Development Bank Helps Unlock Growth for Home Technology Start-Up

Development Bank of Wales , 22nd April 2024

The Development Bank of Wales is helping a home technology start-up go to market with a smart locking system.

SecuraCo is using a £50,000 micro loan to help launch their first smart home locking system, Securaki.

The system could result in door keys being a thing of the past. Securaki can be fitted on to most door locks quickly and easily, with no specialist expertise needed, converting any lock into a smart lock. That could make it ideal for not only homeowners but also properties with temporary residents such as rental and AirBnB properties.

Once fitted, users can remotely lock or unlock their doors without keys, using their fobs, digital keypads or smartphones. The Securaki mobile app also allows owners to check whether doors are locked or unlocked, monitor the activity of other users, and provide temporary or time-limited access when needed. It is also the only smart lock that can be used with 90% of UK doors and most European and US doors.

The Cardiff-based startup has now signed a distribution deal with Nimans, one of the UK's major technology distributors, to take the pioneering startup to both domestic and commercial market. The loan from the Development Bank of Wales will be invaluable to support this launch, allowing them to get products out to customers early in the spring.

SecuraCo is the brainchild of Gavin Jones, a construction entrepreneur, with the company later joined by technology entrepreneur Nadeeke Illeperuma. Both have decades of experience in the market, which helped them to create, design, and develop this innovative solution, with the agreement with Nimans steered by Simon Humphries, the business’ sales and marketing director.

CEO and founder of SecuraCo, Gavin Jones, said:

“We all know from personal experience how frustrating and stressful losing your keys can be. That is how I got the idea for Securaki. Given its universal application to any type of lock, and how easily it can be fitted, we are hopeful that Securaki can make those stresses a thing of the past – not just for individual homes, but also for larger buildings such as apartment blocks and workplaces, as well as rental properties.

“We are excited to get them out to market this spring thanks to the support of the Development Bank and our distributors. And this is just our first product – we also have plans to add more products to the SecuraCo product family, including smart cameras, alarms and doorbells.”

Co-founder of SecuraCo, Nadeeke Illeperuma, added:

“Our mission is to help make smart home technology accessible to all, with our first product helping to convert every lock into a smart lock. With Securaki, we were focused not only on creating a product that was easy-to-use and incorporated pioneering technology but also was beautifully designed so every user would want one on their door.”

Claire Vokes, investment executive at the Development Bank of Wales, said:

“It was a pleasure to work with Gavin and Nadeeke at SecuraCo. Their product has fantastic potential, and we look forward to seeing SecuraCo acquire their first customers as the new units start rolling out this year.

“Our micro loans can help businesses take the next steps in their growth, including bringing new products to market or launching new services.

The £32.5 million Wales Micro Loan Fund is financed entirely by the Welsh Government. Loans between £1,000 and £50,000 are available for small to medium sized businesses, including limited companies, sole traders and partnerships with repayment terms ranging between one and 10 years.

For more information, visit developmentbank.wales

Mae Banc Datblygu Cymru yn helpu cwmni technoleg cartref newydd yn Ne Cymru i fynd i'r farchnad y gwanwyn hwn gyda micro fenthyciad o £50,000 i helpu i lansio eu system cloi cartref clyfar cyntaf Securaki.

Disgwylir i'r system cloi cartref hon chwyldroi'r farchnad diogelwch cartref craff, a gallai arwain at olygu bod goriadau / allweddi drysau yn rhywbeth o'r gorffennol. Gellir gosod Securaki ar y rhan fwyaf o gloeon drws yn gyflym ac yn hawdd, heb unrhyw arbenigedd arbenigol, gan drosi unrhyw glo yn glo craff - gan ei wneud yn ddelfrydol ar gyfer nid yn unig perchnogion tai ond hefyd eiddo â phreswylwyr dros dro fel eiddo rhent ac AirBnB.

Ar ôl eu gosod, gall defnyddwyr gloi neu ddatgloi eu drysau o bell heb allweddi, gan ddefnyddio eu ffobiau, eu bysellbadiau digidol neu eu ffonau clyfar. Mae ap symudol Securaki hefyd yn caniatáu i berchnogion wirio a yw drysau wedi'u cloi neu eu datgloi, monitro gweithgaredd defnyddwyr eraill, a darparu mynediad dros dro neu â therfyn amser pan fo angen. Dyma hefyd yr unig glo smart y gellir ei ddefnyddio gyda 90% o ddrysau'r DU a'r rhan fwyaf o ddrysau Ewrop a'r Unol Daleithiau.

