Bandora gains prominence in the US market
The Portuguese tech startup, incubated at UPTEC, uses AI to optimise climate control systems in buildings
UPTEC-based Portuguese startup Bandora is gaining prominence in the demanding North American market with an artificial intelligence technology that promises to transform the energy efficiency of buildings.
In just a few months, the company has managed to achieve energy consumption reductions of up to 70% in restaurant chains such as Dunkin' Donuts and Dave's Hot Chicken, making it an emerging benchmark in the area of intelligent climate control.
Bandora's solution is based on software that analyses data in real time, automatically adjusting air conditioning systems to maximise savings and thermal comfort. "In one of the spaces, we achieved a 50% reduction in energy bills in the second month - in the middle of winter in New Jersey. And we're now reaching 70% efficiency, which means we've managed to cut two-thirds of the waste," explains Márcia Pereira, the company's Founder and CEO.
Entry into the US market was facilitated through contacts with entrepreneurs of Portuguese descent linked to large franchising networks, paving the way for a rapid implementation of the solution. Today, Bandora's technology is already established in hundreds of retail shops.
Bandora's software analyses data such as energy consumption, thermal comfort, and the weather forecast every five minutes, making automatic adjustments without the need for human intervention. "The competition demands historical data, customised projects and long implementation cycles. Our technology is plug-and-play, with much lower costs and installation times," says Márcia Pereira.
Looking to the future, Bandora is preparing to launch a version of its technology adapted to data centres, where energy and water savings are critical. This project won it first prize in a pitch organised by CES, which guaranteed the startup a prominent place at the 2026 edition of the world's largest technology fair in Las Vegas. The company is also integrating advanced language modelling (LLM) to automatically interpret complex technical building data, reducing installation time from two days to just a few hours.
Entry into the US market was facilitated through contacts with entrepreneurs of Portuguese descent linked to large franchising networks, paving the way for a rapid implementation of the solution. Today, Bandora's technology is already established in hundreds of retail shops.
Bandora's software analyses data such as energy consumption, thermal comfort, and the weather forecast every five minutes, making automatic adjustments without the need for human intervention. "The competition demands historical data, customised projects and long implementation cycles. Our technology is plug-and-play, with much lower costs and installation times," says Márcia Pereira.
Looking to the future, Bandora is preparing to launch a version of its technology adapted to data centres, where energy and water savings are critical. This project won it first prize in a pitch organised by CES, which guaranteed the startup a prominent place at the 2026 edition of the world's largest technology fair in Las Vegas. The company is also integrating advanced language modelling (LLM) to automatically interpret complex technical building data, reducing installation time from two days to just a few hours.
With a growing presence in the US and plans to expand into the Gulf markets, Bandora aims to make its technology as easy to install as a TV box, available in any building, anywhere in the world.
"Our goal is to make this technology accessible and universal - so that any building can be more efficient, sustainable and intelligent," added the CEO.
