JCI Ventures

Facial recognition delivers incredible convenience to consumers, as well as serious risks.

Facial Recognition

Alcatraz AI offers an access control system, Alcatraz Rock, that uses computer vision, AI, and 3D sensing to allow frictionless entry into physical locations. The company was founded by a team of former employees from Apple and Nvidia, led by former Apple Engineer Vince Gaydarzhiev. According to the company’s CEO, Alcatraz is the industry’s first one-factor authentication system capable of multi-person, in-the-flow sensing. This technique allows many people to walk in without interruption for access control while checking for tailgating. The users are not required to face or be very close to the reader. The real-time 3D facial mapping feature also avoids spoofing using photographs, videos, or masks. In February 2021, the company introduced three-factor authentication where the Alcatraz Rock platform is used in conjunction with two other authentication methods, such as a badge reader and a personal identification (PIN) reader. Alternatively, in a one-factor authentication system, Alcatraz Rock will be the primary access control device, whereas, in a two-factor authentication system, Alcatraz Rock will be used with a badge reader.Unlike other software based on APIs and SDKs which need further development, Alcatraz’s facial recognition system can be deployed off the shelf. Alcatraz AI’s target market includes high-tech companies, healthcare, governments, and banks.Key customers and partnershipsThe company has partnered with several organizations that use/trial its product, including Google, SAP, BrainBox AI, and multiple police departments in the San Francisco Bay area. In October 2020, the company partnered with New York Security Solutions Inc. (developer of security solutions) to expand the market for Alcatraz Rock platform to the East Coast area. In addition, several security service providers, such as Johnson Controls, <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/16950?industryIds=16">Axis Communications, </a>PSA Security Network, SAGE Integration, TRL Systems, and Netronix have integrated the Alcatraz platform into their product offerings. In August 2021, the company partnered with Switched On Space, a provider of technology solutions for smart buildings based in the UK, to introduce Alcatraz AI’s autonomous access control to international markets. With this partnership, Alcatraz AI expects to achieve a broader customer base in the UK and European markets by utilizing Switched On Space’s existing customer base in these markets. In November 2022, the company announced its expansion into the <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/14406?industryIds=16">European and Middle Eastern markets </a>establishing new offices in these regions.Funding and financialsIn September 2022 Alcatraz <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/13008?industryIds=16">raised USD 25 million </a>in a Series A round led by Almaz Capital, to be used to accelerate global expansion and product innovation targeting a variety of use cases for access control.

Speeding up sales, cutting costs, and preparing for the future of retail—whether brick-and-mortar or online.

Retail Industry Robots

RetailNext provides in-store analytics for retailers using a variety of sensor sources, combined with data from video cameras, PoS systems, staff systems, weather, Bluetooth devices, promotional calendars, etc. to provide insights on ways to improve shopper experience in real-time.&nbsp;The company also offers an “Optimization Dashboard” that allows retailers to optimize staff against footfall by analyzing and predicting customer traffic. The company’s tools include 1) Aurora, a patented all-in-one sensor which, reportedly, is the first to integrate HD video, Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth into a single sensor, and 2) Traffic 2.0, a store foot traffic monitoring software that utilizes information gathered using Aurora to generate real-time customer foot traffic insights, reports, and dashboards. RetailNext’s API can be integrated with other end-user applications such as virtual queuing apps, digital signage, and task management tools..&nbsp;In November 2022, RetailNext acquired UK-based people-counting and footfall solutions company <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/14663?industryIds=17">Ipsos</a> to expand presence in the UK and European markets.Key customers and partnershipsAs of January 2024, RetailNext’s services were in use by 450 brands in over 90 countries. RetailNext’s customer partnerships include companies such as UAE-based Sharaf DG (June 2023), UK-based UNTUCKit (July 2023), and US-based Daniel’s Jewelers (January 2024).In April 2021, RetailNext partnered with Raydiant (an experience management platform) to automate occupancy tracking for retailers. In May 2023, RetailNext partnered with pass_by, an AI-powered geospatial insights platform to integrate Aurora sensors with ass_by’s advanced predictive software.&nbsp;

Hardware, software, and wearable devices to help prevent and manage the next pandemic.

