Solenica

Solenica is a design and technology company operating in the sustainable home goods market, founded in 2014 by Diva Tommei, Mattia Di Stasi, and Alessio Paoletti. The company's inception is rooted in the personal experience of founder Diva Tommei, who, while pursuing her PhD in Bioinformatics at the University of Cambridge, suffered from the lack of natural light in her office. This led her to develop the prototype for what would become Solenica's flagship product, initially as a personal solution. Tommei's extensive background, which includes a PhD from Cambridge and attendance at Singularity University at NASA Ames, provided the technical and entrepreneurial foundation for the venture. Co-founder Mattia Di Stasi complemented this with his expertise in business development and marketing, notably leading a successful crowdfunding campaign.

The company's primary business is the direct-to-consumer sale of its natural lighting robots. Revenue generation has been significantly driven by crowdfunding campaigns on platforms like Indiegogo and Kickstarter, which raised substantial pre-order funds and validated market demand. Solenica has also secured seed funding and grants from investors including Techstars, Qualcomm, and the European Union, totaling over $120K across several rounds.

Solenica's core product is a smart, solar-powered robot named 'Lucy' (also referred to as 'Caia'), designed to redirect natural sunlight into indoor spaces. This device functions as a heliostat; it automatically finds and tracks the sun throughout the day using a proprietary algorithm and a network of photosensors. An articulated mirror then reflects the sunlight to a user-designated spot inside a home or office, capable of delivering up to 7,000 lumens. The product is entirely solar-powered, requiring no wires or professional installation, and is designed with a distinct Italian aesthetic to be a seamless addition to home decor. The key benefit for clients is the ability to illuminate dark rooms with natural light, which can improve well-being, reduce energy consumption from artificial lighting, and support the growth of indoor plants. The company targets individuals in apartments or homes with limited sun exposure, as well as anyone seeking a sustainable lighting alternative.

Keywords: natural lighting, solar robot, heliostat, smart home, daylighting, sustainable technology, home wellness, energy saving, indoor sunlight, Diva Tommei, Lucy robot, Caia robot, sun tracker, eco-friendly design, home technology, sunlight reflector, smart mirror, green building solution, cleantech, robotics