Serwas: Heating with Servers

Another MCI-affiliated start-up gains momentum | Multiple awards in entrepreneurship and innovation competitions

Using waste heat from servers as a sustainable energy source for buildings – that’s the innovative idea driving the young company Serwas. Founded by Manuel Untergasser, Timo Berkmann, and Lucas Bolte, the start-up combines high-performance servers with direct water cooling systems and efficiently feeds the resulting heat into existing building heating infrastructure.

By bringing together digitalization and energy efficiency, the founders are generating significant interest in the start-up and tech community, gaining strong traction in pitch competitions and pilot projects alike.

MCI Supports Entrepreneurial Drive

The MCI Start-up Center provides hands-on, targeted support to the founding team. In addition to connecting them with relevant corporate partners, MCI | The Entrepreneurial School^® offers access to initiatives such as the MCI Founders Academy.

MCI also supports programs like Boost.Up!, organized by Startup.Tirol GmbH, in which Serwas has participated. Through individualized feedback, strategic guidance, and ongoing mentoring, MCI has helped create the right conditions for refining and advancing the company’s business model.

Manuel Untergasser, Co-Founder of Serwas, explains: “The support from MCI significantly accelerated our start-up’s development. Beyond the entrepreneurial skills I gained during my studies, the MCI Start-up Center and its programs helped us sharpen our business model and strategically position Serwas for growth. The network we were able to build through MCI has been especially valuable.”

Award-Winning Concept

Serwas’ forward-looking concept has received broad recognition in several competitions and award programs. The start-up was nominated for the Tyrolean Innovation Award, won Best Pitch at the H-Farm Mozart Bootcamp, and received the Senator h.c. Dr. Martin Steinmeyer award.

At the Boost.Up! Demo Day hosted by Startup.Tirol, the team secured first place. Serwas also earned third place at the MCI Creativity Award 2025 and received a special award for the most implementation-ready concept.

First-generation Serwas systems, based on Bitcoin mining technology, are already being used in residential and commercial buildings, including for utilizing surplus solar power from photovoltaic systems. The company is currently working with Innsbrucker Kommunalbetriebe (IKB) on a pilot project that aims to use server waste heat from AI applications to heat the Amras public swimming pool. In addition, Serwas is preparing for its next phase of growth later this year.