A Vancouver-based startup, Miru, has developed windows that automatically control heat gain and glare, reducing the need for air conditioning. The company recently secured $27.4 million CAD ($20 million USD) in Series A financing to accelerate the commercialization of its electronically tintable window technology. The all-equity round, completed in July 2024, was co-led by BDC Capital—the investment arm of the Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC)—and Angelo Paletta, president and CEO of Ontario-based TNG Capital Corp. Toronto cleantech venture firm Greensoil also participated, alongside other undisclosed investors.
Prior to this round, Miru had raised $10 million. In 2023, the startup was one of seven recipients of a collective $7 million in funding from British Columbia’s Innovative Clean Energy (ICE) Fund and received an additional $1 million from the ICE Fund earlier this year. As part of the recent funding, BDC Capital’s Vivian Kan and TNG Capital’s Kieron Hayes joined Miru’s board of directors.
Miru specializes in electrochromic windows, branded as “eWindows,” designed for the transportation and architectural sectors. These windows use electrochromic materials that change color or opacity when an electrical voltage is applied. According to Miru, their windows automatically adjust to allow natural light in while controlling heat gain and glare, leading to reduced energy consumption by lowering air conditioning loads. The company claims that its windows can boost building energy efficiency by 20% and extend the range of electric vehicles by 10%. The windows are also being designed for use in the marine and aviation industries.
While smart windows have been available for some time, their widespread adoption has been hindered by high costs, complex power systems, and lengthy installation processes, as noted in a 2022 report by Smithsonian Magazine. However, Miru’s spokesperson highlighted that the startup is the first to create “ceramic curved electrochromic windows,” which they see as a significant opportunity in the automotive market, particularly with the increasing electric vehicle regulations in North America.
Miru is led by CEO and co-founder Curtis Berlinguette, a professor of chemistry and biological engineering at the University of British Columbia (UBC). His research group at UBC focuses on developing advanced materials for high-performance, low-cost alternative energy technologies. Berlinguette was inducted into the Royal Society of Canada in 2021 for his contributions to the field.
