Lyte
San Mateo, US · 4 known investors
Find your way into Lyte
Lyte operates a network of kiosks where users rent and return portable smartphone chargers via credit card or through the Lyte app, with options like day-passes and subscriptions. Kiosks are placed in venues such as stadiums, malls, restaurants, and schools across the city.
Also known as Lyte Charging Inc. · Lyte.City
Founders & leadership
Investors · 4
Funding
SEC filings, press & company announcements$107M disclosed across 1 round · 2026
- $107MraisedJan 2026 · 2 sourcesSource ↗
Source: company announcements and press reports — follow each round's link for the claim.
Company profile
researched Aug 2026Lyte, operating as Lyte.City under the corporate name Lyte Charging Inc., runs a shared portable-charger network. Users locate a kiosk through the Lyte iPhone or Android app, scan a QR code or insert a credit card to release a portable battery, charge their device while moving about, and return the charger to any open slot in any kiosk in the network. The power banks provide 5,000mAh and ship with cables for iOS devices.
Kiosks are placed in venues where people stay for extended periods: family entertainment centers and arcades, bowling alleys, bars, restaurants, airports, malls, stadiums and schools. The company positions the kiosks both as a customer convenience and as a way to keep patrons on site longer rather than leaving to recharge. Rental is priced per half hour, with a flat loss fee if a charger is not returned within 24 hours, and the app also offers day-passes, subscriptions, prepaid Lyte Cash balances and a referral program.
Business model
Lyte deploys self-service charging kiosks in host venues at no cost to the venue and earns revenue from end users renting portable chargers. Venue operators receive a share of the revenue, which the company presents as a differentiator versus competitors that reportedly do not pay operators; operators were told they could earn an average of $20-30 per machine per month. Kiosks are described as maintenance-free for the host.
Per-use rental fees of $1 or GBP 1 per 30 minutes depending on location, supplemented by day-passes, subscriptions granting unlimited battery swaps until expiry, and prepaid Lyte Cash balances. A flat 29.90 (or GBP 29.90) fee applies if a charger is not returned within 24 hours, after which the user keeps the charger. Venue operators receive a share of kiosk revenue.
Traction
About 100 kiosks were on location as of August 2020, mainly in San Francisco, Southern California and the United Kingdom, alongside a stated national partnership with Dave & Buster's. The company set a goal of deploying 5,000 kiosks within the following year and doubling in size annually. The iOS app holds a 3.4 rating from 17 ratings.
Latest developments
The iOS app continued to receive maintenance releases, with version 1.2.7 published in December 2024. Earlier feature releases in 2021 added the Lyte Cash top-up and referral program and the Day-Pass and subscription plans.
▸Full profile — market position, technology, go-to-market, geography, history
Market position
Lyte competes in the shared power-bank category, where the App Store lists comparable services including ChargedUp, ChargerGoGo, JUUCE, Naki Power, Joos and Brick. In the US amusement and route-operator channel it positioned itself in 2020 as a growing supplier seeking operator partners, claiming a national agreement with Dave & Buster's.
The company emphasizes paying host operators a share of kiosk revenue, which it contrasts with competitors it says declined to compensate operators, and offers the machines at no cost and without maintenance obligations for the venue. Interoperability across the network - a charger rented at one kiosk can be returned at any other - and app-based location discovery are also highlighted.
Technology
A network of automated kiosks dispensing 5,000mAh portable chargers with built-in cables for iOS devices, paired with iOS and Android apps providing a map of station locations, QR-code checkout, credit-card checkout at the kiosk, and account features for passes, subscriptions and referrals. The iOS app requires iOS 12.0 or later and supports English and French.
Go-to-market
Distribution is through venue hosts and route operators who agree to place kiosks on site; merchants are invited to inquire by email about hosting a kiosk. The company said it was targeting 10 cities for launch and sought to partner with amusement and vending operators to reach locations beyond those served by traditional route equipment such as jukeboxes and pinball machines. Consumer acquisition runs through the mobile app, referrals and coupons.
Two groups: consumers who need to charge phones away from home, and venue hosts such as family entertainment centers, arcades, bowling alleys, bars, restaurants, airports, malls, stadiums and schools, plus amusement route operators seeking incremental revenue.
Geography
Lyte describes itself as a California-based company. As of August 2020 its kiosks were concentrated in San Francisco, Southern California and the United Kingdom, and the app listed availability in Los Angeles, US and London, UK. The website lists a United Kingdom telephone contact number. The company stated plans to expand to 10 or more major cities.
History
The company published its consumer website under the Lyte Charging Inc. name with copyright notices dated 2019 and 2020, and released its iOS app in October 2019. Rally, a phone-charging kiosk maker co-founded by Duncan Swezey and shown at the 2018 Amusement Expo, was acquired by Lyte and became part of Lyte.City. By August 2020 the network comprised roughly 100 kiosks in San Francisco, Southern California and the United Kingdom, with a stated national partnership with Dave & Buster's. App releases through 2021 added Lyte Cash top-ups, referrals, day-passes and subscriptions, with maintenance updates continuing through December 2024.
Compiled by commissioned research from 8 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.
Timeline · 6
launches, deals, and filingsVersion 1.2.1 of the iOS app added Day-Pass and subscription options offering unlimited battery swaps until expiry.
Version 1.2.0 of the iOS app introduced a Lyte Cash account top-up program with coupons and a referral program, plus UI and functionality changes.
Lyte.City reported 100 kiosks on location, mainly in San Francisco, Southern California and the United Kingdom, while targeting 10 cities for launch and a goal of 5,000 kiosks within a year.
Lyte.City said it had landed a national partnership with Dave & Buster's for placement of its charging kiosks.
Rally, a phone-charging kiosk maker co-founded by Duncan Swezey, became part of Lyte.City following its acquisition by Lyte; Swezey continued representing the business.
The Lyte - Stay charged anywhere iPhone app, published by Lyte Charging Inc., was first released on the App Store.
Dated company events from announcements, filings, and press; legal rows summarize public dockets and regulator releases.
In the news
▸Research sources · 8
primary sources listed
- Lytelyte.city · web
8 public sources were cited for this profile; the first-party ones are listed here.
Frequently asked questions
- What does Lyte do?
- Lyte operates app- and card-enabled kiosks in venues where consumers rent and return shared portable phone chargers.
- Who founded Lyte?
- Lyte was founded by Dajiang Wei.
- Who are Lyte's investors?
- Lyte's investors include 645 Ventures, Bling Capital, Expansion Venture Capital, Valkyrie.
- How much funding has Lyte raised?
- Lyte has disclosed $107M raised across 1 round.
- Where is Lyte headquartered?
- Lyte is headquartered in San Mateo, US.