Two tech entrepreneurs from Lebanon are crowdfunding for their new digital doorkey start-up, Smarke. It’s a hardware and software concept that lets users close and open their door locks using an app on their smartphones, instead of physical keys.
Founders Charly Bousaid and Hady Abdelnour came up with the idea of a Bluetooth and WiFi enabled lock that could be accessed from your phone. It’ll mean users have fewer things to physically carry with them; and property owners can also remotely hand out access to their guests, forwarding them the keycode access to an app on their smartphones.
Smarke is now looking to crowdfund $300,000 (£241,000) to allow them to expand their production line and serve consumers and property developers around the Middle East and Europe.
Smarke is installable the developers say on euro profile cylinder locks, replacing the old lock’s interior with a smart-cylinder that will pair wirelessly to a smartphone app.
The owner is notified when the door is opened, can send the key to other users, and revoke key access at any time. It only takes a minute to install and is as secure as the old lock, if not more so, say the Smarke founders, as it can only be opened wirelessly by the correct keycode from the approved app, rather than duplicated physical keys.
The Smarke app uses Bluetooth to unlock and lock the door, so there‘s no need to rely on potentially hackable Wi-Fi or a vulnerable internet connection.
Smarke has been picked by the UK-Lebanon Tech Hub – a joint initiative by Banque du Liban (Lebanon’s Central Bank) and the UK Government – as having potential.
Smarke was part of the cohort that came to the UK in September 2016 to gain access to British and European markets. The company signed a number of contracts with property manager clients during the three months in London.
Charly Bousaid said: “The idea behind Smarke is simple: when it comes to rentals, specifically short rentals on platforms such as Airbnb and HomeAway, accessing a property should be as smooth and painless as the booking process.”
For more information concerning crowdfunding Smarke and to order their smart lock and connected products at discounted rates visit www.smarke.com/crowd.
