Sweden-based Minut has closed a $14 million
Series B funding round, led by Almaz Capital with participation from Zenith, Kompas,
Verve Ventures, Swiss Immo Lab. Previous investors Karma, SOSV’s HAX and KPN
Ventures are also participating.
The Minut sensor monitors noise, occupancy,
motion and temperature in vacation rental properties.
Using machine learning, artificial
intelligence and on-device computing capabilities, the sensor analyzes the
sound volume and events without streaming audio recordings to the cloud, to
preserve guest privacy.
“The rise of flexible working accelerated
changes to how we live and travel. People want to experience the world like
locals. They want to be guests, not tourists. This is the future of travel,”
says Nils Mattisson, co-founder and CEO of Minut.
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“Short-term rentals were best positioned to
adapt, but we believe the whole hospitality market will follow suit. Minut
facilitates this transition.”
Minut has partnerships with companies
including Airbnb and Kasa
Living and says it has tens of thousands of devices in operation in
more than 100 countries.
"Airbnb is actively promoting responsible
and sustainable tourism. Minut’s solution supports Hosts on Airbnb in their
efforts to promote trust and safety in their homes and in communities” says
Vladimir Beroun, senior public policy manager at Airbnb.
A similar company, Dallas-based NoiseAware,
raised an $8 million Series A round in April 2021 led by S3 Ventures and
Thayer Ventures. Operto also provides noise monitoring as part of its suite of
property automation solutions. In February it raised a $12 Series A round led
by FUSE, with WatchFire Ventures, BlackPines Capital Partners and others
participating.