Lockitron

Lockitron, developed by Apigy Inc., was an early entrant in the smart lock market, enabling users to lock and unlock doors remotely via a smartphone. Founded in 2009 by Paul Gerhardt and Cameron Robertson, the Mountain View, California-based startup was a graduate of the Y Combinator accelerator. The initial hand-built versions were installed in several Bay Area startup offices in 2010 before a formal launch in May 2011.

The business operated on a direct-to-consumer model, selling hardware that transformed a user's phone into a key. After being rejected by Kickstarter for being a "home improvement" project, the founders launched their own crowdfunding website in October 2012, securing over $2.2 million in pre-orders. This move garnered significant press, showcasing the potential for independent hardware crowdfunding. The company's products catered to homeowners and businesses, including applications for rental properties and co-working spaces. Revenue was generated through the sale of the smart lock hardware and optional accessories.

Lockitron's primary product was a device that could be retrofitted over existing deadbolts, controlled by a smartphone app. Key features included the ability to grant or revoke virtual keys for guests, receive notifications when a door was accessed with a physical key, and automatic unlocking via Bluetooth when an authenticated device was nearby. An open API allowed for integrations with other smart devices like the Ring Video Doorbell and IFTTT. Later, the company introduced the Lockitron Bolt, a full replacement deadbolt, and an accessory called the Bridge, which provided Wi-Fi connectivity for remote access from anywhere in the world. The company faced production delays with its initial crowdfunded model, which led to the development and release of the Lockitron Bolt as a replacement.

In January 2019, Lockitron was acquired by the Chamberlain Group, a major manufacturer of garage and door opening systems. The acquisition aimed to integrate Lockitron's connected lock technology into Chamberlain's myQ smart access platform. Following the acquisition, the standalone Lockitron system was shut down on June 17, 2020, with the Lockitron Bolt model functionality migrating to the MyQ platform.

Keywords: smart lock, keyless entry, remote access, access control, home automation, Apigy Inc., Paul Gerhardt, Cameron Robertson, Y Combinator, crowdfunding, Bluetooth lock, Wi-Fi lock, mobile access, virtual keys, IoT device, smart home security, Chamberlain Group, myQ platform, deadbolt replacement, smart hardware