Esper

High-Level Overview

Esper is a technology company providing a next-generation mobile device management (MDM) platform for Android, iOS, iPadOS, and Linux devices, specializing in dedicated hardware like POS systems, digital kiosks, tablets, and telehealth devices.[1][2][6] It serves enterprises in retail, hospitality, healthcare, logistics, education, and restaurants by solving challenges in device deployment, remote troubleshooting, over-the-air updates, kiosk mode lockdown, and fleet-scale automation through scalable APIs, SDKs, and DevOps tools.[1][2][6] The platform enables consistent customer experiences, rapid software deployment, and operational efficiency, with recent growth including a $30 million Series B funding round in May 2025 led by Scale Venture Partners to expand its product portfolio and handle larger workloads.[1]

Origin Story

Esper was founded in 2017 in Bellevue, Washington, by Yadhu Gopalan and Shiv Sundar, who brought decades of experience shipping over 100 million devices globally, including key roles in Amazon's Go stores, Fire TV, Kindle, and Alexa infrastructure.[1][3] Gopalan identified a critical gap in enterprise device management after developing hardware-software intersections at Amazon, prompting him to partner with Sundar to create a unified, scalable platform for company-managed hardware.[3] Formerly known as Shoonya Enterprises Inc., Esper gained early traction by addressing real-world pain points in managing dedicated devices at scale, evolving into a cloud-based DevOps solution with features like remote control and deployment pipelines.[1][2]

Core Differentiators

• Blueprint-based automation and drift management: Enables touchless provisioning, policy enforcement, and automatic correction of device drift for compliance in large fleets, surpassing traditional MDM limitations.[2][6]
• Developer-friendly tools: Provides scalable APIs, SDKs for custom app development/testing/deployment, remote debugging, and over-the-air updates, streamlining workflows for edge AI, POS, kiosks, and digital signage.[1][2][6]
• Multi-OS support with enterprise scale: Manages Android, iOS/iPadOS, and Linux devices with geofencing, advanced app deployment, and tiered offerings (Genesis for SMBs, Bridge for scaling fleets, Architect for complex enterprises).[2][6]
• Industry-tailored stability: Focuses on dedicated device infrastructure for high-stakes sectors, ensuring kiosk mode, remote support, and consistent experiences without vendor lock-in.[1][2]

Role in the Broader Tech Landscape

Esper rides the surge in edge computing and IoT proliferation, where businesses deploy millions of dedicated devices for retail self-checkout, hospitality ordering, healthcare telehealth, and logistics tracking amid rising demands for real-time, AI-enabled operations.[1][2] Timing aligns with Android's enterprise push and post-pandemic acceleration of contactless tech, amplified by market forces like supply chain digitization and regulatory needs for secure, auditable device fleets.[1][6] By enabling DevOps for hardware—similar to software CI/CD—Esper influences the ecosystem, empowering developers to innovate on edge AI deployment and reducing operational silos, positioning it as a key enabler in the $100B+ MDM and edge IT market.[2]

Quick Take & Future Outlook

Esper's momentum from Series B funding and product expansions signals aggressive scaling into edge AI tools and larger enterprise fleets, with hiring across engineering and sales to fuel growth.[1] Trends like AI-driven automation, 5G-enabled kiosks, and stricter compliance will shape its path, potentially capturing share from legacy MDM providers as businesses prioritize drift-proof, multi-OS management.[2][6] Its influence may evolve by deepening ecosystem integrations, fostering a developer community around device SDKs, and expanding to emerging sectors like autonomous logistics—solidifying Esper as the go-to for next-gen dedicated device infrastructure.[1][2]