Jean-Simon Venne is the co-founder and CTO of BrainBox AI, a pioneering company using artificial intelligence to optimize energy use in buildings. With a background in telecom and deep expertise in building mechanics and computer engineering, Jean-Simon has led BrainBox’s efforts to bring scalable, autonomous HVAC systems to the market. In this episode, Jean-Simon discusses his entrepreneurial journey, the challenges of scaling AI in the built environment, and how BrainBox AI leverages deep learning to decarbonize buildings and support grid efficiency.

BrainBox AI is a Montreal-based company that uses artificial intelligence to optimize HVAC systems in commercial buildings, reducing energy consumption and carbon emissions. Having raised $30 million in Series A funding, backed by investors like ABB Technology Ventures and Desjardins Capital, BrainBox is expanding globally with over 700 installations across 20 countries. Its AI-driven solutions address the growing demand for sustainable building management in the real estate sector.

In this episode, Jean-Simon shares insights on:

• Using deep learning to optimize building energy consumption
• Predicting room temperatures hours ahead to save energy
• Drawing inspiration from autonomous vehicles for scalable building efficiency

Enjoy!

Topics 

• 00:00 Harnessing AI for Building Efficiency
• 03:13 The Journey of an Entrepreneur
• 06:03 Innovating in Climate Tech
• 08:54 The Vision Behind Brainbox AI
• 12:10 Building a Scalable Solution'
• 15:00 Navigating Team Dynamics as a CTO
• 17:50 Balancing Innovation and Core Development
• 21:10 Creating an Ecosystem of Innovation
• 25:27 The Acceleration of AI Innovation
• 29:17 Navigating the Unknown in Technology Development
• 31:59 Understanding AI and Its Value
• 37:31 Challenges in Selling to Property Owners
• 41:49 The Future of Buildings and AI Integration
• 46:03 The Challenges and Excitement of AI Evolution

Links

• BrainBox AI | Jean-Simon Venne
• Connect with Somil on LinkedIn | Connect with Silas on LinkedIn
• Follow CleanTechies on LinkedIn
• @Silas & @Somil_Agg on X 
• This podcast is NOT investment advice. Do your homework and due diligence before investing in anything discussed on this podcast.

Support the show

Every ClimateTech Entrepreneur needs a reliable partner for their legal needs. Why settle for less than the best? 💪🏽

Reach out to Goodwin Law today; the law firm of choice for hundreds of ClimateTech Entrepreneurs worldwide. They have you covered from funding docs to offtake contracts to IPO and M&A support. GoodwinLaw.com (and tell them CleanTechies sent you!)