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
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