Edge AI technology, developed by Utilidata in collaboration with NVIDIA, attracted $60.3 million in Series C funding as the Rhode Island-based company prepares to revolutionize the smart meter, utility grid, energy infrastructure, and AI-enabled infrastructure sectors.

This breakthrough funding round, led by Renown Capital Partners with support from Quanta Services, NVIDIA, and Keyframe Capital, signals a seismic shift in how artificial intelligence will power the next generation of grid innovation.

Utilidata’s edge AI platform, Karman, integrates high-performance NVIDIA chipsets into grid-connected devices, allowing them to instantly process vast amounts of data. This enables real-time, decentralized decisions, transforming static smart meters into dynamic decision-makers.

Over the past four years, Utilidata and NVIDIA co-developed this technology to tackle modern utility grid challenges. The need for intelligent, responsive infrastructure grows as power grids become more complex with EVs, solar arrays, and energy storage. Utilidata delivers precisely that, computing systems at the grid’s edge, acting in real-time without relying on central control systems.

Strategic Partnerships and Real-World Deployments

To accelerate deployment, Utilidata recently partnered with Quanta Services to deliver AI-enabled infrastructure on a scale. Last year, the company joined forces with Deloitte to help utilities transition to modern, adaptive energy systems.

Karman-powered devices already play pivotal roles in Department of Energy-backed projects. Portland General Electric uses the system in Oregon to balance community solar, batteries, and EVs. In Pennsylvania, Duquesne Light relies on it to monitor climate threats. In Michigan, Consumers Energy evaluates EV charging’s impact on grid stability, which is powered by edge AI technology from Utilidata.

“We want to make it as easy as possible for hardware manufacturers to embed AI and distributed intelligence into their devices,” said Josh Brumberger, CEO of Utilidata. “There’s this concept that AI will be crucial as we develop our next-generation infrastructure — in this case, the power grid. We were on the edges of those discussions a few years ago. Now we’re at the center.”

Smart Meters, Smarter Decisions

Legacy smart meters, often part of AMI 1.0 systems, perform limited tasks. However, Utilidata’s collaboration with Hubbell’s Aclara introduced a Karman next-gen meter. This leap toward AMI 2.0 enables faster, more adaptable computing directly at the grid’s edge.

Unlike previous devices locked into fixed functions, these new meters offer reprogrammable flexibility. That means utilities can address shifting grid demands—from outage management to real-time energy balancing—without waiting on slow wireless signals or central servers.

CEO Josh Brumberger believes edge AI technology doesn’t burden the grid—it strengthens it. Karman-equipped devices offer subsecond data readings, powerful local processing, and autonomous decision-making. This approach reimagines the traditional utility grid as a responsive, resilient, and adaptive network.

Utilidata initially focused on voltage control. But in 2020, the company pivoted entirely toward AI-enabled infrastructure—anticipating the rising complexity of energy networks. Today’s funding milestone proves that the bet was correct.

What’s Next for Utilidata?

With $126.5 million in total venture capital, Utilidata now has the fuel to expand production, deepen utility partnerships, and drive broader adoption. This also positions them to lead in a global energy transition where innovative, fast, and flexible utility grid systems are not just helpful—they’re essential.

As global demand for intelligent energy solutions grows, Utilidata’s Karman stands ready to deliver real-time action at the grid edge, redefining what’s possible in smart meter innovation and energy infrastructure optimization.

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