What Kitu Systems does

Kitu Systems is a privately held communications software company founded in 2007 and headquartered in San Diego, California. The company develops a Distributed Energy Resources (DER) management platform built on the IEEE 2030.5 communication standard, serving electric utilities, EV charger hosts, energy market participants, and OEMs of energy devices. Its core offering is the Grid Action Platform (GAP), an end-to-end platform that embeds intelligence into DERs, aggregates their communication, and interconnects them with utilities, markets, and DERMS systems. The platform is delivered through four specialized modules: Convoy (a cloud-based Virtual Power Plant coordination platform), Citadel (a utility-scale, behind-the-firewall DER service that is CSIP and CSIP-AUS certified), Expedition CMS (EV charge management software with multi-OEM EVSE integration), and Spark (an embedded software agent for energy devices). In June 2026 the company added Katapult, a Testing-as-a-Service offering for validating DER programs at up to one million devices.

The company's revenue model is subscription-based software licensing with tiered pricing tied to device scale (from 5K to 1M+ devices), typically billed annually to enterprise utility and energy customers. Go-to-market is primarily direct enterprise sales supported by a demo-request workflow on the website, supplemented by channel partnerships—most notably with Itron for CSIP-Aus-compliant DERMS distribution into the Australian market via Project Jupiter. Kitu maintains SOC 2 Type II certification (achieved 2024, recertified 2026) and holds a granted DER Control-Sharing Technology patent, both of which support enterprise procurement requirements in the regulated utility sector. Named customers and partners include Itron, BTC POWER, FractalEV, AVSYSTEM, Lincoln, DNA Energy, CTX, and a mid-market deployment at Willy's Overland Lofts in Detroit. The company has 11–50 employees and operates across North America and Australia.

Name

Kitu Systems

Legal name

Kitu Systems, Inc.

Website

https://kitu.io

Company type

Private

Founded year

2007

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Kitu Systems is a privately held San Diego-based software company providing an IEEE 2030.5-based Distributed Energy Resources management platform for utilities, EV charger hosts, energy market participants, and OEMs.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Distributed Energy Resource Management (DERMS) Software

NAICS

Electric Power Generation, Transmission and Distribution (2211), Electric Power Transmission, Control, and Distribution (22112), Electric Power Distribution (221122), Electric Bulk Power Transmission and Control (221121), Computer Systems Design and Related Services (54151), Computer Systems Design Services (541512), Computer Systems Design and Related Services (5415), Computing Infrastructure Providers, Data Processing, Web Hosting, and Related Services (51821)

SIC

Services-Prepackaged Software (7372), Services-Computer Integrated Systems Design (7373), Services-Computer Programming Services (7371), Services-Computer Programming, Data Processing, Etc. (7370)

akta.pro primary industry

DERMS Platforms & Utility Integration (ADMS/SCADA Integration, Hosting Capacity) (EUAFAHAF)

akta.pro secondary industries

DERMS & Distributed Grid Orchestration (DER Integration within ADMS) (EUADAEAF), DER Compliance, Certification & Testing (Commissioning, Ride-Through) (EUADALAN), DER Program Operations & Customer/Installer Enablement (Applications, Portals, Inspections) (EUADALAO), Demand Response & Load Curtailment for Ancillary Services (Dispatchable Load) (EUAGAKAH), Instrumentation, Controls & Automation (DCS/PLC/SCADA, SIS, Metering) (EUAEAFAC)

Keywords

• Distributed energy resource management
• Smart EV charging software
• Virtual power plant platform
• IEEE 2030.5 protocol software
• Grid edge intelligence platform

Headquarters

HQ city

San Diego

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Software

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. SaaS/Software Platform Licensing: Kitu Systems generates revenue through subscription-based software licensing of their DER management platform, including GAP, Convoy, Expedition CMS, Citadel, and Spark products. The platform is priced based on device scale, with tiered pricing from 5K to 1M+ devices, typically billed on a recurring annual basis for enterprise utility and energy market customers.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Kitu Systems builds a software platform called the Grid Action Platform (GAP) for managing distributed energy resources (DERs) such as solar, battery storage, and EV chargers at the grid edge. Built on the IEEE 2030.5 protocol, GAP is delivered as four modular products — Convoy (behind-the-meter virtual power plant coordination), Expedition CMS (EV charge management), Citadel (utility-scale behind-the-firewall DER service), and Spark (embedded device software agent) — with an additional Testing-as-a-Service offering called Katapult for validating DER programs at million-device scale.

