A completely new approach to indoor lighting: the Vienna based start-up AKEMI – Rethinking Light has developed a technology that makes it possible to bring real sunlight directly indoors. After two years of development work, funded by the Vienna Business Agency, AKEMI managed to create a process that has resulted in the world’s first 3D printing with light guides.
This technology is the basis for innovative lightscapes that are about to redefine the lighting experience in interiors. With its signature product, AKEMI.suntec, the young company is establishing a new, global standard for indoor lighting and is pursuing the vision of making people’s everyday lives better and healthier all over the world. Simultaneously, the technology is able to significantly increase the energy efficiency of buildings.
First strategic partnerships with well-known industrial companies are already in the starting blocks.
The startup is now looking for investors to complete its 500k+ seed round.
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The availability of sunlight has a significant impact on human health and yet many people have to go without it almost or completely in their everyday lives. Indoor spaces such as offices, educational institutions or shopping centers are usually insufficiently illuminated by a natural light source, which makes spending time in these places far less pleasant than it could be.
Who likes to be exposed to artificial light all day long? Unfortunately, this scenario is a reality for the majority of the population, especially in the winter months or all year round in more northern countries. What’s more, climate change is making it less and less attractive to spend time outdoors in the summer months, even in countries away from the equator. So who doesn’t dream of being able to experience healthy, real sunlight in everyday life at any time of year?
Availability of sunlight can increase workplace productivity by 18% and reduce sick leave by 25%
AKEMI’s vision is to make the positive aspects of real sunlight available to as many people as possible in their everyday lives. According to studies, this has a significant impact on people’s general well-being, as the availability of sunlight can increase work performance by as much as 18%, according to studies. In addition, the positive effects on health are so great that they are able to reduce sick leave by 25 per cent.
“AKEMI.suntec brings real sunlight into all indoor spaces around the world and thus makes an important contribution to people’s health and to protecting our climate. The positive properties of the sun as a natural source of energy are immeasurable, which is why AKEMI.suntec is quite progressive,” says Heike Stuckstedde, co-founder of AKEMI.
Increasing the energy efficiency of buildings and new key technology for green buildings
AKEMI is not only establishing a new global standard for indoor lighting, but is also developing a new key technology for green buildings with its functional building envelopes for natural light. AKEMI.suntec thus makes a significant contribution to the positive energy and CO2 balance of buildings by making the use of light climate-efficient. AKEMI.suntec transmits the healthy portions of sunlight via light guides at every point in the building, while flat and lightweight roof and façade elements collect the sunlight using a specially developed optical system.
Sun tracking directly in the collector makes an installation on the roof or façade as easy as with photovoltaic systems. The high efficiency of the technology, which is a multiple of today’s photovoltaics, is particularly significant: 1m2 of AKEMI.suntec illuminates up to 200 m2 of interior space. In addition, AKEMI.suntec enables optimum daylight utilization over the entire course of the day and year in a range of 136°, with a surface efficiency of 65%.
“The potential of our sunlight technology really is huge. The aim is for AKEMI.suntec to be a must-have for every ambitious building project in a few years’ time,” states Heike Stuckstedde.
Innovation from Austria with global potential: AKEMI.suntec is set to revolutionize the experience of light around the world
With a technology developed in Austria and a clear strategy, AKEMI aims to further refine its pioneering technology in the coming months to enable a successful global market entry in 2025. AKEMI is currently in the decisive phase of finding investors for the seed round in order to finalize the prototype. At the same time, promising strategic partnerships with well-known industrial companies are already in the starting blocks. AKEMI particularly emphasizes the immense international potential of its technology and sees significant opportunities to roll it out globally and establish it on an international level.
About AKEMI – Rethinking Light
AKEMI – Rethinking Light, an up-and-coming company from Austria, was founded in 2020 by Heike Stuckstedde and Andreas Wampl and has set itself the task of rethinking the topic of light. The name “AKEMI” comes from the Japanese and means “light, beautiful, luminous”. By developing innovative lighting solutions that expand existing technologies and combine them with special materials, the company creates new experiences and adventures around the topic of light. The company is currently refining its pioneering technology for global market entry in 2025. The Austrian Startup emphasizes the immense international potential of its technology and sees significant opportunities to roll it out globally and establish it on an international level.
Further information can be found at: https://www.akemi.lighting
