August, a US-based consumer technology company whose flagship product is the August Smart Lock, a door locking, app and virtual key system, has raised $8m in series A funding led by Maveron, the consumer-focused venture capital firm co-founded by Starbucks’ chief executive officer Howard Schultz, with participation from venture capital firms Cowboy Ventures, Industry Ventures, Rho Ventures, and SoftTech VC.
David Wu, Maveron’s venture partner who is joining the August board of directors, said: “Over 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 standout utility with world class design. The August Smart Lock merges beauty and simplicity to create a magical experience for consumers. It is a privilege to invest in Jason and his vision for the connected home.”
August will use the series A round to expand the team and bring the lock to market in spring 2014. This latest round brings the company’s total venture funding to $10m to date.
August was co-founded by designer Yves Behar and technology entrepreneur Jason Johnson, who said: “At August, we’re dedicated to building elegant and seamless home automation solutions. With distribution of our smart lock on the horizon, we will leverage this financing and our new partners to perfect the August consumer experience and scale our operations in advance of shipping.”