
Openpath Announces $36 Million Raise to Make Keycards Obsolete in the COVID Era
Sam primarily covers entertainment and media for dot.LA. Previously he was Marjorie Deane Fellow at The Economist, where he wrote for the business and finance sections of the print edition. He has also worked at the XPRIZE Foundation, U.S. Government Accountability Office, KCRW, and MLB Advanced Media (now Disney Streaming Services). He holds an MBA from UCLA Anderson, an MPP from UCLA Luskin and a BA in History from University of Michigan. Email him at samblake@dot.LA and find him on Twitter @hisamblake
Openpath, the L.A-based tech company trying to make keycards a thing of the past, announced Thursday that it has raised $36 million in its second institutional funding round. The deal, led by Greycroft, was finalized earlier this year. It takes the total funding Openpath has raised to $63 million, company co-founder and president James Segil told dot.LA.
Segil and his long-time business partner Alex Kazerani are a serial entrepreneur duo that set their sights on keycards about four years ago.
James Segil (L) and Alex Kazerani are a serial entrepreneur duo that has formed several L.A. startups
"Everything about these things sucks," Segil says, looking at a photo of the familiar, mostly white rectangles that scan many an employee into office buildings and elevators. The flaws he points to include the administrative work around printing, issuing and revoking keycards; the physical waste they create; and perhaps worst of all, that they're not very secure. Segil notes that keycards mostly rely on decades-old RFID technology rather than more modern encryption methods, and can be copied for a few bucks at the neighborhood Ralph's supermarket.
Openpath allows for touchless entry that leverages the supercomputers in most of our pockets and purses
Kazerani and Segil are betting that the supercomputer in most of our pockets or bags could be a much better option. They patented a "triple unlock" technology, wherein a door-sensor can establish a "handshake" with a mobile phone's cell, wi-fi or bluetooth signal. The receiver activates with a user's hand-wave, picks up one of the signals, discards the other two, and assesses whether the phone it's coming from belongs to somebody with the credentials needed to enter.
Segil says using all three signals helps the Openpath system to work 99.9% of the time.
And in the post-COVID world, Openpath's touchless entry system has become all the more useful. From work, retail, schools and churches, to gyms, hospitals, and doctors' offices, reducing the need to touch common surfaces will be a key element of readying spaces for people to return, Segil says. He adds that interest has grown during the pandemic.
The system can also enforce safety protocols — for instance, by suspending someone's entry credentials if they fail a health attestation, or controlling occupancy by limiting the number of people that can enter a room.
In addition to doors, Segil notes, Openpath's technology can also work for parking lots, elevators, turnstiles, and lobby check-ins.
Openpath charges an upfront fee for hardware and installation, then a recurring subscription fee for the cloud-enabled software. Pricing depends on the number of doors and number of users.
And, Segil notes, if your phone dies or you forget it at home, you can still always knock.
- Openpath Announces $36 Million Raise - dot.LA ›
- Meet LA Tech Entrepreneurs James Segil and Alex Kazerani: - dot.LA ›
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Streaming has dramatically changed how consumers view Hollywood and hear music as theatrical release windows shrink and social media replaces radio and television as a source of music discovery.
In our latest Strategy Session, dot.LA spoke with three talent representatives about how new platforms, models and the pandemic are shifting the ways artists reach their audiences, and what might be in store for the future.