Mae'r cwmni newydd o Gaerdydd bellach wedi arwyddo cytundeb dosbarthu gyda Nimans, un o brif ddosbarthwyr technoleg y DU, i fynd â'r cwmni newydd arloesol i'r farchnad ddomestig a masnachol. Bydd y benthyciad gan Fanc Datblygu Cymru yn amhrisiadwy i gefnogi’r lansiad hwn, gan ganiatáu iddynt gael cynnyrch allan i gwsmeriaid yn gynnar yn y gwanwyn.

Syniad Gavin Jones, mentergarwr adeiladu yw SecuraCo, gyda’r cwmni yn ddiweddarach yn ymuno â’r mentergarwr technoleg Nadeeke Illeperuma. Mae gan y ddau ddegawdau o brofiad yn y farchnad, a helpodd nhw i greu, dylunio, a datblygu’r datrysiad arloesol hwn, gyda’r cytundeb gyda Nimans yn cael ei lywio gan Simon Humphries, cyfarwyddwr gwerthu a marchnata’r busnes.

Meddai Prif Weithredwr a sylfaenydd SecuraCo, Gavin Jones:

“Rydym i gyd yn gwybod o brofiad personol pa mor rhwystredig a dirdynnol y gall colli eich goriadau / allweddi fod. Dyna sut y cefais y syniad ar gyfer Securaki. O ystyried ei gymhwysiad cyffredinol i unrhyw fath o glo, a pha mor hawdd y gellir ei osod, rydym yn obeithiol y gall Securaki wneud y pwysau a’r sdraen hwnnw yn rhywbeth o'r gorffennol - nid yn unig ar gyfer cartrefi unigol, ond hefyd ar gyfer adeiladau mwy fel blociau fflatiau a gweithleoedd, yn ogystal ag eiddo rhent.

“Rydym yn gyffrous i’w cael allan i’r farchnad y gwanwyn hwn diolch i gefnogaeth y Banc Datblygu a’n dosbarthwyr. A dim ond ein cynnyrch cyntaf ydi hwn - mae gennym ni hefyd gynlluniau i ychwanegu mwy o gynhyrchion at deulu cynnyrch SecuraCo, gan gynnwys camerâu smart, larymau a chlychau drws.”

Ychwanegodd Cyd-sylfaenydd SecuraCo, Nadeeke Illeperuma:

“Ein cenhadaeth yw helpu i wneud technoleg cartref clyfar yn hygyrch i bawb, gyda’n cynnyrch cyntaf yn helpu i drosi pob clo yn glo craff / clyfar. Gyda Securaki, roeddem yn canolbwyntio nid yn unig ar greu cynnyrch a oedd yn hawdd ei ddefnyddio ac yn ymgorffori technoleg arloesol ond a oedd hefyd wedi'i ddylunio'n hyfryd fel y byddai pob defnyddiwr eisiau un ar eu drws."

Dywedodd Claire Vokes, Swyddog Buddsoddi gyda Banc Datblygu Cymru:

“Roedd yn bleser gweithio gyda Gavin a Nadeeke yn SecuraCo. Mae gan eu cynnyrch botensial gwych, ac edrychwn ymlaen at weld SecuraCo yn caffael eu cwsmeriaid cyntaf wrth i’r unedau newydd ddechrau cael eu cyflwyno eleni.

“Gall ein micro fenthyciadau helpu busnesau i gymryd y camau nesaf yn eu twf, gan gynnwys dod â chynnyrch newydd i’r farchnad neu lansio gwasanaethau newydd.

Ariennir Cronfa Micro Fenthyciadau Cymru gwerth £32.5 miliwn yn gyfan gwbl gan Lywodraeth Cymru. Mae benthyciadau rhwng £1,000 a £50,000 ar gael i fusnesau bach a chanolig, gan gynnwys cwmnïau cyfyngedig, unig fasnachwyr a phartneriaethau gyda thelerau ad-dalu yn amrywio rhwng un a 10 mlynedd.

I gael rhagor o wybodaeth, ewch i weld bancdatblygu.cymru