Cala Systems, a Boston, MA-based creator of intelligent heat pump water heaters, raised $5.6M in Seed funding.
The round was led by Massachusetts Clean Energy Center (MassCEC) and Clean Energy Venture Group, and included Burnt Island Ventures, Leap Forward Ventures, CapeVista Capital, Collaborative Fund, and Climate Capital.
The company intends to use the funds to expand operations and its development efforts.
Led by CEO Michael Rigney, Cala Systems designs and builds intelligent heat pump water heaters combining advanced sensors, hardware and predictive technology. The intelligent heat pump system heats water based on the patterns of hot water use in each home and the preferences of the homeowner. By understanding each home’s hot water patterns, Cala improves hot water availability during times of high demand and minimizes costs. In addition, homeowners can tailor water heating to their home and priorities; including synchronizing water heating with the power output of their home solar system, minimizing their greenhouse gas emissions by coordinating water heating with times of clean electricity on the grid, decreasing costs for homes with variable electric rates, preheating water before potential power disruptions, and more.
Cala’s predictive controls blend artificial intelligence and physics-based techniques, enabling the system to plan ahead for future hot water use, and whatever other inputs (home solar output, electricity price, etc.) the homeowner has activated in the app. It also incorporates a variable speed compressor and an integrated mixing valve, which enable it to take full advantage of its predictive controls by increasing water heating efficiency and producing more hot water when beneficial.
Cala’s heat pump water heater (HPWH) is now available for preorder on its website, with initial deliveries expected in the first half of 2025.
FinSMEs
07/08/2024