FST Fails

Author: Dan Gelinas, Published on Jul 17, 2018

FST was one of the hottest startups of the decade, selected as the best new product at ISC West 2011 and backed with tens of millions in funding.

Now, the company is ceasing operations and looking toward something new.

In this note, we share feedback from the company, examine the challenges they faced, criticism from an investor, a new retail-focused company and lessons for this generation's face startups.

*** *** *** ** *** ******* ******** ** *** ******, selected ** ******* *** ******* ** *** **** ******* ****** **** **** ** ******** ** *******.

***, *** ******* ** ******* ********** *** ******* ****** ********* new.

** **** ****, ** ***** ******** **** *** *******, ******* the ********** **** *****, ********* **** ** ********, * *** retail-focused ******* *** ******* *** **** **********'* **** ********.

[***************]

FST *********

*** ********** *** ********* *** **** **** *** ******* "*** ceased *** **********." *** ******* *** ******* **** "******* *** contractual *********** ** *********** ** ******** ******* ****" *** ******** FST *******.

** ** **** ***********, *** *** **** ** ***** ****** statement *** ****** ** ***** *******.

Ambitions - *** *** *** *** *** **** ********

*** *******, ******** ********* ***** ******* *******, ***** ** **** '***' *** *** *** **** ********, incorporating ******, *****, **** *** ***** ********* ** ******** ******** individuals ********* ***** *** ****** ****** ** **********. **** **** video ******** *** *******'* *****:

Challenges *** *** *******

** ******* ***** **** * ****** ** ********** *** *** company:

  • ******* ****** ** ******* ******
  • *** ******* / ** *******
  • *********** / ******** **********
  • **** ***** *****

***** *** ************* ** ***** $** ******* ** *******, ********* ***** ****** ******* ** * ********** ***** ****** that ***** ** **** ** ***** *** ******* ****** ********* to ******* **** **********.

*** ******* *** *** ********** **** ****** ******* ***** $** million (******* ************* ****), ********* ** ******* ***** ** *** company. ** ********, *** ******* *** **+ *********, ***** ******** in * *********** ******* **** ****.

*** ******* *** *********** **********, ********** ******* **** ******* **** as ******** (*** ******, *** ****), *********** ** *******, *** people ****** (** *** *** ****) ** *** ******, ******* hats, *******, ***. **** **** ** ****** ** *** ***** and ******** **** **** *** ******* ** ****** **** ******.

****** ** **** **** ***********, *** ***** ***** ***** **** down ** ** ********** **** ***** ****** ******* ********* - even ***** ********** ***** *********. **** ** *** ***** ***** declined **** *** *****, *** ****** ***** **** ** *** range ** *** ********* ** ******* *** **** ** ***, restricting *** ****** ** ***** *** ***** **** ******** ****.

Criticisms **** ********

*** ******* *** ***** ****** ********** **** ** ******** / advisor,**** ***,*******:

New *** / ********

** ****,*** ******* ** * *** ********,*** ******** ******-******* ******* *******. *** ********** ******** ***** *** ******** of ******, * ******** *** ******** ******* ** **** ** bringing ******* ** * "*****-*******-****** **********" ****** *** ******* *** sold ** *** ******** *** ******** ******** ***.** ********** ******** ** ****, ***'* *** ********** ********* ********* **** ***** *****-****** ******* and ********** *************. ******* ** ***** *** ****** *** ************ well *** ***. *******, *** ******** **** *** **** ******** the *** ******** *****. ******, ***'* *** ******* ******* ********** new ****** *********, ** ***** *****:

*******, ***** *** *** ********* **** *** ******* **********, **** is *** ****** ** ***.

Launch ** ******** *** ******

********** * *** ******* ****** ****** ********** *********** ************ ** retailers ***** ** *** ** ***'* *** ******* ******* *** *********. ***** *** ******** ** ******* ** the ************ ** *** *** *********, ******* *** ***** *** been * **** ** ***** *** * ***** ** ******* away **** ******** *** **** **** ****** * ******-******* ******** that ***** ******* ****** ********** *** ***** ** ******* **** a *** ******** ******* *** *****.

******** ** **** ********. *** ******* *** ***** ******* ******* of *** ******* ** *********** ***** ********.

** ** *** ***** *** *** ******** ****** **** ********* them (*.*., ******* ** ** *** ****** *********** ** ****** phone ******** ** ***** *****).