Infectious Disease Tech

XY Sense is a proptech company that provides occupancy sensor hardware and AI-enabled analytics software to monitor, analyze, and optimize commercial real estate portfolios. Its flagship offerings include the Area Sensor and Workplace Analytics platform, which capture real-time, accurate office occupancy and people movement data to drive workplace insights and space recommendations. The company's sensor technology is designed to be private and secure, capturing only anonymous data while maximizing coverage using 50% to 75% fewer sensors compared to competitors.
XY Sense's technology delivers extensive coverage with each sensor observing 1,000 sq. ft or space for approximately 20 desks, offering superior location precision within one foot, and location data refreshed every two seconds. This minimizes roll-out costs and strengthens sustainability ratings without compromising accuracy or depth of data. XY Sense experienced rapid growth and enterprise customer adoption post-COVID, reporting a 300% increase in revenue following global rollouts as of June 2022, doubling its annual revenue.
The company's solutions are now used in over 14 countries worldwide, with clients such as CBRE, Xero, Mirvac, and Fidelity International. In July 2022, XY Sense raised an USD 8 million Pre-Series A funding round led by InterValley Ventures, with participation from JCI Ventures and Blackbird. Additionally, it secured USD 2 million in venture debt financing from OneVentures for inventory purchases.
Key customers and partnerships
Key customers of XY Sense include leading companies such as CBRE, Xero, Mirvac, and Fidelity International, spanning industries like automotive, banking, consumer packaged goods, data security, government, internet, media, pharmaceutical manufacturing, software development, technology, and telecommunications across the Americas, APAC, and EMEA regions.
In November 2022, XY Sense won the Innovation of the Year Award at the CBRE Global Workplace Solutions (GWS) Supplier Innovation Challenge, recognizing its innovative contributions to serving CBRE clients. The company's partnership with CBRE has led to installations at CBRE's flagship Henrietta House in London to optimize the workplace experience.
Additionally, XY Sense has formed a strategic partnership with JCI Ventures, the corporate venture arm of Johnson Controls, to potentially integrate its anonymous occupancy sensor technology into Johnson Controls' OpenBlue digital offering for smart, healthy, and sustainable building solutions.

Unlocking the potential of olfaction through technology

Smell Tech

NevadaNano is a company that specializes in gas detection sensor technology. Their flagship product is the Molecular Property Spectrometer (MPS), which is a highly accurate and reliable sensor for detecting flammable gases and refrigerants. The MPS sensors offer several key advantages over traditional gas sensors.
Firstly, they can accurately report gas concentrations from 0-100% lower explosive limit (LEL) across 19 flammable gases and six refrigerant gases with a single factory calibration, eliminating the need for field maintenance over their lifetime. Secondly, the sensors feature integrated, real-time measurements and built-in compensation for temperature, pressure, and humidity, ensuring accurate readings across a wide range of environmental conditions, including rapid transients.
Additionally, NevadaNano's MPS sensors are inherently immune to drift, decay, or poisoning, which are common issues faced by traditional sensors over time. This technology was originally developed with support from DARPA, the Department of Defense, and the Department of Homeland Security for challenging gas detection applications.
The MPS sensors have garnered recognition, winning the prestigious R&D100 award and the Tech Connect National Innovation award. NevadaNano's innovative approach to gas detection represents the first new technology in the field in over 40 years, utilizing 24 patented inventions.
In May 2021, NevadaNano announced a partnership with Universal Site Monitoring (USM) to integrate its MPS Flammable Gas Sensors into USM's BLE Gas Sensors and future Personal Safety Monitors. This integration aims to bring real-time gas detection capabilities to the mobile phone market, enabling end-users to monitor gas risks in the field by connecting their mobile phone fleet to USM's Universal Data Interface.

Technologies that automate and optimize building operations using data-driven insights.

Smart Building Technology

Carbon Lighthouse provides a software platform and installation method to deliver energy savings in commercial and industrial buildings. The company deploys a network of low-cost sensors throughout a building's mechanical rooms and roof, collecting real-time data to optimize existing equipment operation. This data-driven approach leads to 20-30% reductions in whole building energy consumption. Carbon Lighthouse's business model allows resolving the landlord-tenant split incentive, enabling energy savings across different lease types. The company has serviced over 450 buildings, eliminating carbon emissions equivalent to three power plants.
In March 2019, Carbon Lighthouse acquired SubscriBERT, which develops machine learning models to enhance building analysis and accelerate deployment timelines. This acquisition complemented Carbon Lighthouse's data advantage by providing cutting-edge artificial intelligence capabilities to identify and implement energy efficiency measures rapidly.

Somos a peopletech pioneira em pesquisas e diagnósticos personalizadas para Gestão Cultural & Gestão de Mudança estratégica em organizações com elevado foco em pessoas, dados e resultados de impacto. Oferecemos resultados mais profundos, assertivos e ágeis, com mínimos vieses de pesquisa.

Alcatraz AI replaces badging as an access point identification method by leveraging facial recognition, 3d sensing, and AI. The company builds a facial authentication platform using AI and 3D sensing to enable a highly secure and frictionless entry into physical locations. Alcatraz AI was founded in 2016 and is headquartered in California, USA.

