Smartvue

About Smartvue

Smartvue Corporation was an IoT and video solutions provider, founded in 1996 by Martin Renkis. The Nashville-based company developed a global video surveillance and IoT video cloud platform designed to empower cloud video surveillance and IoT video services. Its Platform-as-a-Service (PaaS) supported connected devices requiring video capture, security, transport, cloud storage, management, and distribution.

The company's business model was centered on providing its open API cloud architecture as a scalable video-as-a-service (VSaaS) solution. This allowed clients such as telecommunications companies, cable companies, security firms, and device manufacturers to integrate or embed the software stack into their own products, creating new recurring revenue streams. Smartvue served a wide range of industries, including banking, healthcare, retail, and city surveillance, in 140 countries.

Martin Renkis, a serial entrepreneur with a background in e-learning software, founded Smartvue with the vision of making complex technologies simple. He is credited with introducing the first cloud surveillance subscriptions in 1999. Over its history, the company raised a total of $19.3 million in funding over five rounds, with a notable Series B round of $15 million in 2015. A key milestone was a multi-million dollar deal with Time Warner Cable, which led to the installation of Smartvue's home surveillance systems in tens of thousands of homes. At one point, the platform was uploading more video footage to the cloud daily than YouTube.

In April 2018, Johnson Controls acquired Smartvue for an undisclosed amount. The acquisition was driven by Smartvue's need for significant capital to continue its growth. The integration of Smartvue's technology enhanced Johnson Controls' OpenBlue security platform, bolstering its cloud-based video and access control solutions. Following the acquisition, Renkis joined Johnson Controls, taking on roles such as Vice President of OpenBlue Security and Innovation.