Gentle Energy

Market position

Positions itself as a provider of practical, economically efficient sensing and AI technology for energy efficiency, working with Korean utilities and telecom partners.

Combines self-powered (energy-harvesting) sensors that draw power from vibration, current, magnetic fields and light with a self-updating, general-purpose AI analytics model and inverter control, allowing deployment with minimal additional resources and low adoption barriers.

Technology

Two technology pillars are described. The first is a continuous-learning AI that converts time-series data collected from sensors into information such as equipment operating status, product output and power usage, delivered to customers in real time; the model is described as universal and self-updating. The second is energy harvesting: the company began with friction (triboelectric) power generation research and in 2019 developed technology to harvest electrical energy from the vibration of objects, later extending harvesting to sources including current, magnetic fields and light. Related technology assets include a patent registration for a method of analyzing electrical signals of frictional electricity generation components (2021), a sensor device design registration for packaging (2022), and KC and CE certification of its smart sensor (2021). The company reports 78 patents and certifications.

Go-to-market

Direct sales through a company sales contact, supported by partnerships and memoranda of understanding with larger Korean corporates, including LG U+ (September 2022) and Korea East-West Power Co., Ltd. for energy-efficiency commercialization (June 2023).

Operators of buildings and industrial facilities, including factory management, as well as smart farm operators served by its air-quality monitoring service.

Geography

Headquartered in Seoul, South Korea; the Korean site lists an address in Mapo-gu (Saechang-ro 11, Suite 1208, Dohwa-dong, Gongdeok Building) and the English site lists 2nd floor, 27 Seongji-gil, Mapo-gu, Seoul.

History

The corporation was established in September 2019, following friction power generation research and the 2019 development of vibration energy harvesting. It attracted Pre-A investment in December 2019, obtained venture company certification in February 2020, and occupied the Seoul Global Startup Center (May 2020) and Seoul Startup Hub (October 2020). In 2021 it established a corporate-affiliated research institute, released Factoroid 1.0, was selected as a military service exemption company, and won the Try Everything 2021 Korea Challenge Grand Prize and the 10th Youth Entrepreneurship Competition. In 2022 it relocated and integrated its Hapjeong office, raised a Series A round in March, won an Edison Award (Silver) in May, signed an MOU with LG U+, launched a smart farm air-quality monitoring service and reached 30 solution deployments. In June 2023 it signed an MOU with Korea East-West Power for energy-efficiency commercialization and attracted bridge investment.