Gradient
Gradient designs and manufactures window-mounted heat pumps that plug into standard 120V outlets for plug-and-play heating and cooling, serving U.S. public housing authorities, multifamily building owners, utilities, and higher education institutions with a focus on building decarbonization without major retrofits.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2017
- HeadquartersSan Francisco, United States
- Headcount51–100
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Gradient does
Gradient (legally Treau, Inc., operating as Gradient Comfort) is a San Francisco-based climate technology company founded in 2017 by Vince Romanin, a UC Berkeley-trained mechanical engineer who developed the technology concept at the research lab Otherlab. The company designs and manufactures a proprietary window-mounted heat pump, the All-Weather 120V, that provides both heating and cooling through a standard 120V outlet, eliminating the need for ductwork, electrical upgrades, plumbing, permits, or professional installation. The product uses R-32 refrigerant with significantly lower global warming potential than conventional refrigerants, features plumbing-free outdoor atomization of meltwater and condensate, delivers cold-climate performance down to -13°F/-25°C, and is ENERGY STAR certified. Gradient has also developed Gradient Nexus, a hardware-native software platform launched in 2026 that enables multifamily housing operators to centrally manage fleets of heat pumps with zone-level control and energy optimization.
Gradient sells primarily into three verticals: public housing authorities (NYCHA, Boston, Providence, Chelsea, and Lynn Housing Authorities), multifamily building owners seeking to decarbonize without major capital construction, and utilities running clean energy programs. The flagship product was demonstrated at Carroll Tower (Providence Housing Authority) where 277 units were deployed across 194 apartments in 12 days, achieving approximately 450,000 kWh in annual energy savings and 219 tons of CO2 reduction. A pilot at NYCHA's Woodside Houses achieved 87% reduction in energy use and 50% reduction in energy costs. Gradient's largest commercial commitment is a seven-year, 30,000-unit purchase agreement with NYCHA through the Clean Heat for All Challenge.
The business model combines hardware unit sales (with per-unit pricing subsidized by utility programs such as Eversource's full funding of the Boston Housing Authority pilot at $5,450 per unit), accessories revenue (HEPA filters, condensate filters, remote controls), and an emerging recurring software subscription through Gradient Nexus. Non-dilutive government grants from the U.S. Department of Energy, California Energy Commission, NYSERDA, and other state agencies supplement capital. The company has raised approximately $49 million in equity funding across multiple rounds led by Sustainable Future Ventures, Ajax Strategies, and Climate Investment, with additional participation from Elemental Impact, Climate Capital, Collaborative Fund, and others.
Gradient firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Gradient
- Legal name
- Treau, Inc.
- Website
- https://gradientcomfort.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2017
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 51–100 employees
- Short description
- Gradient designs and manufactures window-mounted heat pumps that plug into standard 120V outlets for plug-and-play heating and cooling, serving U.S. public housing authorities, multifamily building owners, utilities, and higher education institutions with a focus on building decarbonization without major retrofits.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Gradient industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Window Heat Pumps and Building Electrification HVAC
- NAICS
- Air-Conditioning and Warm Air Heating Equipment and Commercial and Industrial Refrigeration Equipment Manufacturing (333415), Automatic Environmental Control Manufacturing for Residential, Commercial, and Appliance Use (334512)
- SIC
- Air-Cond & Warm Air Heatg Equip & Comm & Indl Refrig Equip (3585)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Heat Pump & Smart HVAC Controller Integration (HSAOANAD)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Building Energy Management & Demand Flexibility Software (BEMS, Optimization) (EUAFAGAK), Demand Response, Load Flexibility & Smart Thermostat Aggregation (EUADAPAM)
Keywords
Where Gradient is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- San Francisco
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Gradient business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Technology or R&D, Personnel, Supply Chain, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Hardware Sales: Sale of All-Weather 120V window heat pump units. The flagship product is sold directly to building owners, housing authorities, and individual consumers through the company website and partner channels.
