VentureKick grant awarded to the new ShadeMe startup
Yujie Wu © 2020 EPFL LESO-PB
Yujie Wu has been awarded a VentureKick grant for the newborn startup ShadeMe, set up to bring to market the integrated 'Eyesight' shading controller developed during his PhD studies at the EPFL Solar Energy and Building Physics Lab (LESO-PB) under the supervision of Prof. Jean-Louis Scartezzini and Dr. Jérôme Kämpf.
A well-designed system with a solid market potential, the ShadeMe integrated shading device developed by Yujie Wu at LESO-PB automatically adjusts shading systems to a position that optimizes both energy consumption and daylighting conditions inside glazed rooms. The controller is based on the monitoring of sky luminance distribution and real-time lighting simulation. Its novel design reduces the complexity of installation and commissioning, since sensors and controllers are fully integrated in the shading frame. Two PCT patents have been filed to protect both the hardware and software.
Venture Kick is a philanthropic initiative of a private consortium, organized as a charitable foundation. It aims to foster the transformation of scientific innovation into commercial activity and jobs by supporting seed-stage startups.
The original research was funded by the Swiss Innovation Agency Innosuisse through the Swiss Competence Center for Energy Research "Future Energy Efficient Buildings and Districts" (SCCER FEEB&D) followed by InnoSeed ENAC and EPFL Innogrant support.
Wu Yujie, Prof. Jean-Louis Scartezzini, Dr. Jérôme Kämpf (dirs), Automated Daylighting Control System based on Sky Luminance Monitoring and Lighting Computing. EPFL Thesis N° 9498, 2019.