Meet Balaji Renukuma, Founder and CEO of Sensfix, a company supported by Tampa Bay Wave. Sensfix is an AI-powered service platform designed to keep factories and facilities running efficiently by automating issue detection, service workflows, and problem resolution. In today’s fast-paced and competitive business world, Sensfix envisions a future where maintenance is predictive and fully automated. Founded in 2018, the company has developed and patented advanced AI technology to achieve this goal. Sensfix’s system can detect problems using multiple types of data, including sound, video, images, and sensor readings.
Q: How did your company get its start?
A: I first felt the pain of broken maintenance processes while running my first IoT startup, where we built an electronic product and handled its repair and maintenance during its warranty period. Capturing complaints, dispatching technicians, and managing service operations was painfully slow and disconnected. As a consultant, I discovered that even at the Fortune 500 level, maintenance inefficiencies were everywhere.
That’s when it clicked—maintenance is broken across the board. It wasn’t just a problem; it was a massive, overlooked opportunity to reinvent facility maintenance. That vision led to Sensfix —an Agentic AI platform that digitizes and automates maintenance workflows using multimodal AI. At its core is the world’s first multimodal rule engine, built with a $2.5M grant, which powers the entire platform. The Sensfix platform went live in 2024, and in just over three months, we’ve already crossed $600K in annual recurring revenue, inching rapidly toward our first $1M annual recurring revenue milestone—a clear sign that the market is ready, and demand is real.
Q: Why did you choose to become an entrepreneur?
A: Entrepreneurship found me—I didn’t chase it.
Born in India, I grew up in different parts of the country before moving to Germany, Switzerland, France, the UK, and now the US. Living and working across five countries and multiple industries gave me a deep exposure to different ways of life, different ways of thinking, and different ways of solving problems. But no matter where I was, I had one common trait—I questioned everything.
I’ve always been obsessed with optimization and automation. When I realized nobody was fixing the broken world of maintenance, I built Sensfix—not just as a company, but as a mission to automate what should have been automated decades ago.
Q: Why did you choose to start your business in Tampa?
A: Tampa is the best-kept secret in the startup world. While Silicon Valley is great for fundraising and networking, Tampa Bay offers a unique combination of early customer base, growing tech talent, affordability, and a forward-looking mindset toward adopting AI and automation. Plus, with major real estate, logistics, and facility management companies headquartered here, Tampa is the perfect place to scale an AI-powered facility maintenance platform.
Q: How critical was the Tampa Bay startup community (investors, mentors, entrepreneurs, etc.) in your journey to becoming an entrepreneur?
A: Tampa Bay Wave and the local mentors have been incredibly supportive. They’ve helped us connect with early adopting customers and investors, find local talent, and navigate the early challenges of scaling an AI company. The community here is tight-knit and genuinely wants to see startups succeed—which is rare in more competitive markets.
What truly surprised me, though, is the warmth and heart of the startup community here. It almost operates like a family. Unlike many other startup ecosystems that can feel transactional, Tampa Bay embraces entrepreneurs with open arms—not just from across the country but from around the world.
Q: Are there any additional, local resources in Tampa that you’d recommend to newcomers or entrepreneurs that have had a positive impact on your business journey?
A: Absolutely. The top three communities that you should be part of are Tampa Bay Wave, Tampa Bay Wave and Tampa Bay Wave. 😊 Synapse Florida is a must-attend event for networking and meeting investors. I also recommend checking out Embarc Collective, which is doing a fantastic job in fostering tech startups. And for AI entrepreneurs, tapping into local university research programs can be a great resource.
Q: What would your overall advice be to someone looking to start a business in Tampa Bay?
A: Build relationships, not just a business. Tampa has a welcoming startup community, but you need to get involved—attend events, meet local investors, and collaborate with other founders. Also, don’t underestimate Tampa’s potential—it’s growing fast, and the best time to build a startup here is right now.
Q: It’s been great to hear more about your success as an entrepreneur in Tampa. However, we know Tampa has so much to offer throughout the city. So, we must ask – what’s your favorite hidden gem in Tampa?
A: I’d have to say Armature Works—it’s a great place to meet other entrepreneurs, grab amazing food, and just unwind after a long workday.
If I need a place to clear my head, a sunset walk on Davis Islands or Bayshore Boulevard does the trick.
Are you interested in learning more about Tampa Bay Wave and the opportunities available for up-and-coming entrepreneurs? If so, check out our their resources to connect further! You can also find additional information about growing your business in Tampa on the Tampa Bay Economic Development Council’s website.