What eLichens does

eLichens is a French technology company headquartered in Grenoble that designs and manufactures patented Non-Dispersive Infrared (NDIR) gas sensors and integrated Internet of Things products for hyper-local air quality monitoring and methane detection. Its core technology is a dual-channel NDIR architecture with a proprietary IR micro-source and auto-calibration algorithm, commercialized in industry-standard 1-series (Cranberry) and 4-series (Mulberry) form factors for carbon dioxide and methane detection, plus the next-generation Bilberry sensor with 50 ppm limit of detection. The product portfolio spans raw sensors, the Avolta residential and industrial natural gas detector (with the Avolta Connect platform and NB-IoT/LTE-M connectivity via Sequans), the P2M50 EmiVolta outdoor methane monitor, the Aura-CO2 indoor CO2 monitor, the eLos outdoor air quality station, the AI-powered eMETS methane emission tracking platform, and a Global Air Quality Map API covering 300+ cities. The company's products are certified to ATEX Zone 0, IECEx, UL/CSA HazLoc, and IEC 60079-29-1 standards, and the firm is ISO 9001 certified with Intertek SATELLITE Laboratory accreditation.

eLichens generates revenue primarily through hardware sales of NDIR sensors and IoT products, distributed directly, through DigiKey Electronics globally, and via New Cosmos Electric in Japan and Asia, with a growing recurring software layer on the Avolta Connect and eMETS platforms. End markets include industrial safety, oil and gas methane emission monitoring, urban gas distribution utilities, smart buildings, smart cities, HVAC demand-controlled ventilation, and agricultural biogas facilities, with named customers such as Honeywell (BW SOLO CO2 detector), Daikin, Itron, Chand'Energie, and the City of Versailles. The company has raised approximately $21 million across three disclosed funding rounds (2016, 2018, 2022) and was selected for the French Tech 2030 program in 2023.

The go-to-market combines product-led and channel-partner motions, with the sensor catalog sold via the company website and DigiKey, OEM design wins driven through direct enterprise sales, and international expansion accelerated through the New Cosmos Electric partnership. Marketing is supported by active participation in industry events (CES, ADIPEC, Sensor+Test, Methane Mitigation summits, VIVA TECH), technical whitepapers, and earned media coverage on French national television. Pricing is not publicly disclosed and is handled through quote-based enterprise sales.

Name

eLichens

Legal name

eLichens

Website

https://elichens.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2018

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

eLichens is a Grenoble-based French technology company that designs patented NDIR gas sensors and IoT air quality and methane detection products, serving industrial safety, oil and gas, utilities, smart building, and smart city markets globally through direct sales, DigiKey, and New Cosmos Electric.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Gas Sensing and Air Quality Monitoring Hardware

NAICS

Automatic Environmental Control Manufacturing for Residential, Commercial, and Appliance Use (334512)

SIC

Industrial Instruments For Measurement, Display, And Control (3823), Oil & Gas Field Machinery & Equipment (3533)

akta.pro primary industry

Environmental Sensors (Temperature/Humidity/Gas/Air Quality) (HDAHALAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Fugitive Emissions & Leak Detection (LDAR, OGI, Methane) (EUAHADAB), Fixed Gas Detection & Continuous Monitoring (Sensors/IoT/Telemetry) (EUAJADAB), Gas Leak Detection (Natural Gas/Propane) & Combustible Gas Alarms (HSAHAGAI), Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) Environmental Monitoring (VOC/CO2/PM2.5) (HSAHAGAG)

Keywords

• NDIR gas sensors
• Methane detection
• Air quality monitoring
• Gas leak detection
• IoT emissions monitoring

Headquarters

HQ city

Grenoble

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Technology or R&D, Personnel, Supply Chain, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. NDIR Gas Sensor Sales: Sale of NDIR gas sensors (Cranberry, Mulberry, Bilberry series) in industry-standard form factors for integration into customer products. Sensors detect CH4, CO2, and refrigerants. Available through direct sales and distributors like DigiKey Electronics.
2. IoT Air Quality Monitoring Products: Sale of integrated IoT products including Avolta natural gas detectors (connected and non-connected versions), Aura-CO2 indoor monitors, P2M50 EmiVolta emission monitors, and eLos outdoor air quality stations. Products include both hardware and associated platform/software components.
3. Cloud Platform Subscriptions: Avolta Connect platform and eMETS platform provide cloud-based monitoring, data access, and analytics. Aura-CO2 offers free cloud access with smartphone app for registered users. Platform enables remote monitoring and custom API integration.
4. Evaluation Kits and Accessories: Sale of evaluation kits for Cranberry and Mulberry sensors facilitating comprehensive performance assessments for various applications.
5. Whitepapers and Technical Documentation: Technical whitepapers on sensor placement, thermal shock resistance, methane detection, and calibration technology are available for download, supporting sales process.

