Spot AI Gives Away Free Longse Cameras Backed By the 'King of SaaS'
Few buy (much-maligned for spam) Longse cameras but would you take them for free? Silicon Valley's newest entrant in video surveillance, Spot.ai, is aiming to commoditize surveillance cameras, announcing $22 million in funding backed by a famous investor billed as "The King of SaaS".
Inside this note, we examine how Spot.ai aims to disrupt video surveillance, contrasting it to hardware-focused incumbents including Axis and Hikvision and newer cloud entrants such as Eagle Eye and Verkada.
Strengths - **** ******* *** **** ******
** *** * ********* ********* *** Spot.ai:
(*) ** ************ ***** ************ ******** has ***** **** ******* *** ****. While ** ** *** ******* ********** of *** **** ** *** ******, Spot.ai *** **** *** *** ***. Hardware ** * *********, *********** *********, which **** (*) *** **** **** opportunities ** ***** ***** ** ** so ********* *** (*) ****** *********** on *** ********* *** ******** ****** for *******. *** ****.**, *** ***** is ******** ** ************ **** *******, and ****** **** ******* ****** ********** that.
(*) ****.** ** ****** ********** *********** ************ ******* ******, * ****-********* *** ****** ******** investor, ************* ******** *** "**** ** ****". **** ***** **** **** ********* resources *** ****** ********* ** ******** a ****-******* *** ********** ***** *******.
Open ********
***** *** *** *** * ******** compared ** **** ***** ************ *********, unlike ***** ***** *******, ****.** ** offering ** **** ******, ******* ** connect ** *** ***** *******. ** such, ****.** ****** *** *** ****** to *** **-******* ****** ******* *** can *** **** ** **** ****, for ****.
Weaknesses - ****** *******
*** (*******) ******* **** ****** **** free ******* ** **** **** **** money. *** *** **** ******* **** Longse ******* ** **** *** ********* inferior **** ** ***** *** *******. The **** ** **** ********* **** these **** ******* **** **** ******* the **** ******* ** ***** ******* and **** ** ********** *** ****.**'* entire ********. *******, **** ** ********* mitigated ** ******** ********* ** *** their *** ******-******* *******.
Free ******* **** ******
***** ****.** *** *** ***** ** IPVM's ******* *** *******, ** **** able ** ****** ***** ******** **** a ********** ******* ****** ************ **** ****** *** ******'* *** OUI ***** ******* *********, * ***** of ******, ** ***** *****:
****** ** "**** *** ******** *******",****.** ****** * ****** ******, **** ***** ***** *** *****, as ***** *****:
****.** **** *** **** *** ** keep ***** ****** ******* ** *** quit ***** ****.**:
** ******* ** **** ******* ** you **** ** ***** **** ****** operation. *** ***** ******* *** $* even ** *** **** ***** **** AI, *** *** ******.
Pricing / ********* ** ********
****.** ********** *** **-******** ******* ***** *** **** "******** analytics **** ********-**** ** *******". **** come ** *, ** *** **+ options.
************* ** "$*,*** *** ********", ***** the ******* ********* ** "*** ***[***] a ******** *** *** *** **** AI ***, *** * ****** ******* fee ** ****** *** **** ** Dashboard." ****.** **** *** ******* ** make ******** **** *** ****** ******* fee ** *** ******.
************, *** ***** ********* ** **** is * ************* ***** ** ***** price ** **** ** *** ***** the **** ******* **** ****.**.
Cameras **** ** ****, **** ****.**
"*** *** ******** *** ******" *** in ****.** *******, ****** ****.**:
****’* ** * $* ******?
*** ******* **** *** *** ******** you ****** **** * ******* ********, except *** ***** ***.
*** ******** ****** *********, ****, *****-******, fisheye, ***.
*************,*** ******* ********* $** (*.*., ******) ******* *** nearly ********* ************** ** $**** ****:
*** *******, **** ********* * $** IP ****** ****** * $**** ** camera, ** ***** **** **** ************** were ****** *********.**** *** *** **** ***** ********* (e.g., **** **********), ****** ** ** 90 **** ** ***** ******, *** similar ***** *********** *******.
***** ********** *** *** **** ******* difference ******* *** *** ** *******. The $** *** ********* ***, *** the $**** *** *** ***.
**** ** ** ********* ****** ***** to ***, ****** ****.***** * ****** ************ ****.
**********, ** ********, ****.** ** ******* positioning ***** **** ******* ** ***** sufficient.
Future ** ******* *** **** ****.**
***** ****** **** ****** ******* ***** poses **** ****, ******* *** **** the **** * *****, ***** (** free) "****" ******* ***** ****** **** enough. **** ** *** ********** ** new ******* ** ********* ** ** them ***** ****.** ********** ** ******* the ** ** *** **** / service ** **** ** *** **** nor **** **** ********* ***** *******. There ** *** ********* *** ***** able ** **** **** ******* **** have ****** ***-***** *** *** *********** yet ** *** ******* ** *** free.
