Gokul Shrinivas: From Hockey Player to Energy Efficiency Innovator

Gokul Shrinivas, at the age of 26, is the Founder and CEO of MinionLabs, a Bengaluru-based start-up on a mission to make businesses and buildings more energy-efficient. His journey to entrepreneurship is a testament to determination and resilience, driven by a passion for electronics and innovation. Gokul’s early life took an unexpected turn when a sports injury ended his career as a state-level hockey player and disrupted his educational prospects. The setback affected his 10th-grade board exams and resulted in numerous rejections from colleges. Despite the challenges, he remained unwavering in his pursuit of knowledge and personal growth.

His entry into the world of electronics came during an internship at Amazon in the IT department. It was a pivotal moment when he discovered his true calling. Electronics became his passion, and he decided to channel it into something meaningful. MinionLabs was born out of Gokul’s final year academic project. This innovative start-up focuses on energy monitoring and efficiency—an area known for its complexity and high capital expenditure. Typically, energy monitoring involves installing either traditional meters or smart meters with sensors on every device within a building. This daunting and expensive process often deters businesses and individuals from taking positive actions to save energy.

MinionLabs introduced a game-changing solution—an AI (artificial intelligence) and ML (machine learning) enabled wireless device aptly named ‘Minion.’ This compact device is installed in the Bus Bar Panel Board of a building and eliminates the need for new wiring or sensors. Despite its small size, the Minion has a remarkable ability to detect the activity of each appliance in homes, offices, or factories.

The device operates by recognizing the unique noise or energy signature produced when an electronic device is switched on. It collects an impressive four million data points per second. Users can access real-time device-level energy consumption analytics and savings through a mobile application. Moreover, because it monitors noise signatures, it can predict when any appliance requires maintenance, saving both time and cost. The company assures that its technology is GDPR compliant.

In a 2020 evaluation by the World Wide Fund For Nature-India, MinionLabs was recognized for enabling lifetime energy savings of 5.25 million kWh of electricity and reducing 3,712 metric tonnes of CO2 emissions. The impact of their work extends to 52 buildings across Bengaluru, Chennai, and the UAE, where 73 Minions are deployed. Their impressive client list includes prominent names like Fortis Healthcare, Cisco Systems, Accenture, MRF India, MSEDCL, Robert Bosch, and Ford India. The start-up claims to offer up to 30 percent energy consumption savings annually. When the COVID-19 pandemic led to the shutdown of offices and industries, MinionLabs adapted to the challenging circumstances. They pivoted their focus to energy management for gated community buildings, showcasing their resilience and ability to evolve.

Gokul Shrinivas’s journey from a hockey player whose dreams were temporarily shattered to the CEO of a game-changing start-up is a testament to the power of unwavering determination and a relentless pursuit of one’s true passion. MinionLabs’ innovative technology has the potential to revolutionize energy efficiency and make a significant impact in reducing energy consumption and carbon emissions.