Singapore energy startup nabs $2.7m to create ‘smart hotels’ in Southeast Asia

Hotels continuously seek ways to be energy-efficient, as their electricity usage accounts for bulk of their bills.

But they often grapple with the challenge of high costs and disruptions when implementing new energy schemes, says SensorFlow co-founder and CEO Saikrishnan Ranganathan.

Founded in 2016, the Singapore-based startup offers hoteliers an energy management solution that can be retrofitted and integrated into their existing infrastructure. It just secured US$2.7 million in series A funding to cater to more clients.

SensorFlow’s flow meter and pipe temperature sensors. / Photo credit: SensorFlow.

Ranganathan claims their solution can deliver up to 30 percent in energy savings and up to 40 percent reduction in maintenance costs.

“We use wireless sensors to collect real-time data and AI to automate decision-making. This is offered in a zero-upfront cost subscription model, catering to hotels that are unable or unwilling to tap into larger capital expenditure budgets,” he explains.

SensorFlow has deployed its product in several properties, including 5footway.inn in Singapore and three Alila Hotels & Resorts branches in Bali.

It plans to enter five new markets: Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, and the Philippines. And it aims to manage a total of 800,000 “smart hotel rooms” by 2022.

The company’s series A round was led by private investor Pierre Lorinet, founder of family foundation Lorinet Foundation. Playfair Capital, Cocoon Capital, Entrepreneur First, 2be.lu Investments, Aurum Land, and InSitu Asia participated in the round.