From doorbells to windows, these companies are changing the ways people interact with everyday items. What’s more, they are scooping up millions of dollars in funding. Meet the businesses that make life easier with the touch of a smartphone.
IMAGE: Courtesy Sphero
1. Chrono Therapeutics
With $85 million in funding, Chrono makes medicated patches that transmit drugs through the skin using the IoT to customize dosage and timing for a patient. The patches preempt addiction, the Hayward, California, company hopes.
The Boulder, Colorado, firm (with $112 million in funding) sells connected toys like the Star Wars BB-8 droid. It specializes in robotic toys that pair with apps. Sphero’s educational arm uses its technology to teach kids math and coding.
IMAGE: Courtesy Sphero
3. Ecobee
The Toronto company has $42 million in funding to help sell sensors and thermostats that allow users to control their home’s temperature via an app. Ecobee’s platform also integrates with Amazon’s popular virtual assistant, Alexa.
IMAGE: Courtesy Ecobee
4. Metromile
The San Francisco pay-per-mile insurer for low-mileage drivers ($206 million in funding)uses the IoT to get data from the vehicles it covers. Its app tracks speed, gas usage, and travel times to give customers richer data on their commuting habits.
IMAGE: Courtesy Metromile
5. Razer
Legendary among gamers for its high-performance hardware, such as laptops, headphones, consoles, and other connected devices, San Francisco’s Razer launched a $30 million fund, in 2016, to invest in the IoT. It has $175 million in funding.
IMAGE: Courtesy Razer
6. Ring
The Santa Monica, California, firm’s video doorbell lets users, via their smartphone, see who’s at their door, and hear and speak to visitors. With $204 million in funding, Ring also sells connected cameras for the exteriors of customers’ homes.
IMAGE: Courtesy Ring
7. View
With $716 million in funding, the Milpitas, California, firm specializes in IoT-connected window installations that can be programmed to tint against sun glare and to reduce ambient heat–all controlled through a proprietary app.
IMAGE: Courtesy View
8. Cloudminds
The Santa Clara, California, company landed a very big funding round earlier this year, raising a total of $130 million. It builds robots and is working with partners to create a globally connected ecosystem for operating smart machines.