Spot.ai ********** ****
****.** *** * ***** ********** **** with *** ***,***** *********, ****** ** ** *** *** from ********, **** **-*********** ************** ********* ****** ******** ****. *** *** lists ******* ** ****** ** ** engineer **** **** ** **** ********* on ********** *** ****** ********:
*******, ******* *** *** *** *** co-founders **** *** ***** ****** **** to ******, ****** *******.
"King ** ****" *******
**** ********* *** ******* *** * play ** ******** ******** *** ** take ********* ** *** ********** ** a ********-***** **** ********. ******** *** now ***** ** *** ** ** being *** ** ***** ****** ***** ****** ****** ********* ***** **** ********* and *********, ********* ****** "*** **** ** ****".
****.** **** ******* **** *** **********, capital, *** ************* **** ****** *** Redpoint ****. ** **********, ** ***** expect ****.** ** ** ****** ******* on **** *** ******* **********, **** great ********* *** **** **** ****, giving ** * ***** ********* **** incumbents **** *** **** ********** *** often **** **** ***********. *** *******, one ** ******'* **** ********** ********* ******** *** **** ** sales*** ********* **** **** *** ******* generates ** ****** *******, *** *****:
*** *** *********** ****-******* **** *******, we ****** ***% ** ******* ** sales *** ********* ** *** ***** year. **** ****** ******** ** ***% in **** *** *** **** ***** to ***% ** **** ****.
**** ******** *** ******* ** ********* foreign ****** ***** ************ **** ********* businesses ****** *********** ******* ** ****** sales.
*** ***/*** ** **** ** ****** Spot.ai ** ** ******* ** ***** heavily ** ****** **** ******* *** acquiring *********, ** ****** **** **** Verkada ***** *****.
Sales *** ********* *********
* *** ******* **** ******* ** be **** ** *** **** (** bad) ****.** ** ** ***** *** marketing. **** *** ****/*** ** ****** exaggerated ****** *** **** ** ****** to ** ******** **** ******* ****** startups. **** **** ******* * ***** machine **** *******? *** **** ******* a ****** ****** ******* **** ***** Eye? ** ** **********.
Verkada *******
***** ******* ***** ********* *******, ****.** is ****** **** **** *** ****. While ******* ****** ** *********** *** NVR, ****.** ** ******** ** **** (sort **, ** ***** ******** ** Verkada).
****.** ********** *******'* ********* ******* ********** ** **********, ***** ********* ******** *******, *********** that "****’** ****** *********; ** ** a *** ******** ********** ******". ***** ****'* ********** (*** ******* Verkada ****** ** **** ** *** $500 ** $*,*** *****), ***** ** certainly ***** ** ** * ***** reduction ** ******* ******* *** ****.** versus *******. **** ****, *********, ***** the ****** *** *******'* ***** **** as ** **** **** ** ** the ********* ********** *** ******* ** their *** ******* (****** ****** ****, like **, **** ********* **** **** are ***-*** ****** *******).
****.** *** *** ********* ** ****** a ***** ******* **********.
Eagle *** *******
****.** ************ ** **** ***** ** Eagle ***, **** **** ***** **** platforms **** **-**** **********. **** ***** be * ********* *** ***** *** as ****.** ** ***** ******* ****** for ****** **** **** *******, ***** Eagle *** **** ***. *******, ***** Eye *** * ***** **** ** product *********** ***, ******* **** ********* to *****, ******* *** ****** ***********.
Outlook *** ****.**
****.**, ** ****** ** *** ********* and *** ****-**** ****** ********, ** likely ** ** * *********** ********** in *** ******. *******, ** ** hard ** **** *** *********** **** will ** ***** ** *** **** execute *** * **** ** *** and *** *** ******* *** **** they *** *******.
Vote / ****
**** ***** ***** ********** *** ******** professionals
* ** ****** **** **** ***'* care *** *** ***** ** ** IT *************.
******** *** ********* ********* ** ** doubt ***** **** *** ********** ***** costs.
* ** ****** **** **** *** not ****** ** **** ***** *** the *********. **** ** * **** focused ******* ** ********* **** *** to ******** *** ******** ** ******* or ******** ***** ** **** ***** money ** ****-**** **** *************. ******* at *** $*,*** ******** *****, * doubt **** *** ***** ** **** much ** *** *** *** ** will **** ****** **** ** ***** how **** ***** *** *** ******* license *** *** ******.
** * ************** ***** (**** ******)******. **** ****** *** **** "**** camera" ***** *** **** **** ******* a ***** ****** *** *** ******* are **** ** ***** ******. **** also ******* * ***** *** ******** appliance *** ******* **** *** *** their *********** *****.
'*** **** **** ****** **** ******* work ** **** *****?'
* ****** ****** ***** * ********* and *** ***** ********. ****'* ***** to ** *** *** ******** ***** and ****** **** ****, ***** ***** like ** **** ** ***** ** cheap ** *** **.
********* *** ***** ** **** ***** is *** **** ********* ***** ** work ****.
******* ***** **** **** ********, ****.** ups *** **** *** ***** **** cameras.
****** *** ****-***** ****** ****** ***** they ****** * *** ** ***** site, **** ***** ********* *** ********* on ***** ********?
