5 Things to Know: May 30

Business of Home reports that Visual Comfort has acquired British lighting company Pooky, a brand that expanded into the U.S. market two years ago and quickly established a presence among designers and retailers. Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed. In a joint statement, Visual Comfort CEO Andy Singer and Pooky founder Rohan Blacker said the companies would combine resources while allowing Pooky to continue operating independently.

The acquisition is notable because Visual Comfort has rarely pursued outside brand purchases, making the deal a departure from its typical growth strategy. Pooky, founded in 2014, has seen rapid international expansion in recent years. According to financial filings cited by Business of Home, the company generated approximately $53 million in annual revenue, with sales outside the United Kingdom increasing significantly between 2024 and 2025. The deal also highlights continued consolidation across the residential lighting sector as manufacturers seek broader market reach and distribution networks.

China Daily reports that Signify is expanding its focus on China, citing the country's manufacturing scale, innovation ecosystem and rapid adoption of artificial intelligence. Karl Yin, CEO of Signify Greater China, said China accounts for roughly 60 percent of global lighting production capacity and remains a critical market for the company as intelligent lighting systems become more sophisticated.

The company is deploying AI-powered lighting technologies in projects such as Dalian High-Tech Industrial Zone, where a generative AI-enabled management platform has been integrated into thousands of connected streetlights. Analysts say advances in AI and connected infrastructure are accelerating the evolution of lighting systems from simple illumination tools into data-driven networks capable of adapting to user and environmental conditions.

Signify operates eight factories in China and increasingly views the country as an innovation hub. Company executives told China Daily that technologies developed and tested in China are increasingly being launched locally before expanding to global markets.

WDIV News 4 Detroit reports that city officials are seeking community feedback on a new $10 million lighting initiative aimed at illuminating residential stretches between intersections that residents say remain too dark. The project builds on Detroit’s decade-long effort to replace more than 65,000 streetlights with LED fixtures through the Public Lighting Authority.

Public Lighting Authority officials say the next phase will focus on improving visibility along walking routes, near parks and schools, and in other areas identified by residents. The plan calls for the installation of approximately 3,000 additional lights, with pilot projects expected in each city district before broader deployment. Officials hope to begin installing poles this summer following community input and approvals from the authority’s board and Detroit City Council.

Ars Technica reported that smart lighting manufacturer Govee has apologized after a marketing image on its U.S. website appeared to show books bearing the words “white supremacy” on their spines displayed above a child’s bed. The image, which promoted bedroom lighting products, was removed after scrutiny first highlighted by The Verge.

Govee PR manager Connie Liu said the image came from a third-party licensed library and acknowledged that the company’s review and approval process “did not meet the standard required.” Liu said Govee is taking steps to strengthen internal oversight and issued an apology for the offensive content. The image had reportedly been online since at least April, according to archived versions of the company’s website.

EFY Group reports that Mumbai-based Corvi LED has raised $8 million in a Series B funding round led by Enam Investments, a notable investment at a time when the LED lamp market is widely viewed as mature and intensely price competitive — especially in India. The company plans to use the funding to expand distribution, increase marketing efforts, and develop new products for both consumer and commercial markets.

Founded in 2012, Corvi has sought to distinguish itself through product engineering, energy efficiency, and design-focused innovation rather than competing solely on price. The company says it holds more than 100 patents and registrations related to lighting technologies and exports products to more than 20 countries. The funding comes as India’s lighting market continues to grow alongside urban development, commercial construction, and demand for energy-efficient technologies.