SynapSense

About SynapSense

Founded in 2006 by Raju Pandey, SynapSense carved out a niche in providing wireless instrumentation solutions aimed at boosting energy efficiency within data centers. The company, which was headquartered in Folsom, California, secured a total of $40 million in funding over six rounds from investors including Crosslink Capital, GE Capital, and Robert Bosch Venture Capital. Its trajectory includes a significant milestone in May 2014, when it was acquired by Panduit, a provider of physical, electrical, and network infrastructure solutions. This acquisition integrated SynapSense's wireless monitoring capabilities with Panduit's extensive Data Center Infrastructure Management (DCIM) software and hardware portfolio. The journey continued in May 2023, when Vigilent, a company specializing in AI-driven cooling optimization, acquired the SynapSense business from Panduit, aiming to enhance value for customers in dynamic cooling management.

SynapSense's core business revolves around a wireless monitoring and cooling control solution for data center operators. The company serves a diverse client base that includes enterprises in banking, ISP/hosting, retail, and government sectors. Its business model focuses on delivering a turnkey solution that combines hardware, software, and professional services to help clients reduce energy costs and manage thermal risks. The system is designed to provide a rapid return on investment, often within two years, by optimizing cooling efficiency and unlocking stranded data center capacity.

The company's flagship offering is the SynapSense Environmental Monitoring System, which utilizes a secure, wireless mesh network of sensors to collect granular environmental and power data in real-time. Key components include the battery-operated ThermaNode™ EZ Sensors, which measure temperature and humidity at any point in the data center, typically on server racks. This data is fed into the SynapSoft® software suite, which features tools like LiveImaging™ to create 3D thermal maps, allowing operators to visualize airflow, identify hotspots, and assess the impact of changes. A critical feature is Active Control™, a software module that uses the collected data to automatically adjust cooling unit set points and fan speeds, continuously aligning cooling output with IT load demands to reduce energy consumption.