Throne Labs
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Technology, Sanitation |
| Founded | June 1, 2020 in Washington, D.C., United States |
| Founder | Fletcher Wilson |
Area served | United States (Washington D.C., Virginia, Los Angeles, Detroit, Long Beach, Ann Arbor) |
Key people | Fletcher Wilson (CEO) |
| Products | Solar-powered portable smart toilets with sensor technology |
Throne Labs is a tech enterprise providing a network of "intelligent toilets" throughout the United States.
History
Established in June 2020 in Washington D.C. by Fletcher Wilson, who was motivated by his personal battle with irritable bowel syndrome to create scalable public restroom solutions, Throne Labs aims to alleviate the shortage of public bathrooms in the U.S. By 2021, the country ranked 30th worldwide, offering merely 8 public restrooms per 100,000 residents. Wilson holds the position of CEO.
Funding
The company attracted angel investments from Sandalphon Capital, Dipalo Ventures, Uncorrelated Ventures, and Ravin Gandhi. In October 2025, Throne Labs completed a $15 million Series B funding round led by Brentwood Associates, targeting nationwide expansion of its smart restroom network.
Services
Throne Labs provides solar-powered portable restroom units featuring running water sinks, flushing toilets, and ventilation systems. These facilities utilize sensor technology to track usage patterns and enhance cleaning efficiency.
Users can access these complimentary units through a mobile app or scanning a QR code. As of 2025, operations cover key U.S. cities including Washington D.C., Virginia, Los Angeles, Detroit, Long Beach, and Ann Arbor.
Public response
Derek Delacourt, responsible for city operations in Ann Arbor, Michigan, shared with the Wall Street Journal that after a year-long pilot involving 10 Throne units and 100,000 uses, the municipality committed to a five-year agreement. "Feedback on these restrooms has been overwhelmingly positive. User ratings have soared."
In Los Angeles Metro, 20 Throne units have been installed with plans to deploy an additional 44 ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup and 2028 Summer Olympics. One early unit at MacArthur Park—a location heavily impacted by the opioid epidemic—benefited from community care led by unhoused individuals who helped maintain the facility. Stephen Tu, head of Station Experience for Los Angeles Metro, noted that this success bolstered confidence to broaden the initiative.
Eric Larson, CEO of Downtown Detroit Partnership, described the facilities as an example of urban innovation: "Public spaces require accessible restrooms. Providing respectful, safe, clean, and easy-to-manage options is essential."
By June 2025, Throne Labs' units in Washington D.C. recorded 63,000 users. Council member Brianne Nadeau acknowledged strong demand for further expansion. Following a funding gap that caused temporary closure of six units, a resident-led petition compelled Mayor Muriel Bowser to reinstate funding despite budget limitations due to a congressional continuing resolution.
In November 2025, Long Beach, California renewed its contract with Throne Labs after logging 31,000 uses within four months. Todd Leland, marine bureau manager, emphasized features such as data-informed cleaning schedules and a ten-minute usage limit with audible alerts designed to maintain turnover in busy spots like Belmont Pier.