Folsom-based venture capital firm Moneta Ventures has led a $1.3 million seed funding round into Bekonix Inc., a Sacramento company developing a no-code platform to help people build smart hardware and software for internet-connected devices.
Founded in 2020, the company recently generally released its platform for Mac and Windows machines that lets users drag-and-drop access to controllers, inputs, outputs and sound players without any coding.
"With our 100% no-code platform, Bekonix is seeing success with innovators not only by making it faster and easier to make smart, connected (Internet of Things) devices, but in broadening the types and number of companies that can create deep-technology products," said Daniel Kaye, co-founder and CEO of Bekonix, in a news release.
The platform has access to off-the-shelf microcontrollers, which can be paired with LED lights and strips, along with various sensors, switches and other devices. The platform also can control outputs like motors, pumps and relays, as well as a variety of sound players.
“The platform enables a greater participation to put tools in the hands of innovators who don’t have a background of deep engineering or coding,” David Allen, a partner with Moneta, told the Business Journal.
Clients can develop customer-facing products, or they can use the platform to create a prototype that can then be further developed by engineers, he said.
Customers can be do-it-yourself entrepreneurs or enterprise clients.
Bekonix has eight employees, but many of them have decades of experience, Allen said. “It is pretty amazing what they have been able to do with a small team.”
Allen has joined Bekonix’s board of directors.
Bekonix is in the current cohort of the Growth Factory accelerator program in Rocklin, and it was one of the companies chosen to represent the Sacramento tech scene in the Startup World Cup pitch contest in September.
Moneta is the first venture capital investor into the company, Allen said.
Bekonix has a seat-based subscription model, that as it gets more complex includes tiered pricing. If users get more advanced, the Bekonix Studio charges on a quoted basis, Allen said. The company plans to build a community of users to support each other in using the platform and developing products.
"With this round of funding, our team is well positioned to drive adoption of our platform and help businesses benefit in our proven segments — wearables, modern furniture, lighting, signage, toys and games and education", said Jyoti Das, co-founder and president at Bekonix, in a news release. He said the company has partners in agricultural technology, logistics and medical technology, among other areas.
