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Key people at Chargifi.
Chargifi, which currently operates under the rebranded name Kadence, is a hybrid workplace management platform based in Woking, England, that coordinates people, spaces, and projects to optimize enterprise office operations. Originally founded in 2013 as a mobile power network, the company pivoted its existing software infrastructure during the pandemic to provide desk booking, team scheduling, visitor management, and space analytics. The SaaS provider has raised $19.94 million in total funding, highlighted by a $10.12 million seed round led by Kickstart Fund, and acquired 300 customers within an eighteen month period. The platform helps organizations reduce required office space by 68% while increasing physical collaboration by 25% month over month for enterprise clients like Collibra and Starling Bank. Its notable investor syndicate features Slack cofounder Cal Henderson, Stanford professor Nick Bloom, Hambro Perks, and Forward VC.
Key people at Chargifi.
Chargifi is a London-based technology company founded in 2013 that originally developed an IoT cloud platform for mass-deploying, managing, and monetizing wireless charging solutions in public and office spaces.[1][4][5] It pivoted during the COVID-19 pandemic to Kadence, a hybrid workplace management platform that coordinates people, places, and projects—enabling desk/room booking, team scheduling, visitor management, and workspace optimization for distributed teams.[2][3][7] Serving enterprises like Collibra and Starling Bank, Kadence addresses hybrid work challenges by reducing office space needs by up to 68% while boosting in-office collaboration by 25% month-over-month, turning underutilized real estate into a productivity advantage.[2]
Dan Bladen, a technologist with a background in non-profits, co-founded Chargifi in 2013 to solve everyday power access issues through smart wireless charging.[1][3] The idea emerged from making wireless power "smart" via a cloud platform with open APIs and SDKs, allowing managed services in venues like bars, hotels, stadiums, and offices—users accessed free charging via an app at "Chargifi Spots."[2][6] Early traction built on patented tech for deployment and data insights on user behavior, hyper-location, and dwell time.[1][5] The 2020 pandemic obliterated demand for public charging, prompting a pivot: Bladen repurposed the office-focused software IP into Kadence, securing $10M seed funding in 2022 from Kickstart Fund, Manta Ray, Hambro Perks, Vectr7, Shadow Ventures, Forward VC, and later Hamilton Ventures.[2][3] This shift gained 300 customers in 18 months, humanizing Bladen's vision of redefining hybrid work as a competitive edge.[2][3]
Chargifi (now Kadence) rides the hybrid work megatrend, where post-pandemic firms grapple with office logistics, remote coordination, and space efficiency amid high real estate costs.[2][3] Timing is ideal: as companies shift from "order" to "optimization," Kadence's platform turns time (the workweek) into the core "platform for work," influencing proptech's inflection with AI, IoT, and SaaS for commercial real estate.[2][3] Market forces like environmental demands for reduced footprints and employee expectations for personalized, wireless experiences favor it—enabling data-driven cultures over predictions.[5] It shapes the ecosystem by providing a blueprint for next-gen workplaces, attracting proptech investors and helping enterprises like banks maximize collaboration without expanding footprints.[2][3][7]
Kadence is poised for expansion in proptech, scaling its 300+ customers with AI-enhanced features for predictive booking and deeper integrations amid hybrid work's permanence.[2][3][7] Trends like climate tech, machine learning for space analytics, and evolving employee demands for seamless, data-rich environments will propel growth, potentially dominating as firms prioritize optimization for survival.[2][3][5] Its influence may evolve from charger innovator to hybrid work standard-setter, blending IoT heritage with visionary leadership to redefine office value—echoing its founding mission to empower connected generations through smart infrastructure.[1][6]
