Luos API for Embedded Engineers - Hardware Connectivity

Luos Aims to Bring Microservices Flexibility to Embedded Hardware Development

Competing in the TechCrunch Disrupt Startup Battlefield this week, Luos is focused on simplifying connections for embedded hardware developers. Their goal is to enable seamless interaction with hardware components – like motors and sensors – and to facilitate the creation of reusable configuration profiles.

Addressing a Long-Standing Challenge

According to Luos CEO and co-founder Nicolas Rabault, the company’s origins lie in his own experiences as an embedded hardware engineer. He sought to develop a solution that would streamline the traditionally complex workflows faced by engineers in this field. “Luos allows developers to build easily reusable components, and to compose systems from existing profiles, rather than constantly rebuilding from scratch,” Rabault explained.

Inspired by the World of Microservices

The core inspiration for Luos’s approach stems from the principles of microservices architecture prevalent in web development. “We modeled our technology on microservices because they empower web developers to create reusable software modules accessible globally,” Rabault stated.

Essentially, Luos provides a standardized API for various hardware components – including buttons, motors, batteries, cameras, and WiFi modules. This allows developers to utilize these services without requiring additional development effort, and to create portable, reusable behavior code, termed “profiles.”

An Open-Source Foundation for Generic Profiles

To make this functionality accessible to a broad range of embedded hardware engineers, Luos has developed an open-source library. This library enables the creation of generic profiles applicable to diverse components. The startup has initially populated the library with profiles for common hardware, such as motors, but developers can contribute and share their own profiles with the community.

Reducing Complexity and Development Time

Previously, engineers often had to write custom code for each component on a board, a process that was both time-consuming and often frustrating. The Luos solution significantly reduces this complexity by providing a standardized method for connecting to different parts through these shared profiles.

Future Plans: A Profile Marketplace and Remote Troubleshooting

While a dedicated marketplace for sharing profiles is still under development, Luos intends to establish a centralized platform for organized profile distribution. Currently, the company generates revenue through consulting and support services, assisting organizations in utilizing the development library and creating custom profiles via a subscription model.

Furthermore, Luos is developing a SaaS tool designed to aid embedded engineers in troubleshooting issues on deployed hardware. This tool will enable remote diagnosis of component failures – such as a malfunctioning motor – and the deployment of fixes, adding another revenue stream upon completion.

A Long-Term Vision Rooted in Experience

Founded in 2018 by Rabault and his co-founders, the underlying concept for Luos dates back 14 years to Rabault’s time as a student. He emphasizes that his entire career has been dedicated to addressing these challenges, and that the technology has now matured sufficiently to enable a viable solution.

Building a Diverse and Remote Team

The company currently employs 12 individuals, including the three founders, and plans to expand its team. Key areas for hiring include community management, user experience design, and additional embedded systems engineers. Rabault is committed to building a diverse workforce and embraces a remote work model, allowing for recruitment from anywhere in the world.

Seed Funding and Market Expansion

Based in Bordeaux, France, Luos has secured $1.4 million in seed funding. The primary objective of this investment is to increase awareness of the startup and its offerings among its target audience of embedded systems engineers.

Leveraging TechCrunch Disrupt for Growth

Participation in the TechCrunch Disrupt Startup Battlefield is expected to amplify Luos’s message. The founders have also benefited from valuable advice on refining their pitch to users, customers, and investors, and on introducing their company to a U.S. audience. Rabault believes that U.S. engineers are generally more receptive to experimenting with innovative tools compared to their European counterparts.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7o9Y41LN1l4