- Gradient Nexus Software Subscription: Software platform for managing fleets of heat pumps. Provides centralized control, energy optimization, and predictive maintenance capabilities for multifamily building operators.
- Accessories: Sale of accessories including HEPA filters, condensate filters, remote controls, and other replacement parts.
- Non-Dilutive Funding: Government grants and incentives from DOE, California Energy Commission, NYSERDA, and other state programs that support clean energy adoption.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | All-Weather 120V Window Heat Pump - Commercial/Residential |
| Subscription | Annual | Gradient Nexus Software Platform |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Accessories |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels6 records
Gradient product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Gradient sells the All-Weather 120V Window Heat Pump, a plug-and-play window-mounted heat pump that delivers heating and cooling through a standard 120V outlet without ductwork, electrical upgrades, permits or contractors. The hardware is paired with the Gradient Nexus software platform, an annual subscription offering that gives multifamily operators centralized fleet management, zone-level control and energy optimization for deployed units. The company also sells accessories such as HEPA filters and replacement parts.
Product overview
Gradient offers a unified product ecosystem centered on the All-Weather 120V Window Heat Pump as the core hardware product, complemented by the Gradient Nexus software platform for fleet-level management and optimization. The All-Weather 120V is a window-mounted heat pump that provides both heating and cooling using standard 120V power, designed for easy installation without electrical upgrades. Gradient Nexus is a hardware-native control platform that enables multifamily building operators to manage fleets of heat pumps centrally, providing visibility, zone control, and energy optimization features. Together, these products form an integrated solution for building decarbonization through efficient, scalable window heat pump deployment.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Gradient Nexus: Hardware-native intelligent energy-control software platform for managing fleets of Gradient window heat pumps across multifamily housing properties. During beta testing, a customer achieved 25% reduction in energy consumption.
Products and services
- Gradient All-Weather 120V Window Heat Pump
Quantifiable outcome
- 450,000 kWh annual energy savings at Carroll Tower, equivalent to $94,500 annually
- +6 more outcomes
Companies that use Gradient
Customer profileNamed customers7 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles5 records
Gradient technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature6 records
Gradient partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core, strategic and minor.
- Rhode Island Office of Energy ResourcescoreProvided program oversight and funding through Clean Heat Rhode Island program for Carroll Tower deployment. Partnership demonstrates state's commitment to clean energy in public housing.
- Providence Housing AuthoritycorePartnered on $1.25 million Carroll Tower project installing 277 Gradient heat pumps across 194 apartments. First major building-wide deployment proving replicable model for multifamily electrification.
- Abode Energy ManagementcoreServed as program administrator and coordinated project implementation for Carroll Tower deployment. Company develops and implements energy efficiency and decarbonization programs across New England.
- Envr AircoreDeveloped and executed streamlined installation approach for Carroll Tower project. Massachusetts-based company specializing in window heat pump installations that convert buildings to clean energy without construction.
- NYCHA (New York City Housing Authority)coreCommitted to purchasing 30,000 Gradient devices over seven years through Clean Heat for All initiative. Woodside Houses pilot achieved 87% energy reduction and 50% cost reduction. Part of city's goal to expand to 10,000+ NYCHA apartments by 2030.
- Boston Housing AuthoritycoreLaunched pilot program installing 100 Gradient window heat pumps at Hassan Apartments with $5,450/unit funding from Eversource. Part of BHA's strategy to address building emissions (70% of Boston's carbon footprint).
- EversourcestrategicUtility provider that fully funded Boston Housing Authority pilot project at $5,450/unit for 100 units ($545,000 total). Represents model for utility-funded heat pump adoption programs.
- CEE (Consortium for Energy Efficiency)strategicGradient won Grand Prize in 2024 CEE Integrated Home Competition. CEE membership includes U.S. and Canadian natural gas and electric efficiency program administrators.
