INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
Klevio, a smart home startup out of the U.K., is officially launching its first product: a smart intercom system that lets you control your
front door lock remotely via an iOS and Android app on your phone.
Dubbed &Klevio One,& the device is designed to be retrofitted to
existing electric strike-enabled locks, and also interfaces with intercom systems found on the communal doors of apartment blocks
This, say its makers, means that it is better suited to flats than smart locks already on the market.
In a call with Klevio co-founder and
CEO Aleš Špetič, he explained that the approach the London-based company has taken is different to smart locks that typically use a
motor to turn the lock and require tearing out and replacing your existing lock
In contrast, if you already have an electric strike as part of your lock — which a lot of apartments do — the Klevio One can simply be
wired to interface with it
If you don&t, a Klevio installer can fit one to your existing lock for you.
This major upside of this approach is that Klevio isn&t
re-inventing the whole wheel, but taking years old, tried and tested electric strike technology, and simply adding smart connectivity to
it.
It means the Klevio One works with multiple doors and there no need to modify the communal area of apartment buildings when installing
it, since the device is located within an individual apartment
You can also still use your old physical keys as a backup, and the company says the use of Klevio won&t be obvious to anyone outside the
building.
And as you&d expect, the Klevio system is cloud-connected so that you can control your lock remotely, and issue virtual and
It comes in a WiFi only version, and a subscription version with added 4G.
The startup back story is noteworthy, too
The Klevio original concept and eureka moment came at Onefinestay, the ‘upscale Airbnb& acquired by Accor in 2016
After the exit, Onefinestay co-founder Demetrios Zoppos teamed up with CubeSensors& Aleš Špetič and Marko Mrdjenovič to start
the new company, including purchasing the needed patents from Onefinestay.
In addition, Onefinestay co-founder Greg Marsh is an investor in
Klevio, alongside LocalGlobe partner Robin Klein (who I&m told has invested in a personal capacity)
To date Klevio has raised £1.2 million in funding.
Meanwhile, Špetič tells me that prior to today wider launch — where it can be
ordered via the Klevio website — the Klevio One has been piloted with 1,000 users across London.
