What Decentlab does

Decentlab GmbH is a Swiss industrial IoT vendor founded in 2008 as a spin-off from Empa (Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology), headquartered in Dübendorf, Switzerland. The company designs, manufactures and supports a broad portfolio of LoRaWAN wireless sensor devices for distributed environmental monitoring, including soil moisture and profile sensors (DL-TRS12/11, DL-SMTP, DL-TRS21, DL-SDD), water and level sensors (DL-PR26, DL-PR36, DL-MBX, DL-LID, DL-RAD, DL-CTD10B), air-quality and particulate-matter sensors (DL-LP8P, DL-PM, DL-IAM), temperature/humidity and radiation-shielded sensors (DL-SHT35, DL-RHC, DL-CWS2), weather stations (DL-ATM41G2), and specialized plant-physiology sensors (DL-ZN dendrometers, DL-ISF sap flow, DL-LWS leaf wetness, DL-ILT leaf temperature, DL-ISD stem and DL-IFD fruit dendrometers). Devices are optimized for ultra-low power consumption with stated battery life up to 10 years, industrial-grade housings for harsh outdoor deployments, and compatibility with all major LoRaWAN network providers (Actility, Loriot, TTN, Swisscom, Helium, KPN).

The commercial stack sits on three revenue streams: one-time hardware sales of LoRaWAN sensor devices and accessories (quote-based, multi-year project contracts), recurring Decentlab Data Access platform subscriptions for visualization, alerts, dashboards, time-series storage, API access and integrations with R/Python/MATLAB/PowerBI/Excel, and professional services for custom software development and customer-specific IoT environment integration. The Decentlab Data Access platform also serves as a hub feeding 20+ third-party IoT platforms (TagoIO, Akenza, Ubidots, Datacake, MyDevices, Thingshub, Qubitro, ResIoT, etc.), expanding reach beyond direct sales.

Go-to-market combines direct enterprise project sales (research institutions and government agencies via quote-based engagement), a curated reseller network covering Finland, the Nordics, Spain, Germany, the United States, Australia, Chile, Portugal and the United Kingdom, IoT-platform marketplace presence, and event-driven demand generation (E-world energy & water in Essen, IoT Sparks in Valencia). The company is privately held (legal name Decentlab GmbH), has 1-10 employees, and discloses a single early-stage Venture Kick grant dated 2009-01-13 alongside European funding-program support. Named customers span Swiss federal research institutes (WSL, ETH Zurich, Eawag, Empa, University of Oulu, Finnish Meteorological Institute, VITO) and governmental/utility buyers (Zurich Cantonal Civil Engineering Office, City of Lausanne, Municipality of Dordrecht, Sognekraft, inNET, Ecosensors), with deployments recorded across 40+ countries.

Name

Decentlab

Legal name

Decentlab GmbH

Website

https://decentlab.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2008

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Decentlab is a Swiss Empa spin-off that designs and sells industrial-grade LoRaWAN sensor devices (soil, water, air-quality, weather, plant physiology) and a recurring Decentlab Data Access cloud platform. It serves research institutes, government agencies, municipalities, and utilities in environmental and smart-city deployments across 40+ countries.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Industrial IoT Environmental Sensors

NAICS

Other Measuring and Controlling Device Manufacturing (334519), Totalizing Fluid Meter and Counting Device Manufacturing (334514)

SIC

Industrial Instruments For Measurement, Display, And Control (3823), Totalizing Fluid Meters & Counting Devices (3824)

akta.pro primary industry

Online Monitoring, Sensors & Instrumentation (SCADA-integrated analyzers, probes, samplers) (EUANAJAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Network Monitoring & Smart Water Sensors (Pressure/Flow/Noise Loggers, IoT) (EUANAKAB), Smart Grid Sensors & Monitoring Deployment (PMUs, Line Sensors, Fault Indicators) (EUAEANAH)

Keywords

• Wireless sensor devices
• LoRaWAN environmental monitoring
• Soil moisture sensors
• Air quality monitoring
• Industrial IoT sensors

Headquarters

HQ city

Dubendorf

HQ country

Switzerland

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Hardware Sales: Sale of LoRaWAN sensor devices and monitoring equipment. One-time hardware purchase with optional accessories and mounting kits. Pricing requires quote requests for most products.
2. Data Access Platform Services: Cloud-based data visualization, storage, and management platform for sensor data. Provides dashboards, alerts, reporting, and integration capabilities.
3. Software Development and Integration Services: Custom software development and support services for data integration into customer-specific IoT environments. Consulting and implementation services.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Decentlab designs and manufactures Swiss-made wireless LoRaWAN sensor devices for distributed environmental monitoring, covering soil, water/groundwater level, air quality, meteorology, dendrometry, and climate applications. The hardware communicates over LoRaWAN with multi-year battery life and industrial-grade durability, and is paired with the Decentlab Data Access cloud platform for visualization, alerting, storage, and third-party system integration via API. Revenue is generated by selling the sensor hardware, recurring platform access, and custom software/integration services.