- Midea AmericaminorCompetitor/partner in Clean Heat for All Challenge. Both Gradient and Midea won contracts to develop heat pumps for NYCHA homes (combined 30,000 pumps).
- NYC AcceleratorstrategicGradient accepted into NYC Accelerator Service Provider Program, a NYC Mayor's Office of Climate & Environmental Justice program providing free resources for building decarbonization.
Scale indicators12 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights7 records
Gradient competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Frigidaire: Mass-market window AC brand owned by Electrolux; competes head-to-head with Gradient at the consumer/DIY end where ease of installation and price are deciding factors.
- Haier: Global appliance manufacturer with window AC and HVAC products distributed in U.S. retail; competes with Gradient in renter and small-building segments on price and availability.
- Daikin: Global HVAC leader with dominant positions in mini-splits and VRF systems, the primary alternatives Gradient positions against on cost. Competes for the same building-electrification retrofit dollars at much larger scale.
- Mitsubishi Electric (Trane Technologies): Established ductless mini-split and VRF leader; competes with Gradient in multifamily electrification and is a likely channel partner or competitor depending on building constraints.
- LG Electronics: Major window AC manufacturer and HVAC player; LG's window and ducted products are Gradient's closest mainstream substitutes and it has national retail distribution that Gradient lacks.
Emerging players
- Dandelion Energy: Residential geothermal heat pump installer targeting home electrification; competes with Gradient for the same decarbonization-driven retrofit customer and capital pools.
- BlocPower: Building-decarbonization platform financing and executing HVAC retrofits in multifamily portfolios; a potential channel partner or competitor depending on which heat pump they specify.
- Sealed: Home electrification retrofit company financing insulation, heat pumps, and weatherization; overlaps with Gradient on the demand side and could become a sales channel for residential installs.
Direct peers
- Midea America: Midea won a parallel NYCHA Clean Heat for All contract alongside Gradient to deliver cold-climate heat pumps to public housing—direct head-to-head competition on the same flagship program with similar products at global-manufacturer scale.
- Friedrich: Specialist U.S. window and through-wall air-conditioner manufacturer; directly comparable form factor and channel (multifamily/light commercial) and a likely competitor as cold-climate window heat pumps emerge.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat6 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Gradient social profiles
Digital presenceGradient compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance1 record
Gradient financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Gradient leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles5 records
Gradient funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds8 records
Investors18 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Gradient M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Gradient
What does Gradient do?
Gradient sells the All-Weather 120V Window Heat Pump, a plug-and-play window-mounted heat pump that delivers heating and cooling through a standard 120V outlet without ductwork, electrical upgrades, permits or contractors. The hardware is paired with the Gradient Nexus software platform, an annual subscription offering that gives multifamily operators centralized fleet management, zone-level control and energy optimization for deployed units. The company also sells accessories such as HEPA filters and replacement parts.
Is Gradient a public or private company?
Gradient is a private company. It is classified as venture growth investor backed and is currently operating.
When was Gradient founded?
Gradient was founded in 2017. It employs 51 to 100 people.
Where is Gradient based?
Gradient is headquartered in San Francisco, United States, in the North America region.
How does Gradient make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Hardware Sales are the primary driver. The others are gradient Nexus Software Subscription, accessories and non-Dilutive Funding.
Who are Gradient's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Frigidaire, Haier, Daikin, Mitsubishi Electric (Trane Technologies) and LG Electronics. Emerging players are Dandelion Energy, BlocPower and Sealed. Direct peers are Midea America and Friedrich.
Does Gradient have an API?
No public API is recorded for Gradient.
What industry is Gradient in?
Gradient's product category is Window Heat Pumps and Building Electrification HVAC. Its primary akta.pro industry code is HSAOANAD, Heat Pump & Smart HVAC Controller Integration, with a secondary code of EUAFAGAK, Building Energy Management & Demand Flexibility Software (BEMS, Optimization). Its NAICS code is 333415 and its SIC code is 3585.