Neocontrol U.S. Establishes Canadian Distributorship, soft landing company's first in the international marketplace

ORLANDO, Fla. -- Neocontrol US, LLC, the Orlando-based North American subsidiary of a leading Brazil-based company that provides a full range of innovative, custom wireless home automation products and systems, has signed on Toronto-based SFI-Tech, as its new distributor for international markets outside of Brazil. 

 

SFI-Tech contacted Neocontrol about distributing their product and provided market research verifying their dealers’ strong interest in their innovative home automation products.  “This interesting approach demonstrated SFI-Tech was already in touch with and distributing to resellers in our target market,” said Andre Comitre, chief operating officer. ‘That was a major factor in the agreement.”

 

SFI-Tech will be the exclusive distributor for Canada making sure dealers are always stocked with the products Neocontrol is offering to the international market – the Neocontrol Pro line comprised of several innovative and easy-to-integrate products from clever objects of art that change positions to a wireless ultimate touch key pad.  Comitre added that all products are environmentally sustainable.

 

Neocontrol is looking for other distributor relationships to target other regions of the world with their wireless automation products which focus on integrated security and energy efficient technologies for both homes and businesses

 

Neocontrol is a member of the UCF Business Incubator’s Soft Landing program, which provides a suite of resources designed to help expanding firms transition to new business environments by helping them quickly adapt and connect to the business community while reducing risks and costs involved with testing and operating in a new market.

 

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About the UCF Business Incubation Program:

The University of Central Florida Business Incubation Program is a community resource that provides early-stage companies with the tools, training and infrastructure to become financially stable, high growth / impact enterprises.   Since 1999, this award-winning program has helped hundreds of local startup companies reach their potential faster by providing vital business development resources. 

With seven facilities throughout the region, the UCF Business Incubation Program is an economic development partnership between the University of Central Florida, the Corridor, Orange, Osceola, Seminole and Volusia Counties, and the cities of Apopka, Kissimmee, Orlando and Winter Springs.  Participating companies sustain more than 3,600 local jobs and have had a total impact of $1.51B on regional sales and $2.48B on regional economic output.  During the last fiscal year, the program has returned $7.95 for every $1.00 invested in the program.   For more information, visit www.incubator.ucf.edu

 

Orlando-based UniKey Receives $5 Million in Venture Capital -- UCF Business Incubator Graduate to Expand Workforce

Orlando, Fla. --- UniKey Technologies, Inc., a graduate of the University of Central Florida Business Incubation Program and a leader in smart access control, recently received $5 Million in venture capital from existing investors, including Samsung NEXT, as well as two additional strategic investors.

Phil Dumas, founder and CEO of UniKey, said his company has raised more than $20 million in equity and debt since it started as an Incubator client. In 2013 UniKey partnered with Kwikset and released the Kevo, the world’s first smart lock in the residential market. Today, UniKey has 15 customers, spanning 65 countries using their smart lock technology.

UniKey is now expanding into the commercial IoT¹ industries through recent partnerships with Nortek and Grosvenor. “Companies want to provide their employees and customers with convenience by using their phones to access businesses without special keys or cards. Our technology makes that possible.

”With customer experience being top-of-mind for every manufacturer, transformative change in the access control industry is now occurring through UniKey’s smart lock platform. “We partner with OEMs (Original Equipment Manufacturer) who want to integrate our technology into their own products,” said Dumas.

Dumas also said UniKey is looking to expand and add at least five new hires to the team by year end. Positions will focus on software engineering and development.

The strategic plan is to move the entire keychain to the phone, in a more convenient way than a key. Then the goal will be reached. Access to the home, business and vehicle with a phone, dramatically improving the economics, mobility, and robustness of wireless access and how we live. 

Upon graduation from the UCF Business Incubator, UniKey relocated a few times and is now settled in at its new headquarters in downtown Orlando at 111 W. Jefferson St. and opened a satellite office in Silicon Valley at 68 Willow Rd. Menlo Park, Calif.

Guard Dog Valves Launches Crowdfunding Campaign at Kickstarter.com - Taking Patented Money / Water Saving Product to Next Phase

KISSIMMEE / ORLANDO --- Guard Dog Valves, Inc., headquartered in Kissimmee at the University of Central Florida Business Incubator, providing a new motion-sensor toilet shut-off valve, has launched a bid to fund commercialization of its patented, energy efficient valves at Kickstarter.com, the world’s largest funding platform for creative projects.

Now through July 15, Kickstarter.com subscribers worldwide will decide whether to help finance the next phase of Guard Dog Valves, Inc.’s goal of getting its innovative technology installed in homes, apartments and businesses to eliminate waste of fresh water.   The innovative technology combines both water conservation and water damage prevention, according to Joe Guidish, Chief Financial Officer of the firm.

Guard Dog’s patented technology that was developed working closely with UCF’s Department of Engineering only allows water to flow into the toilet when it senses someone is in the bathroom.   The Guard Dog Valves shut water off at the source in the wall once someone leaves the bathroom and if a leak was to occur from the stem or tank, the valve would eliminate the continuous flow of water, Guidish explained.

The Central Florida Water Initiative (CFWI) has projected that by 2035, Central Florida will grow from 2.7 to 4.1 million people, requiring over 250 million more gallons than the aquifer even has in it to be pumped.   Based on the EPA, nearly 30 percent of the water used in households gets flushed down the toilet. With over a trillion gallons of water being wasted annually in homes, it becomes apparent how much waste is occurring from malfunctioning toilet systems (leaking flappers, bad seals, hose line breaks).

“Funding for the next stage of our operations is critical but we feel confident that Kickstarter.com subscribers will seriously consider our request and help us reach our goal,” he said.

Guard Dog Valves recently installed 48 of the motion-sensored toilet shut-off valves at the Mercury 3100 apartment complex on Alafaya Club Drive in East Orlando and they should be seeing vast water savings very soon.   

Guard Dog Valves started operations less than two years ago at 111 E. Monument Ave.  Visit www.GuardDogValves.com

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About Guard Dog Valves

Guard Dog Valves assembles and sells patented water control valves for toilets, complete bathrooms and the whole house or building.  The patented technology of the device only allow water to flow when using these rooms.  Water is shut off at the source when these facilities are not occupied or in use.  The company’s products reduce water bills and prevent loss and damage from flooding.   

About the UCF Business Incubation Program:

The University of Central Florida Business Incubation Program is a community resource that provides early-stage companies with the tools, training and infrastructure to become financially stable, high growth / impact enterprises.   Since 1999, this award-winning program has helped hundreds of local startup companies reach their potential faster by providing vital business development resources. 

With seven facilities throughout the region, the UCF Business Incubation Program is an economic development partnership between the University of Central Florida, the Corridor, Orange, Osceola, Seminole and Volusia Counties, and the cities of Apopka, Kissimmee, Orlando and Winter Springs.  Participating companies sustain more than 3,600 local jobs and have had a total impact of $1.51B on regional sales and $2.48B on regional economic output.  During the last fiscal year, the program has returned $7.95 for every $1.00 invested in the program.   For more information, visit www.incubator.ucf.edu