** *** ******** ****, ****'* ****** ********** *** *** ********** may **** **** ** **** *********.

****** ********* **** ***** *** **********. **** *** *********** ** an *****. **** ********* **** ***** *** **** *****, **** with ******* *******.

Lessons *** ****** *********** ********

******** ******* ****** ** ******* **** **********.**** **** ** *** ******** *** ********: ********* **** ******, ***, *** / *** ****, ***, Security *****, ***** & ********, ****, ***, ***, ***.

**** ***** ********* *** ********** *** ********. *** ***** ** end **** ** *** * ******-*********** ****** ******* ******** **** could **** **** **** **** ***** **'* **** ****** *** hard ********** ******?

******** ******** ******. *** **** ** *** ****** ** **** access ******* **** ***** ** ****, *** ** ***** ** do ** ** *** **** ** *** **********-- *** ******'* own ***** *** *** ****** *** ** (********, ***********, ***.).

***'* ******* ***** ** ** *********** ******, ** * *** generation ** ****** *********** ******** ***** ***** ********. **** *** eventually ***** **** *** **** ****** ********* ******** *** ******** of ****.

Comments (16)

John Honovich

IPVM | 07/17/18 02:54pm

* **** ********* *** ******* ** ****. ***** **** ** *** ***** **** *** ***** **** post, **** ** *** *** **** *** **** *** ***** work ** ** **********, ** ***** ******** *** ** ***. Look *** **** ******** ********* **** ***!

Thumbnail dgelinas headshot

Dan Gelinas

IPVM | In reply to John Honovich | 07/17/18 03:15pm

***** ***, ****! *'* ******* ******* ** ************.

Undisclosed #1

07/17/18 03:16pm

*******, ***!

***** *******, * **** **** *****!

Thumbnail dgelinas headshot

Dan Gelinas

IPVM | In reply to Undisclosed #1 | 07/17/18 05:01pm

******!

Undisclosed Integrator #2

07/17/18 06:49pm

*** ********* **** *** ****. *** *** ********* ********** **** lighting **********. ** *** ********* *** ******* *** ********** ** my *******.

Undisclosed End User #3

07/17/18 08:14pm

** ****** ** **** **** ******** *** ** *** ***** of ***** *********** **** *** ****** ******* ******. ** ******* looking *** ******* **** **** ******* ** ***** * **** or **** ********** *****.

Thumbnail dsc00412 2

Jonathan Lawry

Trecerdo, LLC | 07/18/18 12:16pm

...**** ***** ** ****, *** ** ***** ** ** ** in ********* *** **********...

****** ***....****** ****** **.

Thumbnail dsc00412 2

Jonathan Lawry

Trecerdo, LLC | 07/18/18 12:24pm

****** *********** ** *** *****-**** **** *** ***** *** **** wide-eyed ***** ****** ******* ********* ** *** ****** ** * sad *****.

****** ******* ***** ** ** ** ******** ** * **** swipe. ******** **** **** **** ** ** ****** *******, ** using ****** *********** ** ****************** ** ****** ** *******. **'* ** ** * "*********" mechanism, *** ***** ** ** *** **** **** ** ********** is ********** ******.

* **** ******* ****** *********** ********* ** *** ****, *** my ****** ** ****** *** ****: ****** ** *******, ****-**********, etc....************ *** ******** ******* **** **% ** ********. ** *** can ************** **** ******* *** ** ****, ** *** ***** ***** out ** * *******, *** **** ******** *****. *** **** one ***** ****** *** ** * ******* ** ****** *******? You *** *** ** ***** ** * *****....** ******.

John Honovich

IPVM | In reply to Jonathan Lawry | 07/18/18 12:39pm

***** ** ** *** **** **** ** ********** ** ********** flawed.

******.

*** *******, ** ******, ** **** **** ***** ***'* **** makes ** ****** *** ****** *** ****** ** ***, ****** when *** **** ****** ******* ******** ** ******* ***** ***** and ******** *****.

** *** ***** ****, *********'* *** ******* ********** '**** * door **** * ******':

John Honovich

IPVM | 07/19/18 12:57am

***** **** *** ********* ** **:

* ****** ** ****** *** **** *** ***** ** ********* of *** ********** *** ******* ** ***** *** ******* ********** of *** *******, ********* *** ****** ******* ********. *** ******** was **** **** ***** *** ** ** *** ******* ** being ***********.

