August, the home automation company behind August Smart Lock, announced today that it has raised $8 million in Series A funding. The round was led by Maveron, with the participation of Cowboy Ventures, Industry Ventures, Rho Ventures and SoftTech VC. August, co-founded by renowned designer Yves Behar and technology entrepreneur Jason Johnson, previously raised $2 million in seed funding from prominent angel investors and entrepreneurs including Matt Mullenweg, Mark Pincus, David Dolby, Scott Belsky, and others. August will use the Series A round to expand the team and bring the lock to market in the spring of 2014. This latest round brings total corporate venture funding to $10 million to date.
August launched its flagship product, the August Smart Lock, earlier this year at the D: All Things Digital Conference. The Behar Smart Lock uses a low-energy Bluetooth locking mechanism and an intuitive mobile application to send virtual keys to anyone you choose to have access to your home. As the key holder arrives at the door, August auto-unlocks to allow you to enter your home. The lock also has an effortless security feature called EverLockTM, which senses when the door closes behind you and automatically locks the door.
‘In August, we are dedicated to building smart and seamless home automation solutions,’ said Johnson, CEO. ‘With the distribution of our smart lock on the horizon, we will leverage this funding and our new partners to enhance August’s consumer experience and scale up our pre-shipping operations. ”
In addition to leading the funding round, Maveron’s venture partner David Wu will join the August Board of Directors Wu joined Maveron in 2012 to help the firm identify new investments in emerging consumer Internet companies and has also personally invested in a variety of Silicon Valley consumer start-ups. With its experience in building consumer brands, Wu will act as an important resource for the August team as the company looks to scale and develop its home automation solutions.
‘In the next decade, the Internet of Things will bring millions of connected devices into homes. But the few that emerge as new iconic brands will be the ones that most effectively blend stand-alone utility with world-class design,” said Wu, Maveron’s venture partner. ‘August Smart Lock combines beauty and simplicity to create a magical experience for consumers. It’s a privilege to invest in Jason and his vision for a connected home ”
The August Smart Lock is currently available on the company’s website for pre-order in four color choices that complement a variety of home decor styles. August expects consumers who place pre-orders to receive their locks in the spring of 2014. For more information on August, please visit
