iSense Global, Singapore’s leading smart city IoT provider, announced a strategic investment from DNAKE (Xiamen) Intelligent Technology Co., Ltd., a publicly listed Chinese leader in smart intercom and building automation. This milestone strengthens iSense’s regional expansion plans and lays the foundation for its long-term vision of a Nasdaq listing within the next five years.
This investment will boost iSense Global’s ongoing initiatives in the Philippines. According to the 2025 edition of the Smart City Index by the International Society for Urban Informatics (ISUI), Manila is among the lowest-ranked cities worldwide in terms of city smartness. This expansion can potentially help the country improve its development of smart cities.
The Southeast Asia smart cities market is projected to triple from USD 49.1 billion in 2024 to USD 145.8 billion by 2033. With more than 80% market share in Singapore’s Housing Development Board (HDB) smart lighting network, iSense has established itself as the backbone of the nation’s smart city infrastructure. Its projects deliver up to 70% energy savings in parks and over 50% savings in public housing estates. Individual IoT deployment can reach over one million connected devices, with valuations in the hundreds of millions of dollars, underscoring iSense’s nation-scale impact.
This partnership goes beyond capital investment. iSense will transition manufacturing from third-party suppliers to DNAKE’s facilities, ensuring greater cost efficiency, faster scaling, and enhanced quality control. The two companies will also co-develop next-generation IoT solutions in areas such as healthcare, access control, security and city-scale monitoring – combining DNAKE’s hardware and automation expertise with iSense’s proven track record in AI-driven analytics and massive IoT deployments.
“Partnering with DNAKE is a game-changer for iSense,” said Christopher Lee, CEO of iSense Global. “Their manufacturing expertise and public market experience empower us to scale faster, expand internationally, and take on larger, more complex projects. Together, we will accelerate smart city innovation at a global scale.”
“We are excited to forge this strategic alliance with iSense Global, whose vision aligns perfectly with our smart city ambitions,” said Miao Guodong, Chairman and CEO of DNAKE. “This partnership enables us to combine strengths and create greater impact in advancing sustainable, connected urban living worldwide.”
iSense is already delivering flagship projects beyond Singapore, including the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) Smart City Lighting Project in Thailand, citywide smart lighting in Mito City and Koriyama City, Japan, and nationwide highway networks in Malaysia. With initiatives underway in the Philippines and Vietnam, and expansion plans into Indonesia, Australia, Europe, and the USA, iSense is rapidly positioning itself as a global smart city powerhouse.
This investment marks iSense’s evolution from a quiet market leader into a globally ambitious innovator, united with DNAKE to deliver smarter, safer, and more sustainable cities worldwide.
