BrightAI
BrightAI sells software that uses AI to monitor and optimize physical infrastructure like power, water and HVAC systems. The Palo Alto-based company has raised $66M and employs 151 people.
The growth story
BrightAI grew from 62 to 151 employees between 2021 and 2026, raising $66M along the way, most recently a Series A in July 2025.
About
BrightAI's software connects sensor data from physical infrastructure to provide real-time monitoring and predictive analytics. Its customers include operators of water, power, gas compression and manufacturing systems who use it to improve maintenance and operations.
The company raised $66M in a Series A round in July 2025, though its headcount growth rate is unclear. Its engineering team makes up over a third of its 151 employees.
Founders and leadership
Engineering is BrightAI's largest function with 54 staff, representing over a third of its 151 employees. The company has a median tenure of 2 years.
The BrightAI org chart
Alex Hawkinson (Founder & CEO) leads 45 mapped leaders with 4 direct reports. Click +N to expand a team; names link to the person’s public profile.
Departments, and which ones grew
Headcount by function: Engineering 73 (+97% YoY), Operations 13 (+86% YoY), Business Development 12 (+100% YoY), Information Technology 11 (+57% YoY), Product Management 10 (+43% YoY), Program and Project Management 4 (+300% YoY).
Talent flow
BrightAI recruits heavily from SmartThings, which accounts for 14 of its hires, more than double its next largest source Apple. Its alumni most often move to Samsung Semiconductor and Meta.
Most common previous employers of BrightAI staff: SmartThings (14), Apple (5), LocaliQ (4), Amazon Lab126 (4), Amazon (3), Google (3). Former BrightAI employees most often moved to Samsung Semiconductor (3), Meta (2), BARBRI (2), Boop AI (1), Tiger Analytics (1), Platform Science (1).
Alumni worth knowing
Web traffic
Traffic mix: 49% direct, 40% search, 4% social, 0% paid.
What this company is made of
Most common skills at BrightAI: Python (Programming Language) (64), Leadership (52), Software Development (46), C (Programming Language) (46), C++ (45), Project Management (43), Linux (41), Embedded Systems (39).
Where the team actually sits
BrightAI people are concentrated in California, United States (43), San Francisco Bay Area (28), Minnesota, United States (9), United States (8). 2 offices on record.
Search footprint
BrightAI attracts about 190 organic search visits a month, traffic worth roughly $1K a month if bought through ads. It gained 48 ranking keywords and lost 29 in the last period.
What employees say
- Compensation
- 4.20 / 5
- Career opportunities
- 3.40 / 5
- Senior management
- 3.10 / 5
- Work-life balance
- 3.40 / 5
Frequently asked
BrightAI has 151 employees as of September 2026.
BrightAI has raised $66M in total, most recently a Series A round in July 2025.
BrightAI was founded in 2019 by Alex Hawkinson, Douglas B..
Alex Hawkinson (Founder & CEO) sits at the top of BrightAI's reporting structure, with 4 direct reports.
The most common previous employers of current BrightAI staff are SmartThings (14 people), Apple (5 people), LocaliQ (4 people).
Former BrightAI employees most often move to Samsung Semiconductor (3), Meta (2), BARBRI (2).
BrightAI attracts about 190 organic search visits a month, worth roughly $1K a month in equivalent ad spend.
The most common skills among BrightAI staff are Python (Programming Language), Leadership, Software Development, C (Programming Language), C++.
BrightAI staff are concentrated in California, United States (43), San Francisco Bay Area (28), Minnesota, United States (9).
BrightAI has about 73 people in Engineering, up 97% over the past year, as of September 2026.
BrightAI has about 13 people in Operations, up 86% over the past year, as of September 2026.
Computed from 118 current and 61 former BrightAI profiles, as of September 2026. Source: Crustdata.
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