Tech Roundup: Brazil could get energy “lost in the air”

This week: Brazilian startup wants to replace batteries with energy “in the air.” The government has funds to expand telecoms access, but isn’t spending them. IPOs becoming even less attractive in Brazil.

Powering your home with energy “lost in the air”

IBBX Inovação, a Brazilian startup founded in 2016 in the city of Capivari, in São Paulo state, has developed technology to harness electromagnetic energy from the environment to power sensors and small electronic equipment. 

Why it matters. Its creators claim that in the short-term future, people will be able to have fully-connected smart homes that recharge “on their own,” taking in energy “from the air.”

• After nine years developing the technology, researchers at IBBX came up with a device that can capture radiofrequency waves using a small antenna. Until then, these waves could only be absorbed via larger antennas, making commercial projects unfeasible.

First step. The company’s initial focus is on industry, more specifically on the sale of sensors for monitoring heavy machines. Currently, this process is carried out through periodic measurements made by employees. With IBBX sensors, monitoring data can be collected and transmitted without the need for a battery or human involvement.

• “In a factory world, where you cannot have unplanned stops to your production line, having sensors that tell you about the health of your industrial assets is an excellent tool,” says William Aloise, IBBX commercial director and founding partner, speaking to The Brazilian Report.
• “Besides that, the radiofrequency waves [that we use] are more suitable for data transmission in an environment as polluted as industry in terms of electromagnetic noise and barriers. Low-frequency waves travel better in these environments.”

What’s next. Since November, when it began signing contracts with clients such as construction materials firm Confibra, IBBX has installed more than 1,500 sensors. Now, with the plan to seek series A funding of around USD 5 million, the idea is to expand the business and enter other segments.

• “The goal for this year is to consolidate ourselves in the industry segment and assess where we have more opportunities. We see many in the automotive sector, in agribusiness,...