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AUSTIN BUSINESS JOURNAL
AUSTIN INNO BY BRENT WISTROM
I
BWISTROM@AMERICANINNO.COM
316-207-4519
@AUSTININNO
STARTUP CORRALLING WI-FI DEVICES ACQUIRED M&A
W ith a growing number of devices connecting via Wi-Fi and Bluetooth in households around the world, the smart homes we envision can sometimes feel more like ware- houses of disconnected tech. That’s where Yonomi has built its business.The startup, co-head- quartered in Austin and Boulder, was founded in 2013 to integrate a variety of smart devices, from Amazon’s Alexa to Philips’ Hue lightbulbs, on a single platform. Its patented tech, which includes
brand name, was founded by CTO Joss Scholten, VP of Engineering Garett Madole and CEO Kent Dick- son. Dicksonwill become vice pres- ident and general manager of the Yonomi business unit at Allegion. Yonomi has 25 full-time employ- ees, including 12 in its downtown Austin office, 11 in Boulder and two working remotely. It was named one of the best places to work in Aus- tin in 2019 by the Austin Business Journal in the micro companies category. The startup raised a total of $9.3
million from investors including Rockies Venture Club, Deming Cen- ter Venture Fund and Gentex. The acquisition news followed a year of major moves for the startup. In June, Yonomi added Suma- ti Sharan Stewart, a former head of business development on Ama- zon’s Alexa Smart Home team, as its senior vice president of sales andmarketing. In July, the company teamed up with Flo by Moen on its smart water security system to noti- fy insurance carriers if a leak detec- tor is active in a consumer’s home.
a consumer app and an API to enable third-party device integra- tions, has gained significant trac- tion in recent years, including a $5million funding round in 2018. Now,Yonomihasbeenacquired by Dublin-based security compa- ny Allegion, which operates about 24 security brands, including biometric devices and mechan- ical locks. Allegion has been an investor in the startup since 2017. Terms of the acquisition weren’t disclosed. Yonomi, which will keep its
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$9.3M
Brands under Allegion (NYSE: ALLE), which makes security products for homes and businesses, from biometric devices to mechanical locks.
Yonomi’s total funding since it was founded in 2013. Backers included Rockies Venture Club, Deming Center Venture Fund and Gentex.
THESE NOMINEES ARE CHANGING ATX FOR THE BETTER THE BEAT
For many, 2020 was a year that forced a lot of societal observations, self reflection and conversation. But it’s the words and actions that emerge from that reflection that matter most — and several Austin leaders stepped up in powerful ways to help promote diversity and inclusion throughout the community. Each year, Austin nonprofit startup accelerator DivInc and its partners celebrate Austin leaders who helped advance conversations and actions throughout the community to make the city a more inclusive place. In past years, local leaders including SXSW’s Hugh Forrest, T3 founder and author Gay Gaddis and Austin Independent School District Equity Officer Stephanie Hawley have been among recipients of the award.
This year, there’s a whole new lineup of nominees. They include nonprofit leaders, investors, volunteers and executives. The winners will be announced at the annual Champions of Change event, which will be online via Airmeet on March 4 at 5:30 p.m. DivInc this year is also asking the Austin community to vote for any person they feel should be recognized as a champion of diversity, equity and inclusion in Austin. Voting opened Jan. 12.
DIVINC A photo from last year’s Champions of Change Awards.
Visit www.divinc.org/events/champions-of-change- awards-2021 to buy tickets and learn more.
DEI LEADER OF THE YEAR R MADISON BUTLER , VP of people and culture at Sourced Craft Cocktails R CRYSTLE JOHNSON , senior equity, inclusion and diversity business partner at Electronic Arts R CHRISTINE MCCAREY , CEO at Impact DEI R FARAHMUSCADIN , director of Office of Police Oversight, City of Austin R TK TUNCHEZ , founder of Las Ofendas and Frida Friday ATX
STUDENT OF THE YEAR R VALERIA COLUNGA , University of Texas R MICAL J. DEVINE , Texas civic ambassador Engagement & Texas Rising at Texas State University R KATHERINE HORTON , high school student R RODOLFO MARTINEZ , Product Prodigy Institute at Annette Strauss Institute for Civic R BRIANNAMCBRIDE , co-director of the Black President’s Leadership Council at the University of Texas
CHAMPION OF THE YEAR R EMMANUEL ACHO , NFL commentator and author, “Uncomfortable Conversations with a Black Man” R RUBEN CANTU , executive director of inclusive innovation and entrepreneurship at the University of Texas R CHAKA AND QI DADA , founder of DAWA and Riders Against the Storm R CHAS MOORE , founder of Austin Justice Coalition R AMANDA ZAMORA AND EMILY RAMSHAW , co- founders of The 19th
INVESTOR OF THE YEAR R JESSICA GAFFNEY , CEO of Beam Angel Network R HAROLD HUGHES , CEO of Bandwagon R ETHANMONREAL- JACKSON , principal at Notley R LOLITA TAUB , investor at The Community Fund R MICHAEL WARD JR. , CEO of Austin Urban Technology Movement
RISING STAR OF THE YEAR R RAKHI AGRAWAL , chief empowerment officer at Measure R KYLE ALI , team lead at Google’s Computer Science Summer Institute R COURTNEY BAILEY , director of issues and engagement at Leadership Austin R SAVANNAH BARKER , senior director of program operations at Notley R MADISON BUTLER ,
NONPROFIT LEADER R COURTNEY ROBINSON , founder at Break the Pipeline R MEME STYLES , founder at Measure R STEVEWANTA , CEO of JUST R MICHAEL WARD JR. , CEO of Austin Urban Technology Movement R NAKEENYA WILSON , executive director of Black Mamas ATX
EXECUTIVE OF THE YEAR R DERRICK CHUBBS , CEO of Central Texas Food Bank R RYAN COAXUM ,VP at Guaranty Bank & Trust R KIRSTEN KARCHMER , CEO of Brazen R EMLYN LEE , founder at BRAVE Communities R CHAS MOORE , executive director of Austin Justice Coalition
VP of people and culture at Sourced Craft Cocktails
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