Uptime Industries is setting out to promote broader adoption of localized artificial intelligence by launching a compact, handheld “AI-in-a-box” solution named Lemony AI.
Sized roughly like an ordinary sandwich, the Lemony AI device is designed to run a variety of AI applications directly on premises, including large language models (LLMs), intelligent agents, and workflow automations. With modest power requirements of just 65 watts—comparable to a typical laptop charger—each unit can operate autonomously or be seamlessly connected with additional nodes to create scalable AI clusters.
According to co-founder and CEO Sascha Buehrle, every Lemony device is capable of handling models containing up to 75 billion parameters. Users can opt to deploy open-source models or, alternatively, compatible closed models, even across multiple linked nodes, with a unique model running independently on each node.
To jumpstart adoption, Uptime Industries has cultivated early partnerships with industry leaders like IBM and JetBrains, enabling its customers easy access to a broad spectrum of AI models, including exclusive proprietary offerings from IBM.
The idea behind Lemony AI began as a casual side project for co-founders Sascha Buehrle and Ivan Kuleshov, who initially experimented with running language models on Raspberry Pi microcomputers. While their original intent wasn’t focused directly on generative AI, the successful experiments soon evolved into exploring larger possibilities for local, on-device artificial intelligence. Recognizing a market gap for secure, localized AI capabilities—especially among enterprises wary of cloud-based solutions—Buehrle and Kuleshov decided to build their own dedicated device emphasizing data security, portability, and ease of integration into team workflows.
Buehrle highlighted the product’s strategic advantage as being its simplicity and low friction of adoption. “We needed something small and straightforward that teams could integrate quickly without requiring extensive organization-wide approvals,” he explained, adding that the platform’s modular approach allows companies to scale AI capabilities flexibly and incrementally, according to demand.
Already, Uptime Industries is seeing considerable interest from enterprises in strictly regulated areas such as finance, healthcare, and law—sectors where strict data privacy rules complicate the use of cloud-based AI systems. “Everything stays completely contained in your device. Documents, emails, sensitive files—all remain inside the box,” Buehrle stressed. “The models run on your device, the agents operate locally, and absolutely nothing leaves your premises.”
To further accelerate its growth and product development, Uptime recently raised $2 million in seed funding. The round was led by True Ventures, with Alumni Ventures, JetBrains, and individual angel investors participating as well. The strengths of this investment round will support further innovations, enhancements, and broader compatibility for its flagship system.
In addition to producing its own hardware and software ecosystem (the proprietary software platform is aptly called “Lemony OS”), Uptime aims to extend its software offering to third-party hardware. A near-term goal is compatibility with external devices, including popular enterprise-level options such as Nvidia’s DGX Spark system. Furthermore, the software, currently built with single-user functionality, will eventually include capabilities tailored for multi-user environments, enabling entire teams to collaborate smoothly.
Businesses interested in adopting Lemony AI will pay a subscription price of $499 per month, granting access for up to five individual users.