Product overview

Kitu Systems offers a platform-plus-modules architecture called the Grid Action Platform (GAP), which provides end-to-end solutions for Distributed Energy Resource (DER) management and EV charging. The platform core is supplemented by four named products: Convoy (behind-the-meter DER VPP coordination), Expedition CMS (EV charge management software), Citadel (utility-scale DER service), and Spark (embedded software agent for devices). Additionally, Katapult is a testing-as-a-service offering for validating DER programs at enterprise scale. All solutions are open-standards-based, primarily using IEEE 2030.5 protocol, and enable connectivity, control, and communication with DERs like EVs, solar, and battery systems.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Convoy: Cloud-based, behind-the-meter DER communication, control, and coordination platform for utilities, system operators, and energy service providers.
• Expedition CMS
• Citadel
• Spark
• Katapult

Products and services

• Grid Action Platform (GAP) Secure, multi-purpose, end-to-end platform that embeds intelligence and control into distributed energy resources (DERs), aggregates their communication, and interconnects them with utilities, markets, and DERMS systems. For utilities, aggregators, DER providers, device manufacturers, and third-party energy service providers.
• Convoy Cloud-based, open-standards, behind-the-meter DER communication, control, and coordination platform for utilities, system operators, and energy service providers. Enables scalable Virtual Power Plant (VPP) aggregation of all DER device types via direct connection or Crosslink API.
• Expedition CMS Purpose-built charge management software that integrates with multiple Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment (EVSE) manufacturers and manages multiple depots and diverse user-based access under one platform. For commercial EV charger hosts, site owners, and fleet operators.
• Citadel Utility-scale, behind-the-firewall DER service within the Grid Action Platform. CSIP and CSIP-AUS certified, designed to securely communicate with millions of interconnected DERs directly or through an aggregator. Deployable behind a customer's firewall or in the cloud. For utilities with large DER portfolios.
• Spark Intelligent embedded software agent providing advanced communication capabilities to energy devices. Turnkey solution integrating with the Grid Action Platform, Citadel, Convoy, or third-party systems. For OEMs of solar inverters, batteries, EV chargers, and other DER devices.
• Katapult Testing-as-a-Service offering for utilities and aggregators to validate and certify DER programs at large scale (up to 1 million devices) using IEEE 2030.5 before deployment. Supports CSIP and CSIP-AUS certification.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 1 million device scale testing capability demonstrated
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

Feature6 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• ItroncoreTechnology or IntegrationKitu Systems provides their IEEE 2030.5 CSIP-Aus technology to Itron for integration into Itron's LV DERMS (Low Voltage Distributed Energy Resources Management System) solution. This partnership supports Project Jupiter in Australia, enabling utilities to manage DER assets using standards-based communication protocols.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• EnergyHub: EnergyHub's Mercury platform is a DERMS offering for utilities providing DER orchestration, demand response, and VPP capabilities directly comparable to Kitu's Convoy and Citadel products.
• AutoGrid (Schneider Electric): AutoGrid, now part of Schneider Electric, provides a DERMS and VPP platform for utilities and energy market participants, directly competing with Kitu's GAP, Convoy, and Citadel products.
• Uplight: Uplight provides DERMS, customer engagement, and energy services management for utilities, overlapping with Kitu's utility-focused DER orchestration and VPP enablement offerings.
• Stem (Schneider Electric): Stem provides AI-driven energy storage and DERMS software for commercial and industrial customers and utilities, with VPP and behind-the-meter optimization capabilities comparable to Kitu's Convoy.
• Virtual Peaker: Virtual Peaker delivers a DERMS platform for utilities focused on residential DER aggregation, demand response, and VPP programs, competing head-to-head with Kitu's Convoy VPP platform.
• OATI: OATI offers DERMS, grid management, and energy trading software to utilities and market participants, with overlapping capabilities in DER orchestration, grid-edge integration, and standards-based communication.

Emerging players

• Enode: Enode provides an API platform connecting EV chargers, batteries, and solar inverters to energy management systems, comparable to Kitu's Spark embedded agent and EV charging integration capabilities.
• Nuvve: Nuvve operates V2G and VPP platforms aggregating EV batteries for grid services, overlapping with Kitu's Expedition CMS and Convoy VPP in the EV-to-grid space.

Broad incumbents

• GE Vernova GridOS: GE Vernova's GridOS portfolio spans ADMS, DERMS, and grid orchestration, overlapping with Kitu's DER integration and orchestration capabilities at large utilities.
• Siemens Gridscale X: Siemens' Gridscale X is a broad grid management suite including DERMS, ADMS, and grid analytics, serving the same utility customers as Kitu but as part of a much larger portfolio.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/kitu-systems-inc-
• Xx.com/kitusystems

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds5 records

Investors1 record

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 Kitu Systems