essess

Essess, Inc., founded in 2011 and formerly known as Eye-R Systems, operated as a business-to-business data analytics and software company headquartered in Boston, Massachusetts. The company went out of business, with its status being noted as 'Out of Business' on December 19, 2017. The technology behind its products was originally conceived at the MIT Field Intelligence Laboratory and spun out in April 2011. Storm Duncan served as the Chief Executive Officer.

The firm specialized in developing thermal imaging technology coupled with a data analytics platform to identify and measure energy losses in buildings. By deploying vehicles equipped with roof-mounted imaging systems—including long-wave and near-infrared cameras, and LIDAR devices—Essess could capture thermal data across large geographic areas. This data was then processed through computer vision, machine learning algorithms, and heat flow analytics to detect abnormal heat signatures. The primary business model was software-as-a-service (SaaS), providing solutions that analyzed building energy efficiency performance and generated reports with actionable metrics for clients. The company's services catered to commercial and residential building owners, with a focus on partnering with electric and gas utilities, energy service companies, and building materials providers. The platform delivered easy-to-read thermal images that highlighted potential structural fixes to improve energy efficiency and comfort.

Throughout its operation, Essess raised a total of $17 million in venture capital funding over several rounds. A Series A round on April 16, 2012, brought in $6 million. This was followed by a Series B round on November 20, 2014, which raised an additional $11 million, bringing the total funding to $17 million (some sources cite $10.7 million). Key investors included Vocap Investment Partners, DFJ Athena, Constellation Technology Ventures (the venture arm of Exelon Corporation), Tamarisc, and the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center.

Keywords: thermal imaging, data analytics, energy efficiency, SaaS, building energy, cleantech, machine learning, energy loss detection, building diagnostics, energy assessment, mobile thermal imaging, LIDAR, energy analytics, utility software, building envelope, energy waste, residential energy, commercial energy, venture capital-backed, MIT spin-out