Imagine a world where the data centers that keep the world connected can run more efficiently, consume less energy and reduce costs without sacrificing performance. Through the work of mechanical engineering alumnus Abhishek Sastri ’20 and his startup FLUIX, this has become a reality.
FLUIX has just announced the successful close of a $2.1 million funding round, with the goal of using AI-powered energy optimization techniques to push the boundaries of data centers. Its game-changing AI Autopilot platform, A.I.M.I, uses artificial intelligence to streamline crucial building systems such as HVAC, water and IT infrastructure, making data centers more sustainable and cost-efficient.
The need for fast data processing and large amounts of storage has made data centers one of the fastest growing energy consumers. In fact, researchers estimate these facilities could account for nearly 10% of global electricity consumption by 2030.
But FLUIX aims to change that. Its AI-powered solution acts like a digital brain that manages all aspects of the operations within data centers to run at peak efficiency. Think of it as the ultimate facility manager, but with more intelligence and a smaller environmental footprint.
“Data centers are among the most complex buildings to optimize, with diverse equipment, changing parameters and siloed data systems,” Sastri says. “That’s where A.I.M.I. steps in. Its multi-agent capabilities bridge the gap between HVAC, water and IT systems, enabling autonomous control based on environmental factors and IT load data. With A.I.M.I. ®, data centers can achieve unparalleled efficiency, saving energy and reducing costs across any equipment or location.”
The $2.1 million raised will allow FLUIX to accelerate platform development with clients in key regions, growing sales and expanding the team. The funding was kicked off by Pi Labs, a successful UK-based venture capital firm that specializes in startups. Faisal Butt, founder and managing partner at Pi Labs, believes that FLUIX’ new technology in FLUIX is vital to addressing global energy consumption.
“As the world’s reliance on data centers grows exponentially, as does our responsibility to ensure these critical buildings for society are being run as efficiently as possible,” Butt says in a release. “Groundbreaking tech solutions, such as FLUIX AI, can dramatically help to slash energy, operational costs and in turn carbon emissions – and the scale of the opportunity is truly global.”
A case study with Santa Cruz Works has proven FLUIX’s success. The agency demonstrated a 40% reduction in energy use in a server room over six months. That’s a huge win for energy hungry data centers, where the cooling systems alone often account for a large chunk of the energy bill.
This technology is not just theoretical. FLUIX’ AI is already in action with early client colocation groups in Latin America, Central Florida, Tennessee and Utah.
“We are thrilled to partner with FLUIX to leverage their innovative solutions for driving energy efficiency in our data center operations,” says Ed Nuckols, the chief operating officer of Colo Solutions, in a release. “This collaboration reflects our commitment to sustainability and cutting-edge technology, enabling us to deliver even greater value to our clients while reducing our environmental footprint.”
- Written by Madelyn Sutterfield