**** ********, ***** *** *** ** **** *** ** *** means, *** **** ***** **** ********** *** ************ ******* ****** and *** **** ** *** *****. *** ****** *** *** decision ** ******* ** **** ** ***** ** *** *** company. ** *** ********** ** ***** ** **** *** ******* open, ********* **** *** **** *********, *** ***** ** **** unable ** **** ****** ******* ** ******** *********.

** ********** *** ************* ** **** ******** ** *** ********* and ** **** ** ******** ** *** ** **** *** cessation ** ********** ** **** ** ********. ** ***** ** mitigate *** ****** ** *** *********’ **********, *** ******* *** decided ** ****** * ******* **** **** **** ******* *** company’s *********** *********** ******* ** ******* ******* ********** *** **********. The ******* **** **** ** *********** ***** **** ****, ******** all **** ********* *** **********.

* ****** ****** ****** *** **** * ********** **** ******** and ******* **** *** *****. ** ********** **** **** ** not **** *** *** *** **** *****, *******, * ** sure **** *** **** ** **** ** **** ******* ****** to **** **** ****** ******* *** ************** ***** **** *** many ***** ******* ** *** ******.

** *** ********* ** ****** *** ********* **** *** *** have. *** *** ******* *** *** **** *** ***** *********@*****.****** ** **** ******* ****** ******* ******* ******** *****.

** * ** ** *** ********, * ***** *** * replacement ** *** **** ****. ****** ** ******** ** *** of ******** ********** ****** ******* ****** ** ****** ***** ** cause **** ******** **** *** *****.

****, *********** **** ***** ** ** ******* ** ********, ***** the *** ** ******* ****** ** **, ***** ** ********'* own *******.

Undisclosed Integrator #4

In reply to John Honovich | 07/19/18 01:16pm

*** **** **** *** ************ ******** **** ***** **** ****, say ** ******* ****** ******* ************, ** **** *** ************** of ******** *** ******* *** ******** ** ******* **** *******? That ***** **** *** ****** ** ******* **** ******* *** the ******* ** **** *** ****, ** **** ***** ********* customers **** ** *** *** ** ********** *** *** ******* the ******** **** ******* ***** ******* ***** ********* ** ***** own ********.

**** ******** *** **** ** **** ****** *** ***** **** done ** *** ******** ** ***** *********.

John Honovich

IPVM | In reply to Undisclosed Integrator #4 | 07/19/18 01:37pm

**** ********/*****. * ** **** **** **** **, *** ******** that ** ** ** ******, * ***'* ****.

*** ********* **** ******** ** ******* ** *** **** ** / ********** ** ***** ** ********.

Undisclosed Integrator #7

In reply to John Honovich | 07/23/18 09:00pm

* **** **** ** *********** **, ***** ****** *********** ********* was ******** **** ******* *******. **** *** *+ ***** ***.

** ***** ** ********** **** ** * **** *** * different *********. ** ****** **** *****, ** *** **** ***** dependent. * ***** **** ***** ******* *** ********** **** **** arrogant. **** * ***** ****** ******, ** *** ****** ********* that * *** ***** ** ********* *******. * ***** ***** have ** ***** **** ******* *** ******* *** ***** ******** complaints *** ***** ***** **** ********* ** *****. ** *** very ********* *** *** * **** **** ** * ********.

Undisclosed #5

07/19/18 01:52pm

*****'* *********** ********* ********** *** ****** ******* ***** * *** of *** * *********** *** ******. ******* ****** ******** *** to ***** *****, ** ******* ** ****** *** ** ********* credential ******** ** **** ******* **** **** *** ****** ******* market ******** ** ****** ***** ** ***** ********* ** ***********-***** credit ***** ***** ****** **** ***** **** ****.

Undisclosed #6

07/20/18 04:42pm

******** ** * *** *******...*** ** ***'* *** **** *** another *** *********.

”** ** *** *** ***’* *******...”

Thumbnail dsc00412 2

Jonathan Lawry

Trecerdo, LLC | In reply to Undisclosed #6 | 07/20/18 04:47pm

”** ** *** *** ***’* *******...”

