SimpliSafe now integrates with Amazon Alexa
Homeowners: You can now control your SimpliSafe home security system using Amazon Alexa. The process is pretty simple. When you’re leaving, say, “Alexa, tell SimpliSafe I’m leaving,” and voila! Your home security system will be set to ‘away’ mode, activating your entry and motion sensors. Once you’ve enabled the SimpliSafe skill in the Amazon Alexa app, you can also tell Alexa to do things like lock your doors and set your cameras on or off. When you’re away from home, you can check the security of your house by saying, “Alexa, ask SimpliSafe what’s shakin’.” We wish we were kidding. [PC Magazine]
Iora Health pulls in $100M Series E to deliver better care to patients
Iora Health is on a mission to improve quality of care through a comprehensive approach to primary care — and the Boston-based tech company just reeled in $100 million to do that. Investors in the Series E financing include .406 Ventures, Devonshire Investors, F-Prime Capital, Flare Capital Partners, GE Ventures, Humana, Khosla Ventures, Polaris Partners and Temasek. In a statement, the company said the funding will go toward continued growth and improving its technology. [Built In Boston]
Building Engines acquires AwareManager
Building Engines, a Boston-based real estate tech company offering property management solutions, announced on Wednesday that it has acquired AwareManager, a local competitor. Building Engines hopes that together, the duo can give commercial organizations a broad set of capabilities spanning almost every aspect of building operations — from improving tenant satisfaction to increasing operational efficiency. With the addition of AwareManager’s customer base, a whopping 2 billion square feet of commercial property will be managed by the combined entity. Wow! [Press Release]
Tidelift aims to improve open source software with $15M Series A
Tidelift, a Boston-based startup that gives software development teams professionally maintained, secured and licensed open source software from a single source, just raised a $15 million Series A round. The funding, which was led by General Catalyst, Foundry Group and former Red Hat Chairman and CEO Matthew Szulik, will be used to expand Tidelift’s customer base and build out the company’s subscription offerings. [Built In Boston]
3 local tech companies made CNBC’s ‘Disruptor’ list
Every year, Built In Boston makes a “50 startups to watch” list of the top local startups it believes will make waves in the following 365 days. CNBC makes a similar list, only they highlight companies from all over the world that are disrupting their industries. In 2018, three Boston tech companies made the list for breaking new ground in areas like genetics, agriculture and more. Can you guess who made the cut? [Built In Boston]
