US-based smart home technology producer Sense has closed its series A round at $15m following a $1m investment by iRobot Ventures, the corporate venturing vehicle for home robotics technology provider iRobot.
Petroleum company Shell’s investment subsidiary ,Shell Technology Ventures, and investment firm Energy Impact Partners co-led the round’s $14m first tranche in September 2016, with participation from Capricorn Investment Group, Prelude Ventures, CRV and Bolt.
Founded in 2013, Sense manufactures a home energy monitor (pictured) that aggregates electricity usage data on appliances, devices and lighting in real time. The monitor is connected directly to a house’s electricity panel and does not require any other connected devices.
The product can also be used for home automation through a third-party platform known as IFTTT (“if this, then that”) which enables users to easily program actions into it, such as turning on the lights when the garage door is opened.
In addition to the funding news, Sense has hired Scott Taylor as vice-president of business development.
Sense has now raised a total of $20m according to its latest press release, though it has not released details about all previous rounds. The company raised $2.5m in equity funding in 2015, according to a regulatory filing.
– Image courtesy of Sense