Product overview

Decentlab is a Swiss company offering a comprehensive portfolio of wireless LoRaWAN sensor devices for environmental monitoring. The product lineup includes soil sensors (DL-TRS12/11, DL-SMTP, DL-TRS21, DL-SDD), weather stations (DL-ATM41G2), water/level sensors (DL-PR26, DL-PR36, DL-MBX, DL-LID, DL-RAD, DL-CTD10B), air quality sensors (DL-IAM, DL-PM, DL-LP8P), temperature/humidity sensors (DL-SHT35-001/002, DL-RHC, DL-CWS2), specialized plant sensors (DL-ZN dendrometers, DL-ISF sap flow, DL-LWS, DL-ILT), and radiation/light sensors (DL-PYR, DL-BLG, DL-ATM22, DL-TBRG). The devices communicate via LoRaWAN and are designed for ultra-low power consumption, operating on batteries for years. Data is transmitted to the Decentlab Data Access platform for visualization and management, and can integrate with third-party IoT platforms including TagoIO, Akenza, Ubidots, and others. The company serves environmental monitoring, hydrology, smart agriculture, smart cities, and research applications.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• DL-TRS12/11 Soil Moisture, Temperature and Electrical Conductivity Sensor for LoRaWAN Capacitance-based sensor measuring volumetric water content (0.00–0.70 m³/m³), temperature (-40 to +60°C), and bulk electrical conductivity (0–20 dS/m). Designed for irrigation control, smart agriculture, greenhouses, parks, and golf courses.
• DL-SMTP Soil Moisture and Temperature Profile for LoRaWAN Sub-surface 600 mm profile with 6 capacitance-based soil moisture and temperature sensors, range 0–100% moisture, -20 to +50°C temperature. Used for greenhouses, soilless plantations, and sponge-city tree-pit monitoring.
• DL-TRS21 Soil Water Potential and Temperature Sensor for LoRaWAN Soil water potential (matric potential) sensor with range 0 to -6,553.5 kPa, accuracy ±(10% + 2 kPa), and temperature -40 to +60°C. Used for irrigation scheduling and plant water availability monitoring.
• DL-ATM41G2 Eleven Parameter Weather Station for LoRaWAN Comprehensive weather station measuring solar radiation, precipitation, vapor pressure, humidity, air temperature, barometric pressure, wind speed/direction, tilt, and lightning strike count/distance. Used for urban heat islands, frost alarming, microclimate, and building automation.
• DL-PR26 Pressure / Liquid Level and Temperature Sensor for LoRaWAN Piezoresistive pressure sensor for level/depth monitoring, range 0–1 bar relative, temperature -40 to +125°C with ±2°C accuracy. Used for tanks, groundwater, wells, boreholes, leakage detection, and pump monitoring.
• DL-PR36 High-Precision Pressure / Liquid Level and Temperature Sensor for LoRaWAN High-precision pressure sensor with linearity ±0.02% FS and total error band ±0.1% FS, temperature accuracy ±0.1°C. Measures up to 300 meters depth. Used for groundwater, wells, running/open water level, salinity and chloride monitoring.
• DL-LID-001 Laser Distance / Level Sensor for LoRaWAN Laser-based distance sensor with range 0–40 m, ±1% accuracy (≥2m). Used for snow level, water level, flood monitoring, and generic ranging/proximity monitoring.
• DL-MBX Ultrasonic Distance / Level Sensor for LoRaWAN Ultrasonic time-of-flight distance/level sensor with 1mm resolution and ±1% accuracy; variants include DL-MBX-001 (0.5–10m), DL-MBX-002 (0.3–5m), and DL-MBX-006 (0.3–5m). Used for water level, open water surface, wastewater management, and tank level.
• DL-RAD Radar Distance / Level Sensor for LoRaWAN Radar-based distance/level sensor for water level and flood monitoring applications, with depth capability suited to rivers, reservoirs, and flood-prone sites.
• DL-SHT35-001 Air Temperature and Humidity Sensor with Radiation Shield for LoRaWAN Air temperature and humidity sensor with radiation shield, temperature accuracy ±0.1°C (20–60°C) and humidity ±1.5% RH (0–80% RH). Used for greenhouses and outdoor environmental monitoring.
