Khosla, Pritzker’s Inspired Capital Back AI for Power Systems, Pest Control Startup
BrightAI raised $51 million to sell sensors and software that monitor infrastructure.
Pipes and UV reactors inside a water filtration plant.
Photographer: James MacDonald/BloombergWhile many artificial intelligence tools are aimed at software developers and office workers, venture capitalist Vinod Khosla and former Commerce Secretary Penny Pritzker’s Inspired Capital are investing in a startup deploying the technology for dirty, time-consuming infrastructure maintenance tasks like pest control and inspecting power poles and air-conditioning systems.
San Francisco-based BrightAI has raised a $51 million Series A round led by Khosla Ventures and Inspired Capital, along with BoxGroup, Marlinspike and VSC Ventures. The round valued the company at around $300 million, according to a person familiar with the company who didn’t want to be named discussing financial details. Upfront Ventures led a previous round, and the company has raised a total of $78 million.