The Wayzn Sliding Glass Door Opener was a big hit at CES 2020 for its innovative design and function. It can open sliding...
Problem
Windows and doors have been left behind by advances in smart technology
While smart technology races forward, few options exist for door and window control. Antiquated door and window technology costs people time and money.
Today, dog owners must return home frequently to give their pets exercise and avoid accidents, or employ a pet door that is unsightly, poorly insulated and a security risk.
And without the ability to automatically ventilate buildings based on outside temperature, families and businesses are missing a significant energy-saving opportunity.
Even though the utility of smart doors and windows is obvious, manufacturers have been slow to respond. To remain competitive, these companies must evolve, and currently they lack options to license and embed smart capabilities.
Solution
Wayzn: Freedom for people and their pets
Wayzn is leading the transformation toward windows and doors that open and close intelligently, without manual intervention. Our first product, Wayzn for Doors, gives people the freedom to let their dog out from anywhere, anytime.
Wayzn for Windows will enable millions of people to ventilate homes and commercial buildings automatically to improve comfort while saving energy.
Wayzn's technology can be implemented in DIY consumer products, or embedded in doors and windows during the manufacturing process.
Product
Introducing... the smart door
Wayzn for Doors turns your existing sliding glass door into a smart, automatic pet door.
Save time and money
No more planning your schedule around your pet’s potty breaks, or needing to pay a dog walker to let your pet out. Wayzn gives you full control of your sliding glass door wherever you are.
Installs in minutes
Say goodbye to ugly, permanent pet doors forever. Wayzn works with standard sliding glass doors, and can be installed in minutes. It can also easily be removed and moved from door-to-door.
Conveniently folds away
Wayzn effortlessly folds up and out of the way when not in use. When you’re ready to use it again, simply fold it down. It’s that simple.
Traction
Thousands sold in the U.S.
In just over two years Wayzn has gone from idea to smart door market leader. Since our initial patent filing in early 2018 we've developed the technology platform, manufacturing and operations necessary to put Wayzn in the hands of thousands of customers.
Product/market fit is already well-established
- Funding goal reached on Indiegogo in under 7 hours
- Over 3,000 orders taken to-date
- Winner of 7 industry awards in 2020
- Covered by over 60 media publications
Operations are up and running
- Supply chain sourcing is established
- U.S. and offshore manufacturing is ready to scale
- Fulfillment and customer support already running smoothly
Generating significant revenue
- Over $220k raised on Indiegogo
- More than $445k in direct sales
- Top line more than doubled each of past two years
Advanced technology fully developed
- Industry-leading security architecture
- AI to adapt automatically to different doors/conditions
- Heavy investment across the overall solution to maximize safety and security
- Non-provisional design and utility patent applications filed
Customers
Customers love Wayzn
Business model
$77M in revenue by 2024
Wayzn will reach its revenue target with three revenue streams:
1. Product sales
We are already selling Wayzn for Doors, utilizing direct sales channels exclusively. We will begin selling add-on products to existing customers later this year, and introduce Wayzn for Windows in 2021.
2. Services subscriptions
After achieving sufficient consumer adoption we will introduce subscription services for specific integrations, and for commercial applications in general.
3. Technology licensing
The bulk of our revenues will come in the form of embedded technology sales and licensing. We are already receiving inquiries.
Market
A $160B market opportunity
Windows and doors represent a $160+ billion market that is ripe for technological advancement.
85 million households with a sliding door and a dog
600 million households with sliding windows
400 million residential sliding windows/doors made every year
Competition
In front of an emerging market
Despite the fact that door automation technology has been used successfully in commercial applications, prior attempts to enter the residential market have met with limited success.
Wayzn for Doors is positioned to succeed because it was designed from the ground up as a smart product, it can be installed in minutes with just a screwdriver, and it costs less than half the price of other after-market products.
The positive consumer and industry response to Wayzn for Doors is proof that it fills an unmet need. We expect Wayzn for Windows to launch with little or no competition, and provide an even stronger value proposition to a significantly larger audience.
Vision and strategy
Bringing windows and doors into the future
Wayzn is leading the way to a future where windows and doors intelligently open and close to provide ventilation and access, significantly increasing freedom, efficiency and comfort.
We will continue to expand our direct-to-consumer product and service offering, making it extremely easy to transform existing windows and doors into smart, automated entry and ventilation points.
Next year we will make this same technology available to manufacturers in both retrofit and embedded forms, and we are already entertaining discussions.
Funding
$550K raised to date
Our ability to generate revenue early and consistently has enabled Wayzn to get far with relatively little outside investment. The founders are the largest investors to date, supplemented with limited angel and F&F investment.
Founders
Co-founders + bros = "Brofounders"
One snowy night on a ski trip to Lake Tahoe, after spending a small fortune to board the dogs, we had a crazy idea. Mike said to his brother-in-law Adam, "What if we could let our dogs out using our sliding patio doors when we weren't home?" And the rest, as they say, is history.
Mike Demele
Mike has a computer science background and 30 years of experience in enterprise and mobile software development. He spent much of his career overseeing new product introductions at Peoplesoft and Oracle for Fortune 500 customers. Before starting Wayzn he co-founded LifeSaver, a leading mobile technology company that helps commercial fleets prevent distracted driving.
Adam Smithline
Adam studied business and is an entrepreneur who left Autodesk in 1996 to join his first startup, PointCast. Since then he's helped lead multiple startups and oversaw direct marketing for RHI, a $3B services company. Before starting Wayzn he co-founded LeapFrogBI, a leading analytics services firm.