MANILA, PHILIPPINES – iSense Global, Singapore’s leading smart city IoT provider, has 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 strategy while laying the groundwork for its long-term goal of pursuing a Nasdaq listing within the next five years.
The investment is set to bolster iSense Global’s initiatives in the Philippines, a market with significant potential for smart city development. The 2025 Smart City Index released by the International Society for Urban Informatics (ISUI) ranked Manila among the lowest globally in terms of urban smartness, underscoring the need for transformative solutions. iSense aims to play a pivotal role in helping the country close this gap.
According to market projections, Southeast Asia’s smart cities sector is poised to grow from USD 49.1 billion in 2024 to USD 145.8 billion by 2033. iSense Global is already a major contributor to this transformation, with more than 80% market share in Singapore’s Housing Development Board (HDB) smart lighting network. Its large-scale projects deliver up to 70% energy savings in parks and over 50% savings in public housing estates. With individual IoT deployments capable of connecting more than one million devices and generating valuations in the hundreds of millions of dollars, iSense has firmly established itself as a backbone of national smart infrastructure.
The collaboration with DNAKE extends beyond capital infusion. iSense will transition manufacturing from third-party suppliers to DNAKE’s facilities, improving cost efficiency, scalability, and quality control. Both companies will also jointly develop next-generation IoT solutions across healthcare, access control, security, and city-scale monitoring—leveraging DNAKE’s hardware and automation expertise alongside iSense’s proven capabilities in AI-driven analytics and large-scale 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’s international footprint continues to grow with flagship projects beyond Singapore, including the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) Smart City Lighting Project in Thailand, citywide smart lighting in Japan’s Mito and Koriyama cities, and nationwide highway networks in Malaysia. Expansion initiatives are also underway in the Philippines and Vietnam, with future plans extending to Indonesia, Australia, Europe, and the United States.