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

eLichens designs and manufactures proprietary NDIR (Non-Dispersive Infrared) dual-channel gas sensors (Cranberry, Mulberry, Bilberry series) for methane (CH4) and carbon dioxide (CO2) detection, and integrates them into IoT products including the Avolta natural gas detector, P2M50 EmiVolta outdoor methane monitor, Aura-CO2 indoor monitor, and eLos outdoor air quality station. The company also operates cloud platforms (Avolta Connect, eMETS, Global Air Quality Map) for real-time monitoring, methane emission quantification, and air quality data across 300+ global cities.

Product overview

eLichens offers a comprehensive portfolio of NDIR gas sensing technology and air quality monitoring solutions. The core offering includes Cranberry, Mulberry, and Bilberry NDIR gas sensors in industry-standard form factors for CO2 and CH4 detection. These sensors power downstream products including Avolta natural gas detectors (with Avolta Connect platform), P2M50 EmiVolta outdoor monitors, Aura CO2 indoor monitors, and eLos outdoor stations. The eMETS platform provides AI-powered methane emission tracking. All devices feed data into the Global Air Quality Map API and platform for pollution monitoring across 300+ cities worldwide.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Avolta: Natural gas detector product line for residential and industrial applications, available in connected and non-connected versions
• Aura-CO2
• eMETS
• P2M50 EmiVolta
• eLos
• Cranberry
• Mulberry
• Bilberry

Products and services

• Cranberry NDIR Gas Sensor World's smallest NDIR dual-channel gas sensor in 1-series form factor (20 x 20 x 10 mm) for carbon dioxide (CO2) or methane (CH4) detection. Features ultra-low power consumption, high stability, and 10+ year battery lifespan for portable and battery-powered gas detection applications. Powers the Honeywell BW SOLO CO2 detector.
• Mulberry 4-Series NDIR Gas Sensor 4-series industry-standard NDIR dual-channel gas sensor available in 5-pin or 4-pin (Mulberry 4P) designs with proprietary IR micro-source, lowest power consumption in market, thermal shock resistance, and ATEX/IECEx/UL-CSA HazLoc certifications. Mulberry 4P launched in April 2024 with plug-and-play compatibility.
• Bilberry NDIR Methane Sensor Next-generation 50ppm LOD methane sensor designed for low-emission methane monitoring. Part of eLichens' advanced sensing technology portfolio targeting ultra-sensitive detection for emissions and leak applications.
• Avolta Natural Gas Detector
• Avolta Connect Platform Cloud platform for Avolta natural gas detectors providing multi-channel alarm notifications, remote monitoring, and data analytics. Supports integration with Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) for residential fleet management by gas utilities.
• P2M50 EmiVolta Outdoor Methane Emission Monitor Outdoor methane emission monitor with 50ppm limit of detection (LOD) designed for continuous 24/7 low-emission methane monitoring in industrial environments such as oil & gas sites. Connects to the eMETS cloud platform for emission tracking.
• eMETS Methane Emission Tracking Platform AI-powered cloud platform for methane emission detection, localization, quantification, and reporting. Connected 24/7 to P2M50 EmiVolta sensors to support oil & gas operators with LDAR programs and methane regulatory reporting (EPA, EU).
• Aura-CO2 Indoor CO2 Monitor Indoor CO2 monitor with NDIR sensor technology featuring 20+ year lifespan and patented auto-calibration. Available in LoRaWAN/Bluetooth and Bluetooth-only versions. Measures CO2, temperature, and relative humidity for smart building, HVAC/DCV, and indoor air quality applications. Free cloud access available via smartphone app for registered users.
• eLos Outdoor Air Quality Station Outdoor air quality station that monitors pollutant concentrations using integrated gas and environmental sensors with novel patented calibration technology. Sensor data feeds the Global Air Quality Map for street-level pollution monitoring in 300+ global cities. Deployed for municipal and research applications (e.g., City of Versailles, GoGreenRoutes project).
• Global Air Quality Map Platform and API Worldwide air quality mapping platform providing free and unlimited access to real-time pollution data across 300 global cities, exclusive forecasts, and a monitoring dashboard. Combines eLos station sensor data with gas dispersion modeling and weather data. Air Quality API is available for custom integrations.

