IoT is changing the world, and has probably changed your life already even if you haven’t noticed it.
Until 1831, door-bells didn’t exist. You had to knock or pull a cord to announce your arrival. Now you can switch of your lights and view your home in real time even if you are over the other side of the world.
Have a look at top ten start-ups that offer this and much more using IoT.
1. Smart Things
Smart Things is an American start-up that allows you to control your home from anywhere, simply by using your mobile phone and an app.
With a simple design to make it easy to be used by most, the software takes IoT to the extreme, giving users control to switch on and off lights and other electronics. It also enables access to information regarding doors that have been left locked or unlocked and even let’s you know how many people are in your house in real time. You can also set up a ‘routine’ and let the app do the rest.
The app features a SmartSetup tool that lets you add new devices so you stay in full control of your home at all time.
Last year, SmartThings raised more than £10.5 million from 27 different investors.
2. Ayla Networks
With a mixed team of hardware, wireless and consumer-product experts, Ayla Networks helps manufactures and vendors to securely deliver connected products via IoT.
Ayla’s software fabric is pervasive and combines innovative cloud based services with software agents, running across devices, gateways, and applications to create secure connectivity, data analytics, and feature-rich customer experiences.
Ayla Networks has managed to secure funding of up to £20.6 million, with its most recent partner Venture offering them £3.4 million.
3. ioBridge
ioBridge makes it cheaper for manufactures, businesses and other users to connect their devices by providing the necessary compounds to web-enabled things.
The US based start-up offers an end to end solution connecting users with environmental data collected by sensors, controlling devices via the Internet, and building projects, products and services.
4. Arrayent
Maximising Internet Cloud capabilities, Arrayent offers an IoT platform called Arrayent Connect Platform which allows customers to connect objects and systems to the internet with simplicity at a cost-effective rate.
The company has a philosophy of "keeping things as things", where implementing IoT products and systems is to place compute power in an IoT operating system hosted in the Cloud, rather than in the product itself.
Arrayent has raised £12.6 million up to the end of 2014.
5. ThingWorx
Founded in 2010, ThingWorx is now the first Application Platform for the Connected World, combining the key functionality of Web 2.0, social media and Connected Intelligence. The company does this by appling it to any process that involves ‘things’.
Their mission is to have "every connected application running on ThingWorx or consume a service provided by another ThingWorx platform."
Since its early days, the company has secured several partnerships including companies like Cisco, Broadcom and Intel, securing funding of over £8.8 million from Safeguard Scientifics and Venture.
6. Ducere Technologies
Considered a pioneer in wearable technology, Ducere has introduced into the market interactive haptic footwear. With its first brand named Lechal (meaning "Take me along" in Hindi), the Ducere footwear range synchronises with Google Maps giving users real time information about their walks or activities.
Lechal owners have the ability to control their footwear using foot movements or gestures. The Lechal App is compatible with Android, iOS and Windows devices and is also available in multiple languages.
Before going ‘live’, the start-up raised £13.5 million and is now looking to raise another £3.4 million.
7. Symplio
Spanish Symplio presents its clients with a platform carrying a series of services and tools easing its costumers’ operations with internet-connected products. The company also offers consulting services to transform everyday use objects like toys, fashion or furniture into internet-enabled objects to be managed and monitored remotely.
8. Canary
Yet another company allowing you to keep an eye on your home without being there, Canary has set information for everyone, creating lasting impact and making the world a smaller place as its main core values.
Created in July 2013 after his founder got home from holidays and found his front door was gone, Canary connects your home surveillance gadgets – also supplied by the company – to your phone. It includes an alerting system that will warn you in seconds if something unusual happens within your home. Live streaming and easy ways to contact the police are also part of the offer.
Canary has raised £7.2 million in funding for its investigations and developments.
9. Octoblu
Octoblu has focused its services on a cloud-based platform allowing customers to quickly connect their devices and others to the internet. It offers a simple architecture for user friendly utilisation with real-time and full scale security.
The start-up was founded in early 2014 and bought by Citrix in December 2014. It is also a member of the AllSeen Alliance, a non-profit open source consortium dedicated to driving the widespread adoption of products, systems and services that support the Internet of Everything.
10. Scanalytics
Probably one of the best start-ups to watch out for in the Retail business world – Scanalytics has brought to the market a SoleSensor that anonymously measures consumer behaviour through locations within premises. The setup comes with an operational dashboard that will give users a full view of traffic and occupancy.
With visual analysis, the software is easy to read and will enable business owners to create interactive environments that correspond to presence detection by sending alerts, activating screens and adjusting ambiance. The application of such system is designed to be built-in for events, shops, medical facilities, offices and even homes.
Up to August last year, the start-up had raised £366,00 through funding, including £13.5k by Microsoft Ventures Accelerator Seattle.
