Chinese startup goes global with crowdfunding campaign for smart home security system

A new Chinese startup is looking to make an impact around the world with its smart home security system that uses image recognition technology.

The new gadget, called CamPoint, is now available via a crowdfunding campaign on Indiegogo. With 25 days left, the startup team has already raised US$28,600 of its US$50,000 goal.

CamPoint promises to be smart in that it avoids giving you false alarms by recognizing objects and learning about your home. For example, if your home has a dog, CamPoint will (for the first occurrence only) spot its movement and send a still image to the app in your phone. Once you opt to dismiss the dog as not being an intruder or a threat, the gadget learns and won’t bother you with further alerts related to your canine companion.

CamPoint doesn’t come with a camera, as the team says it wants users to have the freedom to choose any compatible camera they wish. Night vision cameras are supported, too. But the startup is making its own camera that’s sold as an optional extra. The system can connect with up to three cameras simultaneously.

See: This startup is real and and it’s totally serious about reading cat faces

Alarming

CamPoint founder and CEO Jason Wang tells Tech in Asia that the startup, which came together last year, is working on more gadgets in this area. “We are planning to develop more sensor products in the future. These sensors will work together with CamPoint and detect if there is anything strange happening at home. For example, if our flood sensor is triggered, it will send a signal to CamPoint, and CamPoint will ask the cameras to shoot video clips and send them to a user’s cellphone,” he explains.

Unusually for a Chinese venture, the team is looking to overseas markets first – although that’s gradually becoming more common as hardware startups coming out of China find their feet. Wang says that CamPoint is looking overseas because “houses are more vulnerable to be broken into than apartments” – a reference to the fact that most urban, middle-class Chinese live in gated apartment complexes replete with security guards.

Wang formerly worked at Phantom, a Chinese smart gadget maker that we profiled last year.

CamPoint is made up of a team of seven people, including image recognition experts from China’s renowned Tsinghua University. The Beijing-based startup now has a branch in San Mateo, California, to support its overseas operations.

The CamPoint system starts from US$149, at the “early bird” crowdfunding price, if you already have cameras to go with it. The team expects to ship its first orders next April. Here’s a quick video demo: