Nanoleaf

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Nanoleaf
TypePrivately held
IndustryConsumer electronics
Founded2012
FounderGimmy Chu, Tom Rodinger, Christian Yan
Headquarters
Toronto, Paris, and Shenzhen.
ProductsNanoleaf One, Nanoleaf Bloom, Nanoleaf Gem, Nanoleaf PAR38, Nanoleaf Amber, Nanoleaf One Mini, Nanoleaf Pendant, Nanoleaf Lamp, Nanoleaf Smart Ivy, Nanoleaf Light Panels - Rhythm Edition, Nanoleaf Remote, Nanoleaf Canvas, Nanoleaf Shapes, Nanoleaf Essentials, Nanoleaf Elements, Nanoleaf Lines
ServicesSmart LED lighting, green technology, energy efficient lighting, IoT
Number of employees
50 - 100 employees
Websitenanoleaf.me Edit this at Wikidata

Nanoleaf is a company specializing in LED lighting.[1] Founded in 2012 by three engineers, the limited company launched its first two products with crowdfunding campaigns on Kickstarter.[2]

History[]

Nanoleaf was founded in 2012 by three friends and University of Toronto engineering graduates Gimmy Chu, Christian Yan and Tom Rodinger.[3] They were each working in different industries after graduation while creating Nanoleaf on the side. After a year, the three quit their jobs to develop the company full-time. In January 2013, Nanoleaf launched their first product on Kickstarter.[4] The crowdfunding campaign for NanoLight (later renamed Nanoleaf One) received $250,000 from the crowdfunding site, with an initial goal of $20,000. Following the success of this campaign, Nanoleaf received funding from Horizons Ventures, an investment company owned by Li Ka Shing[5] and Silicon Valley venture capital firm Kleiner Perkins.[6] The company also opened their first offices in Shenzhen, China and Hong Kong.[7]

Their second Kickstarter campaign for the Nanoleaf Bloom in July 2014 was similarly well received. The campaign generated $200,000 in funding with a goal of $20,000.[8]

Nanoleaf opened their Headquarters in Toronto, Canada in January 2015. In 2017, the company launched into Europe and Australia. Their European office opened in Paris, France in April 2018.

Technology[]

Nanoleaf utilizes patented technology that aims for energy efficiency and a sustainable manufacturing process.[9][10]

Nanoleaf Founders Tom, Gimmy, Christian
Nanoleaf Founders: Tom Rodinger (CTO), Gimmy Chu (CEO), Christian Yan (COO)

The Smarter Series (Nanoleaf Light Panels and Canvas) are made with LED chips on a printed circuit board and feature a diffuser on a flat surface. They are modular LED lights with smart capabilities including App and voice control. Each Light Panel connects together with linkers (SD card-like connector chips), while power flows through them from the Controller (via power outlet). The Nanoleaf Light Panels were introduced at the 2016 Consumer Electronics Show.[11]

The company's lightbulbs are also made up of small LEDs on a folded circuit board and feature an origami-like design. The technology eliminates the need of a heat sink, keeping the bulb cool to the touch while reducing the amount of energy used during manufacturing. Nanoleaf bulbs also have overheat protection which allows the bulb to dim itself if it gets too hot, reducing the possibility of damage and increasing its potential life span.

Products[]

Nanoleaf One[]

The Nanoleaf One was the company's first product, released on Kickstarter in 2013 (formerly named the NanoLight). The product claims to be the world's most energy efficient light bulb and uses patented technology with custom packaged LED chips.[12][13]

Nanoleaf Bloom[]

The company's second product, the Nanoleaf Bloom, was introduced in 2014 to make dimmable lighting more accessible. The Nanoleaf Bloom eliminated the need for a dimmer switch by incorporating built-in dimming technology.[14][15] The bulb came in a variety of colors such as Black, White and Arctic Leaf, with later versions featuring different designs including patterns with the Moomin character, hearts and maple leaves.

Nanoleaf Gem[]

Marketed as an LED bulb for designers, the Nanoleaf Gem was released on Earth Day in 2015.[16] The Gem was the company's first dimmable glass bulb and remains their best selling light bulb to date.

Nanoleaf Ivy Smarter Kit[]

Launched at the end of 2015, the Nanoleaf Ivy Smarter Kit is a voice-controlled lighting system.[17][18] It is the company's first product with smart home automation and works with Siri voice control.[19] The company lists it as the world's most energy efficient smart bulb.

Nanoleaf Light Panels - Rhythm Edition[]

Nanoleaf Light Panels and Nanoleaf Remote
Nanoleaf Light Panels and Remote
Nanoleaf Shapes - Hexagons, Triangles, Mini Triangles
Nanoleaf Shapes - Hexagons, Triangles, Mini Triangles

The Nanoleaf Light Panels are modular LED smart lights with color changing abilities. The Light Panels are color customizable with the Nanoleaf Smarter Series App. They can also be controlled using voice control and with the manual Controller.[20][21] The Light Panels are the company's first color changing product, and drew attention from the design & lifestyle community by making its television debut on The Ellen Degeneres Show and on CTV National in Canada [22] The Nanoleaf Light Panels initially launched into the MoMA Design Store in NYC during October 2016. It was then sold nationwide in Best Buy stores across US and Canada starting November 2016. Apple Stores also began retailing the Nanoleaf Light Panels globally in March 2017.

The first Light Panels upgrade, the Rhythm Module, was introduced in October 2017.[23] The Rhythm add-on sound module allows the Light Panels react to music in real-time.[24][25]

Nanoleaf Remote[]

The Nanoleaf Remote—a physical controller for Nanoleaf and other HomeKit products—launched in June 2018.[26][27] This 12-sided Dodecahedron shaped controller could be rotated in mid-air to change the color or brightness of the panels, as well as control Apple HomeKit scenes.

Nanoleaf Canvas[]

Launched in December 2018, the Nanoleaf Canvas is a touch-controlled modular LED smart light. The Canvas features a built-in music visualizer, and square shape compared to the Light Panels' triangular form. It also features a faceted design and edge-to-edge illumination.[28]

Nanoleaf Shapes[]

The Nanoleaf Shapes line was announced in May 2020. This line consists of different shapes of touch-reactive smart light panels that can all be connected together with Connect+ technology. The first shape in the line were Shapes Hexagons,[29] which received a CES 2020 Innovation Award.[30] After Hexagons followed Shapes Triangles and Shapes Mini Triangles.

Nanoleaf Elements Wood Look Hexagons
Nanoleaf Elements Wood Look Hexagons

Nanoleaf Essentials[]

Nanoleaf Essentials is a line of smart lighting basics products including smart color-changing LED Bulbs and Lightstrips. Introduced to the market in October 2020, they were the first consumer smart lighting products to work with the Thread network protocol.[31][32]

Nanoleaf Elements[]

The company launched Nanoleaf Elements Wood Look Hexagons in June 2021, marketed as design-forward smart lighting. The light panels featured a wooden-textured appearance,[33] and new corner control technology to illuminate each of the panel's corners independently. Unlike the previous color changing Nanoleaf panel products, Elements display a spectrum of warm-to-cool white lighting options to better suit the more subtle aesthetic.[34] It was also announced that the Controller for these panels would function as a Thread Boarder Router[35] in a future update.

Nanoleaf Lines[]

Nanoleaf Lines
Nanoleaf Lines

Nanoleaf Lines were unveiled in October 2021. These modular backlit light bars connect together at 60 degree angles to form geometric shapes that provide color-changing ambient lighting. They were the first modular RGB product of their kind to utilize this backlit lighting style.[36] The Processors on the Lines were also revealed to be Thread Border Routers.[37]

Social Responsibility[]

Masks[]

At the start of the COVID pandemic in 2020 Nanoleaf pivoted their focus to creating and distributing masks to frontline workers to supplement the PPE shortage.[38][39] In total they were able to donate over 600k masks to frontline workers and provide one million at cost to other organizations in need.

Charitable Organizations[]

In December 2020 Nanoleaf collaborated with KultureCity[40]—a charitable organization that focuses on those with sensory needs—to create sensory rooms in public venues. These spaces would serve as a decompression area for individuals with autism, PTSD, and other sensory sensitivities and needs. Nanoleaf provided the organization with their Canvas light panels which were installed in the spaces with the aim of creating soothing environments with gentle colors and light.[41] The first such installation was built in the Georgia Aquarium, with both Nanoleaf and KultureCity making the commitment to continue creating additional rooms across the United States.

References[]

  1. ^ "Lighting a Revolution". University of Toronto Magazine. Retrieved 26 March 2015.
  2. ^ "Nanoleaf Bloom Dimming Bulbs Over $160,000 During Final Days on Kickstarter". crowdfundinsider.com. Retrieved 31 March 2015.
  3. ^ "Light of a New Age". www.design-engineering.com. Retrieved 26 March 2015.
  4. ^ "Toronto grads invent world's most energy efficient bulb". Toronto Star. 1 January 2015.
  5. ^ "Li Ka-shing Heralds LEDs as Key to Future Economic Growth". ledinside.com. Retrieved 26 March 2015.
  6. ^ ""Asia's richest philanthropist," major Silicon Valley firm invest in alumni's Nanoleaf light bulb". Retrieved 26 March 2015.
  7. ^ "Hong Kong: Perfect Launchpad for Overseas Green Tech Startups". Retrieved 26 March 2015.
  8. ^ "Nanoleaf Bloom Smart Lightbulb – Needs no App – No Dimmer". My Tech Report. Retrieved 21 February 2015.
  9. ^ "Alumni launch "world's most energy-efficient light bulb"". Retrieved 26 March 2015.
  10. ^ "Hong Kong start-up Nanoleaf has created the world's most energy-efficient light bulb". Retrieved 26 March 2015.
  11. ^ "The Smart LED Nanoleaf Aurora at CES 2016 - Design Milk". Design Milk. 2016-01-08. Retrieved 2016-12-06.
  12. ^ "NanoLight Claims the World's Most Efficient Light Bulb". Retrieved 22 November 2016.
  13. ^ "Toronto Grads Invent World's Most Energy-Efficient Light Bulb". Retrieved 22 November 2016.
  14. ^ "Nanoleaf Bloom Light Bulb Dims Without Dimmer Switch". Retrieved 22 November 2016.
  15. ^ "Finally a Smarter Light Bulb that Doesn't Require an App to Control It". TechCrunchaccessdate=22 November 2016.
  16. ^ "Nanoleaf Bloom and Gem Bulbs are Openly Efficient by Design". Retrieved 22 November 2016.
  17. ^ ""Hey Siri, Movie Time!" Nanoleaf Smarter Kit Connects Home Lighting with Voice Control". Retrieved 22 November 2016.
  18. ^ "Nanoleaf Launches New Smart Hub that Allows You to Control Your Lighting Using Siri". Retrieved 22 November 2016.
  19. ^ "Nanoleaf Launches New Product for Apple Home System". Retrieved 22 November 2016.
  20. ^ "Fixtureless Light Panels Illuminate with LEGO-like Construction". Retrieved 22 November 2016.
  21. ^ "Nanoleaf's Aurora smart lighting panels match modular customization with HomeKit control". Retrieved 23 November 2018.
  22. ^ "Canadian Startup Looks to Reinvent Lightbulb with Color-Changing Panels". Retrieved 22 November 2016.
  23. ^ "How to add music to your Nanoleaf Aurora lights and make your dreams come true". iMore. 2017-11-20. Retrieved 2018-11-23.
  24. ^ Lopez, Napier (2017-10-19). "Nanoleaf's musical smart lights turned my home into a real-world visualizer". Plugged | The Next Web. Retrieved 2018-11-23.
  25. ^ "Adding music to Nanoleaf's Aurora lights is a dream come true". Android Central. 2017-09-29. Retrieved 2018-11-23.
  26. ^ "Nanoleaf Remote is a HomeKit remote control that gets people talking". AppleInsider. Retrieved 2018-11-23.
  27. ^ "Nanoleaf Remote review: A HomeKit controller for everyone". iMore. Retrieved 2018-11-23.
  28. ^ https://www.cnet.com/news/nanoleaf-canvas-led-light-panels-starter-kit-review/
  29. ^ "Nanoleaf Press Lounge - News, Announcements, and Published Articles".
  30. ^ "Innovation Award Honorees - CES 2022".
  31. ^ "Nanoleaf launches Apple-exclusive Essentials smart lights with HomeKit & Thread". AppleInsider. Retrieved 2021-02-05.
  32. ^ "Nanoleaf's Thread-enabled A19 and LED Lightstrip debut in Apple stores". TechHive. 2020-11-10. Retrieved 2021-02-05.
  33. ^ "This Is What Inspired Nanoleaf Elements (New Wood Look Hexagons) - Nanoleaf Press Lounge". press.nanoleaf.me. Retrieved 2021-06-16.
  34. ^ Karcz, Anthony. "Nanoleaf Elements Is A Classier Take On Smart Lighting". Forbes. Retrieved 2021-06-16.
  35. ^ "Nanoleaf Shapes and Elements panels will include Thread border routers". TechHive. 2021-06-03. Retrieved 2021-06-16.
  36. ^ "Nanoleaf Lines are customizable smart light bars". Engadget. Retrieved 2021-10-19.
  37. ^ "Here's Everything You Need to Know About Nanoleaf Lines - Nanoleaf Blog". press.nanoleaf.me. Retrieved 2021-10-19.
  38. ^ "Engineering alumni startup Nanoleaf to source more than one million masks amid COVID-19 shortages". U of T Engineering News. 2020-04-01. Retrieved 2021-02-05.
  39. ^ June 16, Barry Chong |; 2020. "This startup employee went from marketing lights to sourcing PPE for front-liners". MaRS Discovery District. Retrieved 2021-02-05.CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  40. ^ "KultureCity - Making the nevers possible". KultureCity. Retrieved 2021-02-05.
  41. ^ "KultureCity and Georgia Aquarium Debut New Wilkins Rhodes Sensory". South Atlanta Moms. 2021-03-11. Retrieved 2021-07-18.

External links[]

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