BrightAI Emerges from Stealth with $15M Seed Funding to Revolutionize Infrastructure with AI and IoT Sensors

Alex Hawkinson used to be the CEO of SmartThings, a company he co-founded and sold to Samsung for about $200 million. He often thought about how Internet of Things (IoT) technology could tackle bigger problems.

After leaving SmartThings in 2018, he set out to find where connected devices could make a real difference. In 2019, he teamed up with Nathan Hanks, Douglas Burman, and Robert Parker to launch BrightAI. When the pandemic hit in 2020, Hawkinson realized that BrightAI should focus on infrastructure.

“During the pandemic, that downtime made you think about the essential services modern life relies on. It’s surprising how outdated many of them are,” he told TechCrunch.

BrightAI aims to use connected devices to solve critical infrastructure issues. Today, Hawkinson describes the company as a “physical AI” firm. They offer a tech platform that uses sensors to help businesses monitor their physical assets. These sensors constantly send data to an AI algorithm, which processes it to spot and predict potential problems before they happen.

For example, pest control supplier Pelsis uses BrightAI’s sensors to keep an eye on light traps in food and pharmaceutical facilities. If any traps catch a new type of pest, BrightAI alerts Pelsis, allowing them to act quickly.

“It’s like having your inspector there all the time, even when no one is around,” Hawkinson explained. “You get real-time insights about sites and assets. You’re collecting data that humans couldn’t before, and then AI helps you see patterns and shift from reacting to being proactive.”

BrightAI launched its platform in stealth mode in 2023. They currently serve seven large enterprise clients across six sectors, including HVAC, waste management, and power. The company has deployed over 250,000 sensors and reached $80 million in revenue—all while staying under the radar and without external funding—until now.

BrightAI is coming out of stealth today, announcing a $15 million seed round entirely funded by Upfront Ventures. Hawkinson said they decided to seek venture funding because they need capital to grow. They have more customer interest than they can currently handle.

The funds from this seed round will help expand BrightAI’s tech capabilities. Hawkinson mentioned that they want to use the data from their sensors to better inform field workers on how to address issues.

There are several startups taking a similar approach to AI and sensor technology, often focusing on specific sectors more than BrightAI. For instance, Sensorita, a Norwegian startup, uses sensors and AI to manage construction waste. WaveLogix employs sensors to check the strength and health of concrete. Hawkinson acknowledged that focusing on one vertical might speed things up, but he doesn’t want to limit their market potential.

“By limiting ourselves to one vertical, we’d miss out on a lot of untapped potential,” he said. “For me, it’s about building a great business instead of just moving fast. We want to maximize our impact on the world.”

BrightAI’s technology also allows companies to operate more precisely. Pest control companies can target their treatments better, and water companies can reduce the number of trucks sent out to monitor pipes by knowing in advance which ones need maintenance.

“It’s great because as you boost productivity and capital efficiency, you improve the services we all rely on,” Hawkinson said. “We can reach more people while wasting less.”