Gradient
San Francisco, US · Founded 2017 · 49 employees on LinkedIn · 8 known investors
Gradient manufactures plug-in 120V window heat pumps that provide cold-climate heating and cooling, along with the Nexus energy control software that coordinates distributed units. Its products target multifamily and public housing electrification retrofits, avoiding costly electrical upgrades and refrigerant handling.
Also known as Gradient · Gradient Comfort
Investors · 8
Company profile
researched Aug 2026Gradient is a San Francisco-based manufacturer of heating and cooling equipment for building electrification. Its principal product is the All-Weather 120V Window Heat Pump, a window-mounted unit that provides both heating and cooling and plugs into a standard 120V outlet, allowing buildings to electrify without electrical service upgrades and with reduced installation cost and tenant disruption. The company positions the design around rapid installation and use of existing building infrastructure.
In February 2026 Gradient announced Nexus, a hardware-native intelligent energy control software platform for multifamily housing that coordinates distributed heat pumps into a single software-defined system; the company reported that a beta customer achieved a 25% energy reduction. Deployments cited by the company include a building-wide installation at Carroll Tower under the Clean Heat Rhode Island program, and use of its plug-in window heat pumps by the New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) to electrify public housing.
Business model
Gradient manufactures and sells window-mounted heat pump hardware and offers Nexus, an accompanying energy control software platform for multifamily housing operators. [0]
Traction
Reported deployments include a building-wide installation at Carroll Tower in Rhode Island credited with 450,000 kWh in energy savings, 277 heat pumps installed in 12 days at a Providence senior apartment building, and NYCHA public housing installations. A Nexus beta customer reported a 25% energy reduction. [0]
Latest developments
On February 3, 2026 Gradient launched Nexus, an intelligent energy control software platform for multifamily housing. In 2025 it won the inaugural Electric Innovation Award (Design + Discovery) at Climate Week NYC and a 2025 Design & Discovery Award for its window heat pumps, and reported the Carroll Tower deployment under Clean Heat Rhode Island. [0]
▸Full profile — market position, technology, go-to-market, geography
Market position
Described as a manufacturer of smart heating and cooling products for decarbonization; recognized in 2025 with an Electric Innovation Award at Climate Week NYC in the Design + Discovery category and featured in Forbes, Fast Company and The New York Times. [0]
The units run on existing 120V outlets and mount in windows, avoiding electrical panel upgrades and enabling fast, low-disruption installation; the company reports a Providence, Rhode Island senior apartment building receiving 277 heat pumps in 12 days. [0]
Technology
An all-weather window heat pump that heats and cools from a standard 120V plug without blocking the window view or requiring electrical service upgrades, paired with Nexus, a hardware-native software platform that coordinates distributed units as a single system. [0]
Go-to-market
Multifamily housing owners and operators, senior housing, and public housing authorities pursuing electrification retrofits, including NYCHA and participants in the Clean Heat Rhode Island program. [0]
Geography
Headquartered in San Francisco, with deployments reported in Rhode Island (Providence, Carroll Tower) and New York City. [0]
Compiled by commissioned research from 1 cited public sources — announcements, filings, and press listed under research sources below.
Key figures
latest reportedCompany-reported or press-reported figures, each dated to when it was claimed — not independently audited.
Competitors · 1
by search overlapCompanies competing with Gradient for the same Google search keywords, organic and paid, via search-intersection analysis.
Timeline · 5
launches, deals, and filingsGradient announced Nexus, a hardware-native platform that turns distributed heat pumps into a coordinated, software-defined system; a beta customer achieved a 25% energy reduction.
Gradient named a winner of the inaugural Electric Innovation Awards in the Design + Discovery category, announced alongside former U.S. Secretary of Energy Jennifer Granholm.
Building-wide installation at Carroll Tower under the Clean Heat Rhode Island program, reported to unlock 450,000 kWh in energy savings.
A senior apartment building in Providence installed 277 Gradient heat pumps in 12 days, as reported by Fast Company.
Dated company events from announcements, filings, and press; legal rows summarize public dockets and regulator releases.
▸Research sources · 1
primary sources listed
- Gradient +Moregradientcomfort.com · web
1 public sources were cited for this profile; the first-party ones are listed here.
Frequently asked questions
- What does Gradient do?
- Gradient makes plug-in 120V window heat pumps and Nexus energy-control software for multifamily building electrification.
- Who are Gradient's investors?
- Gradient's investors include At One Ventures, Azolla Ventures, Climate Investment, ISV, New Climate Ventures, Safar Partners, Third Sphere, Dangerous Ventures.
- Where is Gradient headquartered?
- Gradient is headquartered in San Francisco, US.