UPCITI Raises $20M – But Why?: Revolutionary Smart City Platform Explained

Paris-based smart city technology company UPCITI just secured $20 million in Series A funding led by Notion Capital, with Point Nine Capital and Chalfen Ventures joining the round. Founded in 2017 by CEO Jean-Baptiste Poljak, UPCITI has deployed over 2,000 sensors globally across 56 cities. The company launched in the United States in late 2024 and has already equipped dozens of American cities including Columbus, Dublin, Omaha, Albany, and Bloomington. This funding will accelerate international expansion, product development, and scaling operations in the US market.

What Does UPCITI Do for Smart Cities?

UPCITI provides integrated hardware and software solutions that help cities manage operations more efficiently. The company develops proprietary sensors that mount on street lighting poles, handling multiple functions simultaneously including smart parking management, vehicle and pedestrian counting, traffic analysis, bulky waste detection, and noise monitoring. All processing happens directly on the sensors using edge computing technology, with only text-based data transmitted through cellular connectivity. UPCITI’s unified platform aggregates this data into actionable insights, enabling municipalities to optimize urban operations from a single dashboard without building extensive infrastructure.

Privacy-First Technology: How UPCITI Protects Citizens

UPCITI uses low-resolution cameras with wide-angle lenses that cannot identify faces, read license plates, or recognize car brands. The company employs privacy-by-design architecture where all image analysis occurs on the device itself—images never leave the light poles. The sensors are technically incapable of collecting sensitive personal data like gender, age, or emotions. This approach ensures compliance with strict data protection regulations including GDPR. CEO Poljak emphasizes the distinction between surveillance cameras used for security and smart sensors used for urban management, positioning UPCITI’s technology as focused on informing public policies rather than enabling surveillance.

US Expansion Plans After $20M Funding

UPCITI officially launched in the United States in late 2024, and according to CEO Poljak, the traction has exceeded expectations. The $20 million Series A funding will accelerate US expansion and international growth. The company has partnered with Signify, the global lighting leader, to integrate sensors with connected street lighting systems across North America. Cities across the US can leverage infrastructure funding from government programs to modernize urban systems. UPCITI plans to open a new headquarters in New York City and scale deployments across American municipalities while continuing European operations in cities like Paris, Monaco, and Aix-en-Provence.

Who Led UPCITI’s Series A Investment?

Notion Capital, a London-based venture capital firm specializing in B2B SaaS companies, led the $20 million Series A round. Point Nine Capital and Chalfen Ventures participated as co-investors, with Point Nine returning from earlier funding rounds. This Series A follows UPCITI’s $7.5 million funding round in summer 2023, which included €6 million in equity and €1 million in debt. Previous investors include Demeter, an environmental transition investment firm, and Innovacom. Partner Kamil Mieczakowski from Notion Capital noted that cities generate over 80% of global GDP, making even small productivity gains in urban operations economically impactful.

Why Cities Choose UPCITI Over Competitors

UPCITI competes with companies like Vigilant Solutions, ShotSpotter, and Hikvision in the urban analytics sector. Cities choose UPCITI for its integrated hardware-software approach that eliminates the need to coordinate multiple vendors for sensors, connectivity, and analytics platforms. The privacy-first architecture addresses citizen concerns about surveillance, allowing municipalities to deploy smart city technology without community backlash. UPCITI’s multi-use sensors handle diverse applications from the same hardware, maximizing value while reducing deployment complexity. Cities facing workforce shortages, budget constraints, and pressure to deliver measurable results find UPCITI’s solution demonstrates consistent ROI while protecting citizen privacy.