From Startup to Full KNX Business in Just Three Years: the Allorado story

oRa (Long Range) is a low-power, wide-area network (LPWAN) wireless technology designed for Internet of Things (IoT) devices. It operates in unlicensed radio spectrums, making it ideal for smart cities, smart agriculture, and industrial monitoring. LoRa supports long-range communication with very low power consumption, allowing sensors and devices to operate on battery for many years. Whilst the technical specs claim a range of up to 15km, in practice, a couple of hundred meters would be more realistic in sturdy buildings with thick walls.

Over the past decade or so, a large LoRa ecosystem has developed including sensors of all kinds for industrial, civic and residential applications. These could range from a mousetrap that indicates when a mouse has been caught, to air quality and leak monitors, window and door sensors, waste bin monitoring, soil moisture detection, parking sensors, traffic management, structural health monitoring for bridges and buildings - basically anything that it makes sense to measure or control.

The story behind Allorado is fascinating. Filip had a KNX-controlled home and offered to mentor Bram, a friend's 12-year-old boy who had shown an interest in technology, thanks to his mum introducing him to software and creating programs through PowerPoint hyperlinks. By the time Bram was 14, he had started developing an app to control Filip's home from anywhere in the world, and ten years later, it's still working.

Bram explains that the advantage of integrating LoRa with KNX is that it opens up even more control possibilities to the KNX ecosystem. As he puts it, "KNX is easy to use because it has a very strong application layer, which means that it is very well defined as to which data comes out of which data points. With LoRa that is not the case - every manufacturer has their own way of doing things, so it has been a bit of the wild west. This is why we developed the LoRa gateway." Bram goes on to explain that Allorado has created a library of hundreds of LoRa devices and translated their data sheets into KNX so that they can be instantly added to a KNX system with no additional programming required, thus expanding the KNX ecosystem significantly.

Allorado joined the KNX Startup Incubator programme in October 2023. Headed by KNX Association Members & Startups/Business Development Manager, Jesus Arias, the KNX Startup Incubator plays a crucial role in nurturing innovation by providing early-stage companies with technical guidance, industry access, and a strong ecosystem to transform ideas into market-ready solutions. As Jesus notes, "Through mentorship, visibility at key industry events, and close collaboration with KNX experts, startups are able to accelerate both product development and business maturity.

He adds, "A standout example is Allorado, whose journey within the programme clearly illustrates this impact. From the very beginning, they have shown a remarkable combination of technical excellence and entrepreneurial drive. As one of the pioneers in KNX IoT, Allorado developed one of the world’s first KNX IoT routers, contributing directly to the evolution of the KNX ecosystem. Their participation in major events such as the IoT Solutions World Congress in Barcelona significantly increased their visibility and market engagement, whilst also helping KNX Association present a new communication channel that connects with early adopters, innovators, and industry leaders across generations."

Bram adds, "When we heard about the incubator, a way for parties interested in KNX IoT to get access to the latest-and-greatest KNX Association has to offer, providing tools to walk the untrodden path, we knew we had to be a part of it and get to know more about this magical new extension of the KNX spec. The incubator gave us early access to the newest specs and tools, but more importantly a direct line to the people behind KNX IoT, hands-on sessions and more. When you're experimenting with something completely new, having this is the difference between banging your head against the wall for a month on a single issue, or hopping on a quick call and hearing 'Ah yes, but you forgot to enable xyz' - it's a world of difference."

Jesus concludes, "Beyond Allorado's technical achievements, what truly stands out is the energy and openness they bring to the community. Bram and his team have consistently demonstrated a collaborative mindset, actively engaging with peers and contributing to a vibrant startup ecosystem. We firmly believe that the support from the KNX Startup Incubator has played an important role in accelerating their transition into a fully-fledged business, positioning them today as a valuable and forward-looking contributor to the KNX landscape."

Bram says that joining the Startup Incubator was also a very natural and gradual step towards membership. "We got a taste of what it looks like to be a KNX manufacturer, before actually becoming one. This 'try before you buy' is gold as a startup."

Allorado became a KNX Member in October 2024, and presented the Allorado IoT Router and LoRa gateway at the Light + Building 2026 fair in Frankfurt, Germany.

Whilst Bram represents an exciting new generation of developers, Filip makes sure that the team is fully aware of the impressive legacy and pedigree of KNX, that stretches back 36 years. After all, who would have imagined that the first KNX installation would still be going strong and compatible with tomorrow's world thanks to products such as the Allorado KNX IoT Router?