Lima offers a hardware adapter paired with a multi-platform app that changes device OS architecture so all devices contain the same files and reflect changes instantly. Unlike cloud services, Lima aims to avoid creating another silo by keeping users’ libraries unified across devices. The product was launched via Kickstarter, where nearly 13,000 backers contributed $1.2 million and the campaign reached its funding goal in under 12 hours. Lima planned initial device shipments in Q3 with broader distribution in Q4 across North America and Europe. The company intended to use new funding to expand engineering, marketing, sales and distribution and to build a go-to-market strategy across North America, Europe and Asia. Founders named in the announcement are Severin Marcombes and Gawen Arab. Lima (formerly Plug) sells a $69 adapter and companion apps that turn connected USB drives into a personal Dropbox-style storage and syncing solution. The Linux-based adapter creates a VPN between devices and the unit and integrates at the filesystem level so files on attached drives are available across devices at home or away. Users can choose to cache folders locally, avoid subscription fees, and retain ownership of files since data is stored on users' drives rather than cloud services like Amazon S3. Lima added Chromecast support by using Google's SDK to stream music, photos, and re-encoded h.264 video from the device through its iOS and Android apps. The company automatically re-encodes videos to h.264 for compatibility and plans to deliver adapters in December. Financially, Lima's Kickstarter campaign exceeded its $69,000 goal—raising $858,000 with 24 days remaining and ranking in Kickstarter's technology top 10.

Total raised

$3M

Funding rounds

2

Latest round

Series A

Latest activity

Jun 2014