Founded by Alex Birch and Luke Murray, XY Sense is a proptech company using privacy-preserving sensors and AI-powered analytics to create workplaces people love. The company's sensor collects data passively and delivers accurate(<30cm) workplace utilization analytics in real-time. XY Sense is rapidly gaining popularity with enterprise property teams across Australia and the Asia Pacific and has recently expanded into the USA.

Artisight is an IoT sensor network for healthcare with a mission to improve organizational operations and financial performance. The HIPAA-compliant platform from Artisight uses AI to evaluate data and produce new and previously inaccessible data sets. In accordance with the Illinois Biometric Information Privacy Act, Artisight provides computer vision technologies for the healthcare industry that protect the privacy of patients and healthcare professionals.

Raeden is a marketplace for the real estate industry that creates digital tenancy to feature locations and generate revenue.

RaySecur is the developer of 3D desktop scanners for the safe detection of concealed and potentially dangerous items. The company revolutionizing security imaging with scalable terahertz scanners and remote analysis and threat detection solutions. RaySecur’s systems are used by Fortune 500 companies and government organizations around the world to keep their people and critical assets safe. RaySecur MailSecur device contrary to X-Ray, is easy to use, requires minimal mail screening training, it is light, portable, and rugged, small enough to fit in the smallest of mailrooms, and does not require a secure mail screening area. RaySecur uses millimeter-wave technology similar to the scanners you find at airport security to examine suspicious letters, flat envelopes, and small parcels. Its technology can detect powders as small as 2% of a teaspoon or a single drop of liquid.

Humatics’ breakthrough microlocation system and analytics software comprise a Spatial Intelligence Platform™ that will revolutionize how people and machines locate, navigate and collaborate. A single Humatics system, using simple, inexpensive radio-frequency technology, can pinpoint multiple, moving transponder targets at ranges up to thirty meters with millimeter-scale precision, vastly outperforming existing systems at a fraction of the cost.  These systems can network together to provide broader, ultra-precise positioning coverage – from factory work cells to entire distribution centers and beyond. With its extensible architecture and application programming interfaces (APIs), the Spatial Intelligence Platform™ will power an ecosystem of new position-based products and services.   Humatics was founded in 2015 by Massachusetts Institute of Technology professor David Mindell and technology industry veteran Gary Cohen. Headquartered in Kendall Square, Cambridge, Massachusetts, Humatics has grown to include a world-class team of radar experts, programmers, roboticists, software engineers, and product development leaders.

Magos designs and manufactures state-of-the-art staring radars. They are a cost-effective alternative to any other perimeter detection and Protection/Security solution in the market. The radars operate with a range of up to 400 m when detecting humans and 600 m in the case of vehicles and boats. They have high resolution (up to 40 cm) and 120–360° coverage (depending on the model). Power consumption is low (< 2.5 W).

Carbon Lighthouse is a technology company delivering easy building decarbonization for commercial real estate (CRE) owners. With more than a decade of deep expertise in eliminating carbon emissions from the built environment, its unique Efficiency Production platform and CLUES® AI software capture new climate, financial and operational value for owners that need to reach decarbonization goals. Since 2010, Carbon Lighthouse has enabled clients including Goldman Sachs, The Carlyle Group, L&B, AEW and Ohana to increase NOI of $0.20 - $0.50 per square foot at a cost of $0.07 per square foot while achieving science-based ESG objectives. To date, the company has delivered +$250M in client value and eliminated more than 584,000 tons of carbon emissions. For more information visit: www.carbonlighthouse.com.

Alchemist is a venture-backed accelerator focused on accelerating the development of seed-stage ventures that monetize from enterprises (not consumers). CB Insights rated Alchemist the top accelerator in 2016 based on the median funding rates of its grads (YC was #2). The accelerator’s primary screening criteria is on teams, prioritizing having distinctive technical co-founders. The organization provides seed investment into companies it admits (typically $36K), and provides founders a structured path to traction, fundraising, mentorship, and community throughout a 6-month program. The company's backers include many of the top corporate and VC funds in the Valley -- including Khosla Ventures, DFJ, Cisco, GE, next47(Siemens), and Salesforce, among others—the accelerator seeds around 75 enterprise-monetizing ventures/year. Notable alumni include LaunchDarkly, Rigetti Quantum Computing, mPharma, Matternet, and Mightyhive.

