A Silicon Valley venture firm is the lead backer in $3.2 million investment in Austin-based home automation startup WigWag.
WigWag received the funding in a deal led by CSC Venture Capital, based in Palo Alto, Calif. CSC Venture Capital is the investment arm of CSC Group, a leading private investment firm in China.
WigWag was founded by Ed Hemphill and Travis McCollum, both former executives of videoconferencing company LifeSize Communications.
The company got off the ground in 2013 by raising more than $454,000 from 1,700 backers on crowdfunding site Kickstarter campaign.
WigWag’s home automation platform is designed to help service providers, developers and consumers manage a vast array of connected, smart devices.
Research firm Gartner estimates that by 2011 the typical U.S. household will contain more than 500 connected devices.
WigWag says its technology makes it possible for developers to create applications that respond individually to people’s behavior. That could include automatically adjusting to an individual’s preferences of lighting, temperature or music.
The company is preparing to launch a product that’s designed to wirelessly connect with sensors attached to a variety of appliances such as lights and door openers.
WigWag also sells kits that let users control smart lighting from one app for $199.
The funding will allow the company to speed up product development, expand its Austin engineering and marketing teams and launch its platform and consumer products.
The 20-person company is currently hiring in software development, testing and marketing.
WigWag previously raised about $550,000 from individual investors.
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