IoT Communications & Data Analytics Startup Probus Smart Things focused on Smart grid applications has raised $3 million from Unicorn India Ventures and Family Office from the US. The round also saw participation from existing investors. Funds raised will be used for strengthening product R&D, expanding the team and grow GTM partnerships with ecosystem partners.
Probus develops integrated hardware and software solutions for utility providers and helps digitize their distribution grid and have a clear visibility of their network through Probus integrated end to end IoT platform. A powerful IOT solution for electricity distribution utilities that helps them achieve distribution grid analytics and automation which subsequently enables a much more efficient distribution of electricity along with quicker restoration of electricity after power disturbances. Probus further enables reduced operations and management costs for utilities, and ultimately lower power costs for consumers.
Anand Singh, Co-founder CEO, Probus Smart Things, says, “Probus has been at the forefront of digitization of the last mile electricity distribution grid. With the GoI mandate of 270 million smart meters deployment by 2026 to reduce the $40 billion annual losses that India is incurring in the last mile power distribution segment, Probus’s deep-tech in massive scale communications network and data analytics will be of immense value in achieving this goal. This is just the beginning of the automation that we are seeing in the energy sector. As more assets like EV, storage and renewables get deployed, IoT automation and private communication networks would become a must by all utilities and private players operating in the space. Once the data is acquired, the next step is to connect all of them and use it to resolve all the climate change issues pertaining to energy efficiency that the world is facing – optimum use of energy (demand response), reduce manual intervention and corresponding CO2 emissions.”
In the last 12 months, Probus has demonstrated 8X revenue growth and has achieved profitability at PAT level. The Company has currently deployed over half a million smart meters products in 4 geographies and doubled the team size. In addition to expanding further in India, Probus will also be looking to launch operations in MENA and SEA over the next 12 – 18 months.
Anil Joshi, Managing Partner, Unicorn India Ventures, says, – “At Unicorn, our belief has always been to identify disruptive business ideas from sectors which may not necessarily enjoy the limelight whether it is CyberSec or InsuranceTech or power and utility. We back startups that have the potential to be the market leaders in their sector and back them with conviction. Probus is a company in which we have led the round for the 3rd time. We truly believe that the power sector and last mile distribution is a sector waiting to be disrupted and Probus’ IOT platform and smart meters are helping some of the largest utility companies adapt a technology-led approach to monitor their assets better.”
Probus has recently launched a new product for the solar sector to monitor the production efficiency of solar modules in the central inverter solar plans through wireless sensors. The Company has already bagged its first order from a major utility company covering 78MW solar plant. The Company is aiming to grow its revenues by 6X and double its team size in the next 18 – 24 months.
About Probus Smart Things
Probus Smart Things Private Limited is in the business of developing integrated hardware and software solutions for utility providers. Current scope of solutions encompasses asset management, outage management, energy management, operations management and smart metering. It aims to increase the per capita consumption of electricity in India by 10X, which is presently 1/3 of the global average- by reducing the distribution losses in the Indian electricity distribution grid.
About Unicorn India Ventures
Unicorn India Ventures is a Mumbai-based early stage fund house started in 2016 by Anil Joshi and Bhaskar Majumdar. From its first Fund, UIV has invested in 17 companies like SmartCoin, Open Bank, Inc42, Sequretek, Pharmarack, Genrobotics, Futurecure to name a few. Unicorn India Ventures Fund II, which is a Rs 300 crore fund launched in 2020 which has invested in 20 companies so far like Gamerji, ForeignAdmits, Probus, SocialSwag. The Fund has emerged as the best performing early stage fund in India with the stellar exits provided by the fund to its LPs.
