Internet of Things Applications

Afero thinks it has the right solution to clear up the messy Internet of Things market.

The Los Altos-based startup sells almost everything a company needs to hook up a device to the internet. The startup provides a tiny Bluetooth module with its own custom firmware on top to improve security and eliminates the need to pair. It helps companies run the backend cloud services attached to the connected device. And then it provides development tools — called the Afero Profile Editor, or APE — for building the services on top of the internet-connected device.

The company announced on Wednesday it has raised a $20.3 million Series A round to help it build a business around this platform. The round was led by Samsung (specifically the Samsung Catalyst Fund), an enthusiastic cheerleader of the Internet of Things market. Other investors include Presidio Ventures, Sanshin Electronics Co. Ltd., SoftBank, Fenox Venture Capital, Assembly Fund and Robert Dobkin.

See more at: forbes.com