LED ‘smartbulb’ manufacturer LIFX has secured a $12 million
investment from one of Silicon Valley’s biggest venture capital firms Sequoia
Capital.
The Business Spectator reports that the Melbourne-based
start-up makes multi-colour LED bulbs that are controlled wirelessly through an
iOS and Android app. The app acts as a remote control and the lights feature
effects such as flickering.
“LIFX is one of the fastest and most promising smart home
companies,” Sequoia spokesperson Omar Hamoui said. “They have truly
revolutionised the first consumer electronics device, the light bulb.”
Phil Bosua, CEO and founder of LIFX told Fairfax Media that
the company would use the money to grow globally and to develop a smart light
switch.
Describing the light switch, Bosua told Fairfax Media, “It
will be circular and mount on the wall with three [double-sided tape strips] or
via a magnetic mounting plate,”
“It will give you full functional control over your
LIFX bulbs and also have an open application programming interface so [that
developers can make apps that] turn the light switch into a volume control for
a Sonos speaker. It could also open and close blinds and alert you if someone’s
at your door.”
Image: LIFX