Metrolight

About Metrolight

Metrolight, established in 1996 and headquartered in Netanya, Israel, operated as a manufacturer of energy-efficient lighting solutions before ceasing operations. The firm specialized in developing and providing electronic ballasts, control systems, and drivers for both eHID (electronic High-Intensity Discharge) and LED high-power lighting. Its primary market consisted of commercial, industrial, and municipal clients seeking to lower energy consumption and reduce carbon emissions.

The company's core business model revolved around selling energy savings to its customers. Its flagship product was the Smart Electronic Ballast, an engineered control system that improved the efficiency and extended the lifespan of industrial lights commonly used in streetlights, retail stores, and large commercial facilities. This technology operated the lamp in a high-frequency regime, which controlled the light's ignition process more slowly to prevent electrode degradation, thereby prolonging the lamp's life and reducing the need to install overly powerful lights. Metrolight claimed its systems could decrease energy consumption by up to 70%. The product line included offerings like the EcoPOD, a high-bay electrical gear housing kit for new and retrofit applications, and the EcoBOX, a remote mounting box.

Metrolight's financing history includes several funding rounds, culminating in a total of at least $12 million raised from institutional investors. Notable funding events include a $9 million Series C round in August 2007 and an additional $3 million in June 2009. Investors in the company included Gemini Israel Funds, Israel Cleantech Ventures, and Virgin Green Fund. In 2009, Zvi Segal, a veteran of Applied Materials and Orbotech Group, was appointed CEO to navigate the company's growth phase amid strong demand for its energy-saving products in Europe and the US. Despite its efforts to develop a technology platform bridging the LED and IoT markets, the company is now considered deadpooled.