utilen plans to bring its platform to market in 2026.

“Utilen's deep understanding of the industry, combined with their software expertise, is what makes them stand out,” said Philippe Corriveau, president of MindCore Technologies, an industry-leading manufacturer of substation disconnect switches.  “I see clear benefits right away for our operations and for the utilities we work with.”

Planned power infrastructure investment in the United States is expected to total $1.4 trillion from 2025 to 2030, roughly double the amount invested over the prior decade, according to industry estimates. 

Utilen’s seed funding round came together in just 50 days, reflecting urgency among industry leaders to invest in tools that will support faster, more efficient execution as grid expansion accelerates.