After experiencing a successful entrepreneurial journey, former SmartThings CEO Alex Hawkinson is embarking on a new venture. His new company, BrightAI, has just completed a $15 million seed round funding exclusively led by Upfront Ventures, officially unveiling this tech company that focuses on smart monitoring solutions for infrastructure.
Founded in 2019 by Hawkinson along with Nathan Hanks, Douglas Burman, and Robert Parker, BrightAI aims to create a "physical AI" platform. By integrating sensors with artificial intelligence, the company provides comprehensive monitoring solutions for physical assets to businesses. Currently, it serves seven large enterprise clients across six verticals, deploying over 250,000 sensors, and has achieved $80 million in revenue without external funding.
The company's technology has a wide range of applications. For instance, pest control supplier Pelsis can remotely monitor insect traps in food and pharmaceutical plants by deploying BrightAI's sensors. The system can identify new pests during the interval between manual inspections and send timely alerts, enabling Pelsis to take faster preventive measures. Additionally, BrightAI's solutions extend to various fields including HVAC, waste management, and electricity.
In contrast to competitors like Sensorita and WaveLogix that focus on single verticals, BrightAI has opted for a broader market approach. Hawkinson stated that while concentrating on a single area might lead to faster growth, they do not want to limit their potential market size; instead, they aim to create a wider impact through technological innovation.
BrightAI's technology not only enhances efficiency but also provides more precise services. Pest control companies can conduct targeted spraying based on sensor data, and water utilities can accurately locate pipes that need maintenance, thereby reducing unnecessary manpower. This intelligent solution boosts productivity while optimizing capital efficiency.
This funding round will primarily be used to expand the company's technological capabilities, especially to enhance the application of sensor data and provide more accurate problem-solving solutions for field staff. With the growing demand for smart infrastructure, BrightAI's growth potential is promising.