Oslo-based ONiO, a fabless IoT company developing ultra-low-power microcontrollers, has raised €5 million in rounds. Led by node.vc of Stockholm, with co-lead from Maki.vc of Helsinki, Finland. Primary intent is to speed along production of ONiO’s innovative ONiO.zero microcontroller. Inspired by nature, this unique technology operates using ambient energy. This spurs advances toward smaller, more efficient, and longer-lasting IoT devices.

Funding to Fuel ONiO.zero Production

This funding of €5 million will allow ONiO to accelerate the production and distribution of its ONiO.zero microcontroller. This relatively new microcontroller is power-agnostic and general-purpose. It even runs at 22µW/MHz for ultra-low power operation and can be powered by ambient RF, thermal, solar, or piezo energy harvesting sources.

ONiO.zero’s uniqueness lies in its cold-start under 1µW and complete usage of ambient energy. Kjetil Meisal, ONiO’s CEO, is driven by a mission to create the world’s most power-efficient MCU. They’re collectively looking to change the narrative around IoT tech.

This new funding, while truly historic, is just a first step on the path to realizing our goal. It delivers the resources they need to expand the market for this innovative new product. Through this expansion, ONiO will be able to better serve the rapidly increasing global demand for energy-efficient microcontrollers for use in connected IoT applications.

node.vc's Investment in Sustainable IoT

node.vc, a new early-stage venture capital firm based in Stockholm, led the investment round. The firm is exclusively dedicated to early-stage investments in the most disruptive tech startups from the Nordic and Baltic countries. It’s node.vc, which operates an €80 million fund backed by over 70 of Europe’s original tech founders. They are committed to supporting the firms that are leading the charge in developing tomorrow’s technology.

ONiO represents the kind of breakthrough technology we look for at node.vc. - Mårten Skogö, Partner at node.vc

ONiO.zero’s unique ability to operate on ambient energy drastically expands the potential for IoT applications. It breaks the dependence on batteries and fossil fuels. This recent innovation directly addresses the increasing market demand for more sustainable, energy efficient solutions that spans all industries.

Their ability to power a microcontroller entirely from ambient energy is not only technically impressive — it’s fundamentally changing how we think about sustainable IoT. The team has proven that the technology works in real-world applications, and now it’s time to scale. We’re excited to support ONiO as they bring this game-changing chip to market. - Mårten Skogö, Partner at node.vc

The Potential of ONiO.zero

Ultra-low power consumption to support long battery life and great versatility are features of ONiO.zero. This versatility facilitates its deployment in a plethora of applications, including environmental monitoring, smart agriculture, wearables, and industrial automation. The possibilities for innovation are vast.

The creation of ONiO.zero is a testament to the power of pushing technological boundaries to embrace a more sustainable future. ONiO’s technology has the potential to make the embedded IoT devices we frequently deploy far less damaging to the environment.

The development of ONiO.zero underscores the importance of pushing technological boundaries to create a more sustainable future. ONiO's technology promises to significantly reduce the environmental impact of IoT devices.