Butlr is an MIT Media Lab spinout that combines AI with body heat sensing technology to build patented sensors and an anonymous people-sensing platform. Pulse 2.0 interviewed Honghao Deng to learn more about the company.
Honghao Deng’s Background
What is Honghao Deng’s background? Deng said:
“I am the CEO and co-founder of Butlr, an MIT spinout. I met Butlr’s co-founder, Jiani Zeng, at the MIT Media Lab. With a Master of Design Technology with Distinction from Harvard, I applied my background in computational design to create the field of responsive, context-aware buildings through the integration of IoT and AI. I was previously a researcher at City Science Group, MIT Media Lab. I have been recognized by the World Economic Forum as a Technology Pioneer and Forbes Magazine’s ’30 Under 30’ list.”
Formation Of Butlr
How did the idea for Butlr come together? Deng shared:
“Before Butlr, capturing mission-critical and life-saving building data meant compromising privacy by using cameras or not having data due to building regulations. Yet insight on how buildings are used is critical to ensuring a more sustainable infrastructure. Butlr set out to solve this issue while protecting individual privacy and providing never-before-available insight into the built environment. Today, Butlr has insight into more than 40 million square feet of real estate and each month generates more than 1 billion frames of anonymous activity, occupancy, and body posture data.”
Favorite Memory
What has been Deng’s favorite memory of working for the company so far? Deng reflected:
“There have been so many great memories. The most recent one is seeing teammates proud of the results from their hard work. The team has been through a lot of ups and downs and is being recognized for it as we recently reached the Series B stage and won the grand prize at the Salesforce Dreampitch.”
Core Products
What are the company’s core products and features? Deng explained:
“Butlr has patented the combination of body heat sensing technology and machine learning in the form of sensors that magnetically mount to the wall or ceiling and provide insight into how a building’s interior space is used for working and living. With a commitment to 100% anonymity, Butlr sensors are designed to make it impossible to capture any personally identifiable information. The only raw data the Butlr platform captures is temperature, which is translated into body posture, indoor location, and occupancy.Butlr’s sensors and data are used by the world’s largest employers, retailers, and senior living communities to identify patterns and behaviors that inform decisions about real estate investment planning, asset management, occupancy, health, and energy efficiency.”
Challenges Faced
What challenges have Deng and the team faced in building the company? Deng acknowledged:
“Our ability to plan for the worst-case scenario has been part of Butlr’s DNA since its start. Founded in 2019, we envisioned a future of smart living that values privacy and affordability and built a technology that could be deployed in every building. However, the initial journey was fraught with challenges. First was market uncertainty about an innovative yet untested solution. Second, Butlr was initially focused on deploying its sensors in retail stores, but when Covid-19 hit, and traffic vanished during lockdowns, there was no longer any interest in gaining a better understanding of customer footfall. As a result, the company lost all of its commercial projects. Our team made the best of a bad situation, and we pivoted to focus on helping commercial spaces reopen by managing occupancy.
After the initial product market fit, we stuck to our vision and turned the situation around by focusing on the workplace and senior living communities. Today, Butlr is thriving, having just announced our Series B round of funding with new customers signing on at a rapid clip.”
Evolution Of Butlr’s Technology
How has the company’s technology evolved since launching? Deng noted:
“We are continuously improving the product based on customer feedback and the evolution of technology. Our latest sensors feature an ultra-long multi-year battery life and a sleek product design. They remain easy to install within minutes and feature an unobtrusive and award-winning design.”
“Also, our API-first platform makes it easy for customers to integrate various data sources, such as nurse call systems and emergency response apps. This results in more collaborative, safer, energy-efficient, and inviting spaces for working and living.”
Significant Milestones
What have been some of the company’s most significant milestones? Deng cited:
“The team is amazing, and we are proud of our growth and commitment to customer success. Along with the funding and new products, we had our first full campus deployment for a top 10 tech company’s workplace in 2022; in 2023 we won two of the Fortune 500 full campus deployment, one of them being the world’s largest company; in 2024, we deployed our first full campus deployment for senior living community consisting of 12 buildings.”
Customer Success Stories
After asking Deng about customer success stories, he highlighted:
“We are privacy-friendly by design and would like to keep specific customer names confidential.”
Funding
When asking Deng about the company’s funding details, he revealed:
“As cited above and covered in Pulse 2.0, we recently announced our Series B round of funding.”
Differentiation From The Competition
What differentiates the company from its competition? Deng affirmed:
“While we don’t comment on the competition, I would like to reiterate what makes Butlr a strong and growing startup.
— We have a patented technology that solves real world issues by making buildings smarter and the indoor experience more aligned with the needs of humans occupying the space.
— Our open API makes it easy to integrate Butlr data with other technology tools.
— Privacy-proof is at the core of our design.
— Our latest sensors have an incredibly long battery life that eliminates high wiring costs.
— A thriving partner community has enabled us to quickly grow our presence throughout North America, Asia Pacific and Europe.
— Our investors are world-class, providing the guidance and support we need to take Butlr to its next level.
— And, of course, my co-founder, Jiani Zeng and I have attracted an incredible, committed team that has enabled Butlr to exceed client expectations.”
Future Company Goals
What are some of the company’s future company goals? Deng concluded:
“We envision Butlr becoming a standard in all buildings. For every new Butlr sensor we install, we make the world a bit more sustainable and better; and we save lives by helping to ensure fewer falls among older adults.”