• DL-SHT35-002 Air Temperature and Humidity Sensor for LoRaWAN Air temperature and humidity sensor without integrated radiation shield (optional Barani Design MeteoShield available). Used for cold chain and storage applications.
• DL-ATM22 Wind Speed, Wind Direction and Temperature Sensor for LoRaWAN Wind sensor measuring wind speed (0–30 m/s, ±3%), wind direction (-90° to +90°), and temperature (±0.6°C). Sensor dimensions 10×10×16 cm.
• DL-CWS2 High-Precision Winter Road Maintenance Sensor with Radiation Shield for LoRaWAN Winter road maintenance sensor with radiation shield, road surface temperature -40 to 70°C (±0.5°C), humidity 0–100% (±3%), dew point calculated ±1°C. Used for road weather information systems (RWIS), ice alert, and winter road maintenance.
• DL-ZN Dendrometer for LoRaWAN Tree trunk diameter change sensor with range 0–20,000 μm and resolution <0.05 μm; available in T-shape and O-shape variants and dual versions. Used for forestry, plantation, and ecophysiology research (e.g., Swiss TreeNet program monitoring 600+ trees).
• DL-ISF Sap Flow Sensor for LoRaWAN Heat velocity / sap flow sensor with range -200 to >+1,000 cm/hr heat velocity, temperature -30 to +70°C (±0.1°C); requires external 12VDC power. Used for plant physiology, irrigation scheduling, and hydraulic redistribution research.
• DL-TBRG Tipping Bucket Rain Gauge for LoRaWAN Tipping bucket rain gauge with 0.1 mm per tip resolution and 2% accuracy up to 25 mm/hr, 200 cm² catchment area. Used for precipitation monitoring, smart agriculture, and flood monitoring applications such as Australian outback deployments.
• DL-IAM Indoor Ambiance Monitor including CO₂, TVOC and Motion Sensor for LoRaWAN Indoor air quality monitor measuring CO₂ (0–10,000 ppm), TVOC (0–60,000 ppb), temperature (-40 to +125°C), humidity (0–100% RH), barometric pressure, ambient light, and PIR motion. Used for activity monitoring, energy optimization, and workplace comfort in smart buildings.
• DL-PM Particulate Matter, Temperature, Humidity and Barometric Pressure Sensor for LoRaWAN Particulate matter sensor measuring PM1, PM2.5, PM4, and PM10 along with temperature, humidity, and barometric pressure. Used for outdoor air quality monitoring (e.g., DustSense project in Kokkola industrial area).
• DL-WQX Water Quality Multiparameter Sensor Suite for LoRaWAN Multi-parameter LoRaWAN sensor suite including DL-CTD10B (pressure, level, temperature, electrical conductivity), DL-PHEHT (pH, ORP, temperature), DL-NTU and DL-MES5 (optical turbidity), DL-OPTOD (optical dissolved oxygen), and DL-C4E (conductivity, salinity, temperature) for surface, ground, wastewater, and aquaculture water quality monitoring.
• DL-BLG Black Globe Temperature Sensor for LoRaWAN Black globe temperature sensor for measuring mean radiant temperature, operating range -5 to 95°C with ±0.3°C accuracy. Used for outdoor monitoring, workplace safety, heat stress measurement, WBGT calculation, and meteorology (e.g., meteoblue urban climate deployments).
• DL-PYR Total Solar Radiation Sensor for LoRaWAN Pyranometer for total solar radiation with range 0–2,000 W/m² and ±5% daily accuracy, spectral range 360–1,120 nm. Used for solar panel arrays and radiation monitoring applications.
• Decentlab Data Access Cloud-based data visualization and management platform acting as the hub for Decentlab sensor data. Provides default dashboards, user-configurable dashboards, public dashboards, data export, threshold-triggered alerts, time-series storage with daily backups, and direct HTTP API access with connector libraries for R, Python, MATLAB, MS Power BI, and MS Excel. Enables integration into third-party environments.