NevadaNano (Nevada Nanotech Systems, Inc.) develops and manufactures micro-electro-mechanical systems (MEMS)-based sensor modules and subsystems for a diverse array of commercial and government applications. Our products are used by system integrator partners and by system manufacturers who benefit from the unique characteristics of our sensors — namely small size, low cost, unattended operation, and the ability to detect a broad range of threats with a single, standard sensor configuration.  The company was founded in 2004 to commercialize a unique sensor technology developed at the University of Nevada, Reno. Early R&D was supported by DARPA, the DOD, and the Department of Homeland Security. NevadaNano has now turned its focus to commercial applications, specifically, the Internet of Things (IOT).  NevadaNano is uniquely positioned to address a broad range of sensor applications. Vapors from bio-agents have been successfully detected, as have chemicals representative of illicit drugs and human respiration. The greatest impact from chemical, explosive, and bio-sensors will only be felt when they can be deployed ubiquitously in large numbers and over wide areas. This will only happen when sensors are small and affordable, can sense a very broad range of substances, and are robust enough to operate unattended for long periods of time. The core element of NevadaNano’s sensor modules and systems is manufactured on a solid-state, MEMS technology, offering small size, low cost, and high reliability. The sensing element is an array of MEMS structures that are not only self-activating and self-sensing, they are also self-cleaning and self-calibrating, thus enabling unattended deployment for extended periods. Using proprietary materials as well as unique sensing methods and analysis techniques, a single sensor configuration is able to detect hundreds of diverse types of vapors and particles. These advantages make our Molecular Property Spectrometer™ (MPS™) solution the leading candidate to fulfill the vision of ubiquitous sensor deployment for both homeland security and commercial applications.

RetailNext engages in Applied Big Data for physical retail, delivering real-time analytics that enables retailers, shopping centers, and manufacturers to collect, analyze, and visualize in-store data. The patented solution uses best-in-class video analytics, Wi-Fi detection, Bluetooth, on-shelf sensors, beacons, and data from point-of-sale systems and other sources to automatically inform retailers about how people engage with their stores. The highly scalable RetailNext platform easily integrates with promotional calendars, staffing systems, and even weather services to analyze how internal and external factors impact customer shopping patterns – providing retailers the ability to identify opportunities for growth, execute changes, and measure success. RetailNext tracks more than one billion shoppers per year by collecting data from more than 65,000 sensors in retail stores and analyzing trillions of data points annually. Headquartered in San Jose, California, RetailNext is a growing global brand operating in over 50 countries.

RedSeal develops security risk management (SRM) software and solutions and helps companies eliminate cyber threats. RedSeal was founded in 2004, helps Global 2000 organizations defend their critical digital assets. RedSeal gets ahead of cyber criminals by calculating every possible internal and external “attack path” to the most valuable network assets – before they do. Customers get a prioritized list of the most vulnerable paths to their most valuable assets.  More than 200 corporations and government agencies worldwide have RedSealed their networks, including five of the top 50 financial institutions, all of the major security vendors, fifteen of the Fortune 100 retail companies, and a number of US government organizations including the US Army, US Navy, US Postal Service and the FAA. Key commercial customers include Nationwide, Oracle, Cisco and First Data. RedSeal partners with all of the top suppliers of network infrastructure (Cisco, Juniper Networks, Fortinet, Arista, Aruba, Check Point, Palo Alto Networks, F5). Its software integrates with all industry leading security solutions (McAfee, Symantec, Qualys, HP ArcSight, Rapid7, Splunk,Tripwire, MaxPatrol, nMap) as well as with major workflow vendors (ServiceNow, Remedy), providing the most comprehensive validation of network security. RedSeal is backed by prominent venture investors including Venrock, Leapfrog Ventures, Sutter Hill Ventures, JAFCO Ventures, Olympic Venture Partners and In-Q-Tel.

Waygum is a Mobile App Platform that delivers the last mile mobile layer for your IOIT.

Qolsys is a manufacturer of security and smarthome products for residential and small business solutions. They offer an IQ Panel that features several industry firsts, including a 7-inch HD touchscreen with an intuitive graphical swipe-based user interface for security and smart home control, dual-path and cloud connectivity over LTE and Wi-Fi for intelligent redundancy, reliability, and speed.

JCI Ventures (formerly Tyco Ventures) is the corporate venture arm of Johnson Controls International PLC, the resulting entity of the merger between Legacy Johnson Controls and Tyco International. JCI is the $30B global leader in building, physical security, and energy solutions. We provide access to a global network of resources and customer installed base and partner with and invests in startups in AI and Machine Learning, Blockchain, Unmanned Machines, IoT, Security, and Smart Buildings technologies and solutions relevant to our core markets. JCI Ventures is based in the San Francisco Bay Area.

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