Fulcrum (News - Alert) Equity Partners, an Atlanta-based private firm focused on providing capital to rapidly expanding companies, revealed today, December 12, that it led a $1.9 million Series A growth equity financing for Bright Light Systems, Inc. (BLS) of Georgia.
BLS offers a combination of new lighting technologies that comprise leading-edge light-emitting plasma (LEP) fixtures, advanced wireless communications and data management capabilities— putting customers in control of their energy usage while providing bottom-line benefits
Founded in 2010, Bright Light Systems was born out of a request by the U.S. National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) to create a prototype light-emitting diode (LED) fixture for its space shuttle and rocket launch platforms. NASA required a fixture that could withstand the extreme heat, vibration and impact of an orbital launch sequence in order to capture images of the shuttle leaving the launch pad.
BLS designed the fixture to handle the engineering specifications for these extreme conditions. Then, based on its NASA experience, BLS created a line of LEP fixtures that the company said are “suitable for any industrial environment where failure is not an option and where energy efficiency, longer life, and extreme brightness is a necessity.”
Light-emitting plasma is an electrode-less solid state technology that shares benefits similar to those of LED bulbs, but has a higher lumen density (up to 200 times greater) and a full color spectrum without phosphor conversion, resulting in superior performance in higher lumen applications. Powering a lamp without electrodes in a compact resonator allows a completely sealed and more robust quartz lamp, a directional beam pattern to improve optical efficiency, and “dimmability” to 20 percent that enhances lamp life. BLS’ LEP fixtures are constructed from low copper content die-cast aluminum and come with a polyester powder coat for a long-lasting, durable finish.
Brad Lurie, CEO of BLS, is positioning the company as a leader in the LEP space. “We are excited to partner with Fulcrum to fuel our growth as we look to build a world-class company that can make a positive impact on the environment for generations to come,” he said. “This transaction, coupled with Fulcrum’s experience in building premier technology companies, will enable our continued growth.”
“We have been impressed with Brad, his team and their innovative lighting solutions that provide dramatic benefits, including significant energy savings, improved security and reduced light pollution,” added Jeff Muir, a partner at Fulcrum. “They have the unique opportunity to build a very special company, and we look forward to leveraging our operating experience to help take advantage of BLS’s tremendous market potential.”
Edited by Jamie Epstein