Proxy builds Bluetooth low-energy readers and an identity app that let employees open doors, elevators, turnstiles and garages without taking their phones out. Buildings install Proxy’s signal readers which integrate with existing access-control systems or Proxy’s management dashboard; readers cost roughly $300–$350 plus installation and a $30/month per-reader subscription. The company also offers an SDK and APIs to extend touchless access to Wi‑Fi routers, printers, vending machines and delivery workflows, and has launched smaller Nano sensors for device-level integrations. Proxy emphasizes privacy and security with tokenized credentials, SOC‑2 certification, GDPR compliance, and biometric data kept on users’ phones. It has over 60 customers and is using recent funding to hire across offices and speed deployments of its hardware and access-control software. Proxy positions its product as a background service that can scale across tenants in commercial properties and potentially expand into more physical lock hardware or consumer use cases over time. Proxy offers a Bluetooth Low Energy identity system that turns a user's phone into a hands-free credential for office access and workplace personalization. Its core product is an app that constantly emits an encrypted one-time Bluetooth identifier picked up by readers that retrofit existing access-control fixtures, replacing badges and apps for door entry. Proxy charges for hardware plus a monthly subscription per reader, has piloted with roughly 50 companies, reports about 90% adoption across deployments, and says it has not lost a customer in two years. After demoing at Y Combinator, thousands of companies reached out, and customers include WeWork's headquarters and Dropbox. The company emphasizes privacy and user control—interactions run on encrypted one-time tokens so users retain control of their credentials. Proxy plans to expand beyond doors to auto-reserve conference rooms, sign users into teleconferences, personalize workstations, improve guest check-in and build SDKs so other devices (cars, homes, hotels, retail) can recognize users. Proxy provides an app that turns users’ smartphones into Bluetooth beacons that sensors on IoT devices detect to verify identity and grant access. Its backend verifies IDs and aims to complete the verification in a few seconds so users can instantly open doors or load personalized settings. Today the technology is implemented with office door locking systems that normally require card keys; the company has not yet expanded to other consumer electronics or building systems. Twenty companies in the San Francisco Bay Area have signed up to use Proxy for employee access. The startup plans to use funding to raise its profile and to develop an API so the app can work with other devices and platforms. Proxy is part of the current Y Combinator batch and was originally incorporated as Martians Inc.; it has raised $1.6 million in seed funding from Y Combinator and Blackbird Ventures.

Total raised

$57M

Funding rounds

3

Latest round

Series B

Latest activity

Mar 2020