Be Wireless Solutions: How IoT and AI Can Redefine Resource Efficiency

Founded in 2016, Be Wireless Solutions (BWS) builds IoT and AI systems to monitor and optimize the use of electricity, water, fuel, and gas. From a Tunisian base, the company expanded to France, Mauritania, and Bahrain, with operations across Europe, Africa, and the Middle East. Selected among the five startups for the Terna Innovation Zone Tunisia (TIZ) — in collaboration with Mind the Bridge and Elis — BWS is pushing forward conversations with European TSOs on demand response and industrial efficiency.

We sat down with CEO and co-founder Karim Kharrat for a long and candid conversation.

Karim, let’s start from the basics. What does Be Wireless Solutions do, in simple terms?

Be Wireless Solutions offers an integrated platform to monitor and reduce the consumption of electricity, water, fuel, and gas. We collect real-time and historical data, then apply analytics and AI to identify inefficiencies and provide recommendations on how to cut consumption.

What makes us different is that we don’t stop at reporting. Our platform suggests concrete actions, and users can measure the impact directly — including reductions in CO₂ emissions. On top of that, we also manufacture hardware sensors, although our system remains hardware- and connectivity-agnostic. The idea is simple: bring all resource consumption into a single platform and leverage data to act.

So you’re not “just another price comparator.” How do you respond to those who might see you that way?

That’s a key point. A price comparator only tells you where to buy your energy at the best price. We go much deeper.

For example, we worked with a plastic bottle manufacturer and discovered they were running two compressors where only one was needed. By introducing load balancing, they cut consumption immediately. A price comparator could never do that.

We don’t just tell you where to buy energy. First, we help you reduce your consumption. Only then do we look at sourcing and pricing.

But doesn’t this put you in a delicate position? You’re advising companies on how to consume less — something that utilities don’t always like. Aren’t you afraid of being seen as a disruptive or even “unwelcome” player in the market?

Let’s be clear: we are a technological partner, not a competitor. In many countries where we operate, energy players are monopolies — like STEG in Tunisia. For them, reducing consumption is also in their interest, because subsidies weigh heavily on the state budget and demand peaks can lead to blackouts.

We’re transparent: we don’t use private or sensitive information, only what’s public or what customers share with us. And we’re certified on information security (ISO 27001), quality, and environment. That trust is crucial.

At the end of the day, when clients see reductions of up to 30% in their consumption — sometimes even 10% in the first two months — the value becomes undeniable.

Speaking of clients, what’s your current customer base?

We have about 170 customers, ranging from large manufacturers to smaller companies. Interestingly, while we initially targeted only big accounts, we soon realized that SMEs are equally eager to adopt our solutions. For them, reducing costs can be a matter of survival.

We also work with public players. For instance, we partnered with municipalities to deploy smart lighting solutions that reduced consumption by nearly 20%.

You operate in Tunisia, France, Mauritania, Bahrain… but regulations vary widely. How do you navigate these differences?

Exactly — geography matters a lot.

In Mauritania, for example, there are no immediate obligations on sustainability or carbon footprint. The priority there is cost reduction and better monitoring.

In Tunisia, things are shifting fast because companies exporting to Europe will need to calculate their carbon footprint starting in 2026. That’s pushing demand for energy management systems, and that’s where we fit in.

In Europe, the market is more mature. ESG rules are strict, penalties for non-compliance are growing, and companies now have dedicated ESG officers. This has forced us to evolve too — we’ve added carbon footprint tracking to our platform and expanded features to align with ESG reporting requirements.

So, different regions, different drivers: cost, compliance, or a mix of both.

Let’s talk about tech. How central is AI in your solutions?

Very central. We’re building our own AI framework and training our own models, but we also integrate large language models like Llama. AI helps us analyze abnormal consumption patterns and recommend corrective actions.

We’re essentially building a knowledge base that understands the specificities of each sector. That’s how we can tell, for example, if a consumption spike comes from an imbalance in a three-phase system, a leak in water distribution, or inefficiencies in a compressor line.

You’ve raised funds before. What’s your financial path ahead?

We raised around $2M in two rounds — in 2018 and 2023. The next fundraising campaign will kick off at the end of 2025, with a closing expected by mid-2026.

Our recent Italian tour, supported by Terna and MTB, was mainly about exploring collaborations — like a demand-response project with STEG and Terna — but we also met investors. These connections will be useful when the fundraising starts.

Let me push a bit. What’s your long-term vision? Are you building BWS for an exit, or do you want to grow it independently?

When you start a company, exit is always in the back of your mind. But honestly, that’s not what drives me when I wake up in the morning. What drives me is growth: more customers, more impact, a stronger team.

Of course, partnering with a big player someday could be part of the journey. But for now, the focus is on building a company that delivers real, measurable impact — both environmentally and socially.

And on a personal note — how do you live sustainability in your daily life?

(smiles) I’ll be honest with you. I have three kids — a boy and twin girls — and they don’t give us much of a choice. They keep asking: “What kind of world are you leaving us?”

Some dream about moving to Mars. But if we harm Mars the way we’re harming Earth, what’s the point? Isn’t it smarter to fix what we’ve broken here first?

Personally, I use green energy at home and try to reduce consumption with small daily actions. Inside the company, we also train our teams not just on technology but on what the SDGs mean and why they matter.

For me, impact is twofold: greener operations and people’s lives. If I can make a difference in the lives of my team and partners, that’s as valuable as reducing emissions.

In the end, it’s about small contributions from each of us. We all have a duty to make them. Only then can we slow down the impact of our actions and build a cleaner future for the next generation.