WattSense

WattSense, founded in 2017 by Louis Vermorel, provides an IoT solution for managing small and medium-sized buildings. Headquartered near Lyon, France, the company was established to address the significant energy consumption and CO2 emissions from buildings by making advanced management technology accessible to facilities that lack sophisticated Building Management Systems (BMS). The company's journey began with a mission to simplify building connectivity and management, which was underperforming despite the digital transformation in other sectors.

WattSense secured its first funding round of €730,000 in 2018, followed by a larger Series A round of €2.9 million in 2019 from investors including Kreaxi, Bpifrance, and Demeter. A major milestone occurred in October 2021 when Siemens Smart Infrastructure acquired the company to expand its own IoT offerings for the built environment. Despite the acquisition, WattSense continues to operate as a separate, standalone unit, maintaining its brand and independent sales channels.

The company's business model is centered on a plug-and-play hardware and Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) offering. It targets property owners and managers of commercial real estate such as schools, offices, warehouses, and retail spaces who need to improve energy efficiency, optimize maintenance, and enhance occupant comfort. Revenue is generated through the sale of its hardware devices and recurring subscriptions to its cloud-based platform.

The core of WattSense's offering is a versatile device that combines the functions of a gateway, modem, PLC, and edge device into one unit. This product, available as the 'Tower' or 'Bridge', connects to a wide array of building equipment and sensors, regardless of the communication protocol (e.g., LoRaWAN, BACnet, Modbus, KNX). The system collects data, unifies it on a single interface, and allows for remote monitoring and control. Key features include the ability to convert LoRaWAN data to BACnet or Modbus locally, an extensive library of compatible devices for quick setup, and a user console for configuration, real-time data visualization, and alarm management. This approach lowers entry barriers for digitalization by minimizing capital expenditure and simplifying the integration of diverse building systems.

Keywords: building management system, BMS, IoT for buildings, smart buildings, energy management, property technology, PropTech, facility management, LoRaWAN gateway, BACnet, Modbus, KNX, remote monitoring, building automation, SaaS, energy efficiency, Siemens, building connectivity, multi-protocol gateway, HVAC control, sensor integration, asset monitoring, maintenance optimization, smart real estate