Troy Carter, Founder and CEO of Q&A
Troy Carter, Founder and CEO of Q&A
<p>Troy Carter is the founder and CEO of Q&A, a technology and media company focused on powering the business of music through distribution, services, and data analytics. Formerly, Troy was the founder and CEO of Atom Factory, where he rose to prominence, nurturing the careers of global superstars including Lady Gaga and John Legend. He most recently served at Spotify as its global head of creator services, overseeing the company's growth strategy for artists and record labels. In 2017, Carter was also named entertainment advisor to the Prince Estate. </p><p>His interest in the intersection of technology and culture resulted in the formation of AF Square Investments. Early investments include Uber, Lyft, Dropbox, Spotify, Warby Parker, theSkimm, Blavity, Gimlet Media, Thrive Market, PlayVs, and FazeClan. Troy currently serves as a trustee for The Aspen Institute, Los Angeles County Museum of Art, and CalArts.</p>Jim Meenaghan, Co-Head of the Independent Film Group and Head of Business Affairs - Motion Pictures
Jim Meenaghan, Co-Head of Independent Film Group and Head of Business Affairs, Motion Pictures
<p>As co-head of UTA Independent Film Group, Meenaghan is actively involved in structuring and negotiating film financing and distribution deals for independent films across all media. Meenaghan also oversees day-to-day business affairs operations for the motion picture departments across the agency and works closely with many of UTA's high-profile clients including Wes Anderson, Joel and Ethan Coen, Drew Goddard and Noah Baumbach.</p><p>Prior to joining UTA, Meenaghan served as executive vice president of Anschutz Film Group/Walden Media ("The Chronicles of Narnia," "Charlotte's Web," "Ray"<em>) </em>and was in charge of all aspects of the company's business and legal affairs. Prior to that, he was senior vice president, business affairs at Icon Productions ("What Women Want," "We Were Soldiers," "Passion of the Christ"<em>). </em></p>Rena Ronson, Partner and the Co-Head of the Independent Film Group
Rena Ronson, Partner and Co-Head of the Independent Film Group
<p>Rena Ronson is a partner and the co-head of the Independent Film Group at leading global talent and entertainment company United Talent Agency (UTA). One of the industry's pre-eminent packaging and finance executives, Ronson specializes in global film finance, distribution and marketing strategies for independent and co-financed features, helping the world's most acclaimed independent filmmakers see their work reach global audiences.</p><p>Throughout her career, Ronson has helped package, structure financing for, and sell numerous high profile films, including Oscar-winning "I, Tonya," "Room" and "Icarus," and Oscar-nominated films, "Hidden Figures," "The Big Sick," "Lady Bird," and "Call Me By Your Name," among many others. She is also known for working with acclaimed filmmakers on their directorial debuts, including Greta Gerwig's "Lady Bird," Haifaa al-Mansour's "Wadjda," Don Cheadle's "Miles Ahead," Marielle Heller's "Diary of a Teenage Girl," Jill Soloway's "Afternoon Delight," Crystal Moselle's "Skate Kitchen," and Emerald Fennell's "Promising Young Woman." Additional upcoming films include "The Father" starring Anthony Hopkins and "The Mauritanian" starring Tahar Rahim, Jodie Foster, and Benedict Cumberbatch.</p>Kelly O'Grady, Chief Host and Correspondent
Kelly O'Grady, Chief Host and Correspondent
<p>Kelly O'Grady is dot.LA's chief host & correspondent. Kelly serves as dot.LA's on-air talent, and is responsible for designing and executing all video efforts. A former management consultant for McKinsey, and TV reporter for NESN, she also served on Disney's Corporate Strategy team, focusing on M&A and the company's direct-to-consumer streaming efforts. Kelly holds a bachelor's degree from Harvard College and an MBA from Harvard Business School. A Boston native, Kelly spent a year as Miss Massachusetts USA, and can be found supporting her beloved Patriots every Sunday come football season.</p>Sam Blake, dot.LA Entertainment Reporter
Sam Blake, dot.LA Entertainment Reporter
<p>Sam Blake is dot.LA's entertainment reporter. Prior to joining dot.LA, he had a writing fellowship with The Economist, where he wrote primarily for the business and finance sections of the print edition. Sam previously interned at KCRW and hosted a podcast at UCLA's college radio station while completing his dual-degree MBA and Master's in Public Policy. A native of Detroit, Sam previously lived in Madison, Wisconsin and New York City. He studied history at the University of Michigan and speaks four languages.</p>- Are Livestream Concerts Music's Future or a Pandemic Fad? - dot.LA ›
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On this week's episode of Office Hours, you'll hear from Steven Galanis, founder and CEO of Cameo, which offers a marketplace of celebrities that will record a custom-crafted message for a fee.
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