Luma designs glossy, Apple-like Wi‑Fi routers sold as three‑packs that combine consumer ease-of-use with enterprise-style network controls and parental-management features. The routers retail at $399 per three‑pack and sold 30,000 pre-orders before shipping began in June; the company finished fulfilling those orders in August. Luma sells through its own site and Amazon and is available in 700 Best Buy stores, with plans to be in at least 2,000 brick-and-mortar locations by year end. The company issues over‑the‑air software updates to add features like port forwarding and daily internet time limits for children. Luma was founded two years ago, employs about 60 people, and positions itself against competitors such as Eero and Google’s OnHub. Management emphasizes the router as a necessary home backbone and aims to capture share as the market for next‑generation home networking heats up. Luma makes glossy, Apple-like consumer mesh Wi-Fi routers designed to be sprinkled around the home to extend coverage. Its product emphasizes enterprise-style security and granular parental controls accessible via a phone app, allowing parents to pause Internet access, restrict content, see devices on the network and revoke access. Individual units are priced at $149 and cover roughly 1,500 square feet; a three-pack costs $299. The company had about 30,000 pre-orders and expects first customer shipments in June. Founders Mike Van Bruinisse and Paul Judge bring experience from enterprise networking and security companies (CipherTrust and PureWire). Luma is integrating with Amazon's Alexa and plans a kid-specific content channel curated with Amazon partners like Disney and PBS Kids. Luma was created by Dr. Paul Judge and Mike Van Bruinisse to address home Wi‑Fi dead spots with a small, app‑managed hotspot. The device uses a private mesh network and a “surround sound” method so multiple units communicate to optimize coverage and performance. Each unit pairs with a mobile app via Bluetooth to help users find ideal placement; the devices communicate about traffic patterns and interference and automatically retune on the fly. Luma also bundles parental controls, content filtering, mobile device management and cybersecurity into the product. The hardware is available for pre‑order: one unit costs $99 and a three‑pack costs $249, and the product ships in 2016 (currently offered at a 50% off promotion in the article). Financially, Luma has raised $3.5 million in outside funding led by Felicis Ventures.

Total raised

$23M

Funding rounds

3

Latest round

Convertible Note

Latest activity

Sep 2016