Quantifiable outcome

• Sensors can operate for 10+ years on battery power with near-zero drift
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

Yes

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration2 records

AI capability4 records

Feature7 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• DaikincoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSuccessful collaboration with Daikin, a leading industrial HVAC manufacturer, for developing indoor air quality solutions. The partnership combines eLichens' gas sensing technology with Daikin's climate control systems for enhanced indoor air quality monitoring in residential and commercial buildings.
• SequanscoreTechnology or IntegrationCollaboration with Sequans resulted in the Avolta NGD (Natural Gas Detector) featuring integrated LTE-M connectivity using Sequans' Monarch 2 chip. This enables NB-IoT/LTE-M connectivity for the natural gas detector, supporting multiple communication protocols for remote monitoring and Advanced Metering Infrastructure integration.
• SigfoxminorGTM or Marketing PartnerJoint appearance on The Peggy Smedley Show podcast discussing IoT air quality data insights. Sigfox's low-power IoT network complements eLichens' sensing technology for connected air quality monitoring applications.
• HoneywellcoreTechnology or IntegrationeLichens powers the Honeywell BW SOLO CO2 detector with Cranberry NDIR CO2 1-Series Gas Sensor, demonstrating sensor technology integration into major safety equipment manufacturer's product line.
• DigiKey ElectronicscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributoreLichens NDIR gas sensors and evaluation kits are now available worldwide through DigiKey Electronics product index. Featured products include Cranberry and Mulberry sensors in various configurations for CO2 and CH4 detection.
• GoGreenRoutes ConsortiumminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEuropean research project collaboration for urban health and well-being. eLichens provides eLos outdoor air quality stations as part of the project studying outdoor air quality in European cities including Versailles, France.
• Gas Technology Institute (GTI)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGTI, a US reference laboratory for gas sensing, validated the high selectivity of eLichens CH4 Narrow Band sensor for natural gas leak detection applications.
• IntertekminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIntertek certified eLichens laboratory under their SATELLITE Program, recognizing the company's testing capabilities, accuracy, and quality control standards for environmental sensing products.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights7 records

Direct peers

• Alphasense: UK-based manufacturer of gas sensors including NDIR and electrochemical variants for industrial safety, emissions monitoring, and air quality — directly comparable to eLichens' Cranberry/Mulberry/Bilberry sensor portfolio across overlapping end markets.
• Amphenol SGX Sensortech: Specializes in NDIR and catalytic gas sensors for hazardous-gas detection across industrial safety, refrigeration, and emissions monitoring — directly competes with eLichens on NDIR sensor technology and form factors.
• Sensirion: Swiss manufacturer of environmental sensors including NDIR CO2 modules (SCD4x) and multi-gas sensors for HVAC, indoor air quality, and industrial applications — directly competes in CO2 sensing with eLichens' Cranberry and Aura-CO2.
• Figaro Engineering: Japanese pioneer of semiconductor and NDIR gas sensors used in residential, industrial, and automotive applications — comparable sensor technology portfolio with deep presence in eLichens' target gas-detection markets.
• Aeroqual: New Zealand-based maker of air quality monitors for indoor, outdoor, and industrial environments — directly comparable to eLichens' Aura-CO2 and eLos stations across smart city and IAQ use cases.

Broad incumbents

• Drager: Global leader in gas detection instruments and safety solutions for industrial, oil & gas, and first-responder markets — competes with eLichens' Avolta and industrial safety offerings as a much larger, diversified incumbent.
• MSA Safety: Major manufacturer of fixed and portable gas detection systems used in industrial safety and oil & gas — directly comparable to eLichens' Avolta product line and a competitor for safety integrators.
• Industrial Scientific: Provides connected gas detection solutions for industrial safety, with a strong iNet ecosystem — overlaps with eLichens' industrial safety segment and Avolta Connect platform approach.
• Honeywell: Global conglomerate with a major gas detection and safety portfolio (including the BW SOLO line that uses eLichens' Cranberry sensor) — operates as both a customer and broad incumbent competitor across eLichens' addressable markets.
• Bosch Sensortec: Manufactures a wide range of MEMS environmental sensors (gas, humidity, pressure) for consumer, IoT, and industrial applications — competes with eLichens' sensors in indoor air quality and IoT use cases as a high-volume incumbent.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/eLichensEN
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/elichens

Compliance8 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds3 records

Investors10 records

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about eLichens