A daily newsletter summarizing recent activity & interesting start-ups globally
RECENT NOTABLE ACTIVITY – SMART HOMES
- Latch, a NYC based smart lock developer for homes, offices and apartment building raised $10.5M in Series A funding from Primary Venture Partners, Corigin Venture Partners, Expansion Ventures, PCH, Camber Creek, Third Prime Capital, R/GA, Techstars and other investors. Link
- Beon Home, a Cambridge, MA based developer of smart lights for preventing home intrusion raised $3M from Jopeko Capital. Link
- Petcube, a SF based developer of device for remote pet interaction raised $2.6M from Almaz Capital, Aventures Capital and Y Combinator. Link
- Edyn, a Oakland based developer of smart garden monitoring system raised $2M in seed funding from Fenox Venture Capital, Idea Bulbs Ventures, Morning Side and Indicator Ventures. Link
- Silvan Innovations Labs, a Bangalore based developer of smart home solutions raised $520K from The Chennai Angels. Link
- Wizn Systems, a Bangalore based developer of home automation solutions raised undisclosed amount of funding from Foxconn. Link
SOME INTERESTING STARTUPS FOUND
Openstrom (2015, Salzburg) – Smart meters for monitoring circuit level energy consumption.
Comfylight (2015, Zurich) – Smart light with presence detection capabilities doubling up as security device.
LEADER BOARD – SMART HOMES
Home Automation
Device Management
Control4 (2003, Saltlake City, IPO) – Wired and wireless home automation products. Went public in August 2013 thus becoming first home automation company to do so.
Savant (2005, Barnstable, $90M) – App and hub for connected device management. Backed by PE firm KKR.
Monitoring Systems
Leeo (2013, Palo Alto, $37M) – Plugin devices that alert user when their smoke alarm sound. Recently laid off 30% of its employees. Backed by Formation 8, Visionnaire Ventures, EON.
Hello (2013, SF, $32M) – Sleep behavior tracking by providing data on environmental conditions of room. Backed by Temasek Holdings.
Bidgely (2010, Sunnyvale, $25M) – Enables consumers to monitor and manage their household energy use. Backed by Khosla Ventures, Constellation Technology Ventures, E.ON, RWE Group.
Thermostat
Nest Labs (2010, Palo Alto, $80M, Acq.) – Hardware and software for monitoring home energy consumption. Acquired by Google for $3.2B in 2014. Backed by Google Ventures, LSVP, KPCB, Shasta Ventures, Generation Investment Management.
Ecobee (2007, Toronto, $16M) – Apple homekit compatible digital programmable thermostat. Backed by Tech Capital Partners, Relay Ventures, Investco Capital, Ontario Emerging Technologies Fund.
Radiators
Ecovent (2012, Boston, $9M) – Technology for wireless control over heating vents. Backed by Emerson Climate, Tamarisc.
Embue (2007, Boston, $1.75M) – Smart radiators for home & office. Backed by US Department of Energy, MassCEC.
Remote AC Management
Tado (2011, Munich, $34M) – Smart AC management device for homes and businesses. Backed by Target Partners, Shortcut Ventures, BayBG, Siemens.
Sensibo (2013, Wilmington, $650K) – Device to connect and control ACs. Backed by Kima Ventures, Lool Ventures, Motus Ventures.
Wireless Switches & Plugs
ThinkEco (2008, NYC, $7M) – Modern outlet that monitors and regulates power consumed by appliances.
Zuli (2012, SF, $1.65M) – Smart plugs that automatically switch on/off device on basis of users presence. Backed by Leonardo Di Caprio, Menlo Ventures, Winklevoss Capital, XG Ventures, Logitech, Dena, Plug&Play tech center.
Home Lighting
Lifx (2012, Melbourne, $12M) – Wifi enabled LED lights. Backed by Sequoia Capital, Qualcomm Ventures.
Astro (2014, NYC, $3M) – Smart electric bulbs for energy efficiency, home monitoring and automation. Backed by Lerer Hippeau, Crosslink Capital, Zelkova Ventures, Maiden Lane, Expansion VC, Winklevoss Capital.
Smart Kitchen
Innit (2013, SF, $25M) – Development phase sensors to manage and connect food information. Backed by group of strategic investors.
June (2013, SF, $7M) – Smart counter top oven. Backed by Foundry Group, Founders Fund, First Round Capital, Lerer Hippeau, Upside Partnership.
Gardening
Hydropoint (2002, Petaluma, $39.5M) – Develops smart water management solutions for landscape irrigation applications. Also provides site specific weather data to agencies and corporations. Backed by Rockport Capital, Firelake Capital, Chrysalis Ventures, Monitor Ventures, J.F. Shea Co.
Rachio (2012, Denver, $10M) – Platform for remote sprinkler management. Backed by FG Angels.
Pet Feeder
Petnet (2012, Pasadena, $7M) – Intelligent pet feeding system. Backed by Kima Ventures, SparksLab Global Ventures, Launch Capital, Grishin Robotics, iRobot
Home Security
Locks
August (2013, SF, $48M) – Smart lock and access systems. Backed by Qualcomm Ventures, Bessemer Venture Partners, Comcast Ventures, Maveron, Cowboy Ventures, Industry Ventures, Rho Ventures, Softtech VC.
Latch (2015, NYC, $17M) – Smart locks for homes, offices and apartment buildings. Backed by Primary Venture Partners, Corigin Venture Partners, Expansion Ventures, PCH, Camber Creek, Third Prime Capital, R/GA, Techstars and a number real estate developers.
Video Monitoring & Alerts
Alarm (2000, Vienna, IPO) – Home and business security by leveraging wireless, web and mobile technologies, all built on Alarm.com’s hosted services platform. Went public in June 2015.
iControl Networks (2003, Redwood City, $93.5M) – Connected home management software solutions to service providers and home security companies, also provides Piper home security device. Backed by Intel Capital, Comcast Ventures, KPCB, Rogers, Tyco, Cisco.
Canary (2012, NYC, $41M) – Smart security devices to track motion, temperature, air quality, vibration, sound, and activity. Raised $2M on Indiegogo. Backed by Khosla Ventures, Brooklyn Bridge Ventures, Two Sigma Ventures.
Leader board includes all the top funded, IPO and successfully running bootstrapped companies along with their location, founding year and funding amount.
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