...*** *** ***'************ ********* **** ******** **.

Login to read this IPVM report.
Why do I need to log in?
IPVM conducts unique testing and research funded by member's payments enabling us to offer the most independent, accurate and in-depth information.

Related Reports

Intersec 2019 Show Report on Jan 22, 2019
There’s a massive presence from Chinese or China-focused video surveillance firms, chiefly Hikvision, Dahua, Huawei, and Infinova, at...
NYPD Refutes False SCMP Hikvision Story on Jan 18, 2019
The NYPD has refuted the SCMP Hikvision story, the Voice of America has reported. On January 11, 2018, the SCMP alleged that the NYPD was using...
Access Control Records Maintenance Guide on Jan 16, 2019
Weeding out old entries, turning off unused credentials, and updating who carries which credentials is as important as to maintaining security as...
Access Control Cabling Tutorial on Jan 15, 2019
Access Control is only as reliable as its cables. While this aspect lacks the sexiness of other components, it remains a vital part of every...
Avigilon Favorability Results 2019 on Jan 15, 2019
Since IPVM's 2017 Avigilon favorability results, the company was acquired by Motorola and has shifted from being an aggressive startup to a more...
Gorilla Technology AI Provider, Raises $15 Million, Profiled on Jan 15, 2019
Gorilla Technology is a Taiwanese video analytics manufacturer that recently announced a $15 million investment from SBI Group, saying this...
The False SCMP Story on Hikvision NYC AI on Jan 14, 2019
In the past week, one of Asia's largest publications, the South China Morning Post (SCMP), posted an article about "Chinese [facial recognition]...
CES 2019 Show Report on Jan 10, 2019
IPVM was at CES 2019 for the second year (see our CES 2018 Show Final Report) and is reporting on announcements and interesting news from the show...
Wavelynx Access Control Manufacturer Profile on Jan 10, 2019
Denver-based WaveLynx is not well known as an access reader manufacturer, but OEMs for big industry brands including Amag, Isonas (Allegion),...
Motorola Acquires VaaS / Vigilant LPR on Jan 08, 2019
Less than a year after Motorola Solutions spent a billion to acquire Avigilon, the company has made another major acquisition spending nearly a...

Most Recent Industry Reports

Testing Bandwidth vs. Frame Rate on Jan 23, 2019
Selecting frame rate has a major impact on surveillance bandwidth and storage consumption. But with smart codecs now common and cameras more...
Camera Course January 2019 on Jan 23, 2019
This is the only independent surveillance camera course, based on in-depth product and technology testing. Lots of manufacturer training exists...
Bosch Favorability Results 2019 on Jan 23, 2019
Bosch's favorability moderately strengthed, in new IPVM integrator statistics over their results from 2017, with 2019 results showing strong net...
Intersec 2019 Show Report on Jan 23, 2019
The 2019 Intersec show, held annually in Dubai, is now complete. IPVM attended for 3 days, interviewing numerous Chinese and Western video...
2019 Camera Book Released on Jan 22, 2019
This is the best, most comprehensive security camera training in the world, based on our unprecedented testing. Now, all IPVM PRO Members can get...
Milesight Company Profile on Jan 22, 2019
Milesight Technology, a Chinese company building an International branded business, says they are slowly building their presence through a series...
Cable Trenching for Surveillance on Jan 21, 2019
Trenching cable for surveillance is surprisingly complex. While using shovels, picks, and hoes is not advanced technology, the proper planning,...
Milestone Favorability Results 2019 on Jan 21, 2019
Milestone's favorability moderately strengthed, in new IPVM integrator statistics over their results from 2016. While the industry has been...
The IP Camera Lock-In Trend: Meraki and Verkada on Jan 18, 2019
Open systems and interoperability have become core features of video surveillance systems, as virtually all professional IP cameras integrate with...
NYPD Refutes False SCMP Hikvision Story on Jan 18, 2019
The NYPD has refuted the SCMP Hikvision story, the Voice of America has reported. On January 11, 2018, the SCMP alleged that the NYPD was using...

The world's leading video surveillance information source, IPVM provides the best reporting, testing and training for 10,000+ members globally. Dedicated to independent and objective information, we uniquely refuse any and all advertisements, sponsorship and consulting from manufacturers.

About | FAQ | Contact