Participated · Seed · May 2024

qomodo develops host-level observability and threat-prevention software agents for extended Internet of Things (XIoT) and embedded systems, using machine learning to proactively detect and block intrusions without impacting device performance. The team—composed of ex-BAE Systems and NATO cyber security experts—participated in the Techstars 2023 cohort and targets devices that were previously ‘black boxes’ by profiling behaviour and vulnerabilities. Its offering pairs platform-agnostic embedded agents with a honeypot network to expand intelligence on IoT hacking attempts. qomodo positions its product at manufacturers of IoT devices and operators of critical infrastructure, citing rising nation-state and criminal threats to XIoT environments. The company reports a surge in IoT-targeting malware (a 400% increase cited) and highlights the broader economic impact (the article cites UK costs of £1 billion a year). The £1.3M Pre-Seed round will be used to enhance the agents and support outreach in Europe and the US to refine product-market fit.

Led · Series D · Nov 2013

Project Frog creates prefabricated, energy-efficient building components that ship ready for on-site assembly, described in the article as an “IKEA for energy-efficient buildings.” Its product lineup includes education- and medical-specific kits plus flexible “Flex” kits for multiple use cases. Projects typically complete in about six months on average, allowing the company to emphasize affordability alongside energy efficiency. The company is expanding its product design and manufacturing capabilities and says it will ramp production to deliver a significant number of buildings to large school districts and healthcare providers. In 2013 it developed seven times the square footage it did in 2012 and secured a contract with the South San Francisco Unified School District for over 200,000 square feet. Project Frog is further developing healthcare and retail solutions and pursuing additional verticals while targeting scale in the large global construction market. Project Frog delivers semi-custom, pre-engineered kits of energy-efficient building materials and uses advanced 3D modeling to analyze sites and optimize designs for local conditions. Its approach speeds construction and lowers costs by delivering kits ready for on-site assembly. Buildings using Project Frog’s kits consume at least 25% less energy than the strictest U.S. building codes and up to 80% less in some regions. Kits take one to six months to produce—less than half the time required for traditional construction—and projects typically finish in about six months. Project Frog was a winner in GE’s smart grid challenge (one of 10 startups splitting $63 million). The company intends to use new funding to expand sales, execute orders, and support installation of a prefab building at GE’s Learning Center in Ossining, N.Y.