Quantifiable outcome

• Sensors operating reliably for 6+ years without recalibration or maintenance
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers17 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

Yes

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration19 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Empa (Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEmpa is the parent institution from which Decentlab spun off in 2008. Ongoing research collaboration including ICOS Cities projects for CO2 monitoring. Empa Laboratory for Air Pollution / Environmental Technology runs urban emissions studies using Decentlab sensors.
• WSL (Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWSL initiated the TreeNet project, a biological drought and growth indicator network using Decentlab dendrometers on 600+ trees across Switzerland. Long-term research partnership for forest monitoring and ecophysiology research.
• ETH ZurichcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-initiator of TreeNet project with WSL. ETH Zurich forest lab conducts 'old water paradox' research using Decentlab sensors for soil, trees, and streams monitoring.
• Eawag (Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWorld-leading water research institute using Decentlab sensors for bioretention monitoring and infiltration detection research at their campus.
• VITO (Flemish Institute for Technological Research)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerVITO deployed DL-CTD10 devices for Internet of Water Flanders project, installing sensors at sewer overflows, wastewater treatment plants, and sewers to monitor water quality indicators.
• AquafinminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBelgian water utility partnered with VITO to install Decentlab sensors for Internet of Water Flanders water quality monitoring network.
• IoT-shop.decoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorGerman IoT reseller and event partner hosting Decentlab at E-world energy & water trade fair (Hall 6, Stand F102). Coordinates Smart City Hof winter road project deployment.
• MyDevicesminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorUS-based IoT platform and reseller distributing Decentlab products in United States market.
• EffectiominorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorFinnish IoT reseller distributing Decentlab products in Finland. Provided DL-TRS12 sensors for strawberry farm soil monitoring project.
• EcosensorsminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorEnvironmental sensors company partnered on Forest Fire Risk Assessment project in Salzburg using Decentlab sensors for heat, drought, and wind monitoring.
• Wyss Academy for NaturecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCustomer and partner driving Kenya soil restoration project using Decentlab DL-SMTP sensors in Naibunga Community Conservancy's semi-circular bunds initiative.
• ImplementxxminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner logo displayed on Decentlab website for potential strategic collaboration.

Scale indicators11 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Vaisala: Global leader in environmental and industrial measurement (weather, air quality, road weather). Overlaps with Decentlab's weather stations and winter road safety products but operates at much larger scale with broader portfolios.

Direct peers

• AquaCheck: South African specialist in soil moisture profiling and water management sensors. Competes in the irrigation scheduling and precision agriculture use cases that Decentlab serves via the DL-TRS and DL-SMTP product lines.
• Pessl Instruments (METOS): Austrian manufacturer of weather stations, soil moisture sensors, and agricultural IoT devices. Comparable to Decentlab in targeting smart agriculture, frost alarming, and research deployments with multi-parameter sensor portfolios.
• METER Group: US-based manufacturer of high-precision soil, water, and atmospheric sensors used in research and agriculture. Overlaps with Decentlab's soil moisture, temperature, and water quality portfolio in the same institutional and research customer segments.
• Campbell Scientific: Specialist in rugged environmental measurement systems for research and government, including weather, soil, and water monitoring. Competes with Decentlab in the scientific-grade distributed sensing market, though with wired and cellular architectures rather than LoRaWAN.
• Libelium: Spanish IoT sensor platform provider offering wireless environmental and smart-city sensor nodes. Directly competes with Decentlab in LoRaWAN-based environmental monitoring hardware and serves overlapping research, government, and industrial customers across Europe.
• Davis Instruments: US-based manufacturer of weather stations and environmental sensors with a long-standing position in research and agricultural monitoring. Comparable hardware-driven approach to distributed environmental data capture.
• Sensoterra: Dutch provider of wireless soil moisture sensors for agriculture, smart cities, and landscaping. Comparable niche focus on ultra-low-power wireless sensors and a similar go-to-market through integrators and channel partners.
• Stevens Water Monitoring Systems: US manufacturer of water level, water quality, and soil monitoring sensors used by researchers, utilities, and government agencies. Overlaps with Decentlab's hydrology, groundwater, and water quality sensor lines (DL-PR36, DL-CTD10B).

Emerging players

• Dragino: Chinese manufacturer of low-cost LoRaWAN sensors and modules. Competes at the lower-cost end of the LoRaWAN environmental sensing market where Decentlab positions on quality and integration rather than price.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks4 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/decentlab

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

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 Decentlab