TeleSense

About TeleSense

TeleSense operates within the agricultural technology sector, providing advanced monitoring solutions for post-harvest grain management. The company was founded in 2014 by Naeem Zafar and Nick Garner with the goal of applying Internet of Things (IoT) and artificial intelligence (AI) technologies to reduce food waste. Zafar, a serial entrepreneur with a background in electrical engineering and experience leading several high-tech startups, identified a technological gap in post-harvest monitoring. His previous ventures include Bitzer Mobile, acquired by Oracle in 2013. Garner, with a background at Cisco Systems and service in the Marines, provided the hardware and software expertise to build the initial TeleSense platform.

The company targets grain managers, handlers, co-ops, and commodities traders, offering a system to digitize the post-harvest supply chain. TeleSense's business model is subscription-based, providing clients with hardware and access to its data analytics platform. The core of TeleSense's offering is a suite of wireless sensors that continuously monitor environmental conditions within stored grain, such as temperature, humidity, and carbon dioxide levels. This data is sent to a cloud-based AI platform that analyzes the information to detect potential issues like spoilage, hotspots, excess moisture, and pests before they escalate. Users receive alerts and actionable insights through the TeleSense App, which is accessible on computers, smartphones, and tablets.

Products include the GrainSafe™ remote monitoring solution, portable SensorSpears for piles and barges, and SensorBalls for various storage units. The system can also retrofit traditional temperature cables to make them wireless. This approach aims to reduce spoilage, improve operational efficiency, and enhance profitability for its clients by enabling data-driven decisions on grain storage and transport. A significant milestone for the company was its acquisition in August 2022 by DECCO, the post-harvest solutions subsidiary of UPL Ltd., a global provider of sustainable agricultural products. This acquisition followed a strategic collaboration that began in January 2021 and integrated TeleSense into UPL's OpenAg® network.