*** **** *******: *** *** ********* on ***** ****, *** *** ********* on ******* *** '********-**** ** *******' and ** '***** *** **'. ***** be **** *********** ** *** *** open/closed *** ********* ******** **, *** what *** ******* *** ** **** at *** ******.
******, ** ***** *********, **'* *** generally *****. **** ****, * **** no ****** ** ***** **** **** offer * ***** ** ***** *********.
** **** ***** ******, **'* * bad ****** ** **** ***** **** image ** ****-***** ****** ***** **'* such * ***** *******, ****** **** them *****:
* ***** ****** ********** ** ***** site ***** **** *** *** ****** catering ** ******** *************. ** ****** like **** ******** **** **** ** people *** ***'* **** *** ******.
**** *** **** ***** ****** **** very ****** ***** ***** ************. ** be *****, * ***** **'* * problem *** *** ** *********** ***. They **** ***** *** * ******** model **** ****** **** **** ********** so **** **** **** **** ***** (or ****** *********** *** ****** ****** ********...)
*** ** ** **** **** *** don’t **** **** *** ******** *** channel ******* **?
** **** *********** **** ******* *** camera's **** ** **** ***** ***** to *** ******* ********* *****?
***** *** ****** ***** ***** *******. What ** ****.**'* ****? $**? $** That's *** * *** *** **** to ****** **** ** **** ****** $199 (**** ******* *******) *** ****.
* ***** ******* / *********** ** a ******* *** *********** ** ****** be **** *** **** ** ****** them, ********?
** **** *********** **** ******* *** camera's **** ** **** ***** ***** to *** ******* ********* *****?
****, ** **** *** ******* ********* price ** **** ****** **** $** bucks *****’* ******.
**’* *** * ***** **** **** the *** ****** *** **** ** evaluate *** ***** ** *** *** number *** ******* *****.
******* *******:
****, ** ***** ** *** ******* existing ***** ***** ***** (********* ******* $10 *** $** *** *****) *** easily ***** *** ***** ** * Longse ****** ** * *** ******. I ***'* ***** **** **** ** jack *** ***** ** ** ***** a ****** ******.
** ***'* ***** *******, * ****** camera ** ******* *** **** ***** as * **** **** ******* {****** joke ****}.
****.** *** *** ********* ** ****** a ***** ******* **********.
** ****** *** ***** *** ***** stars **** ****.** **** *** **** with ******.
*** ******* ****** ** **** ****** they ***** **** ******* * ****** spam ******** ****** ******** **** **** before :)
*** ******* ****** ** **** ****** they ***** **** ******* * ****** spam ******** ****** ******** **** **** before :)
** ********, ******* ** ******* ***, way **** *********** ****** **** ****** ever ***. ****, ** ********, ******* surely *** *** **** ****** *********** than ****** ****.
*** **** ** **** ********* **** these **** ******* **** **** ******* the **** ******* ** ***** ******* and **** ** ********** *** ****.**'* entire ********.
**** ** ******** *** **** ********* bet ** ** *** - ******* the ********* **** ** **** ** get * ********* ********** ** ****.**'* when ******* **** * ***-*** ******.
* ****** *** **** **** ** analytics ****** ** ***** *******. * mean, ** *** *** ******** **** "garbage-in-garbage-out", *** ** ***** ********** *** changed **** ******** * *** ******. Maybe *******-**-************-** ** *** **********...
* ****** *** **** **** ** analytics ****** ** ***** *******
*******, **** ******* / ********! ** you ***'* *** ** *****, *** can't ******* ** ****. *********, ** is **** *** ***** *********** ***, depending ** *** ****** ***** **** use, ***** ***** ** ******** ****** at *****, *** ******, ******* *** away **** *** ******, ***.
"******** ********* **** ********-**** ** *******"OK ******** ** **** **. I bleed enough as it is. Do they ************* *** ********** ** *** ****.
----------------------
*** **** ********* ** ************* ***********. "an ************ **** **** ****** ******* is ***** *** ******** **** *** large *******-******** *******"
**** ** ******** ****?
******** **** ****** ** * ******* or *******, ******* ********* **********, **** is ********* ** ********* *** ** so *** *** ************ **** ** has *** **** ***** ****** ***, consequently, *** ** **********. ***** ******** could ********** ****** ***** *** **** that **** *** **** ******** ** the **********. ** ** **** * given **** ******** **** ******** *** never **** ********** **********.
** ***** **** ** **** **** it ***** *** **** ** ***** out ** *** ***** ***** ********* around **** ****. "*** ** **** you ** *** ******** ****!"
********-**** ** *******" ** ******** ** from **. * ***** ****** ** it **. ** **** *** ********** the ********** ** *** ****.
** ********, **** ********* ****** **** the ***** ** *** **** ******* understanding *** ******* *******.
**** **** ****** **** **** ** the ******* ** *** ***** ********* they **** *******. * ******** ***'* see **** ** * ****** *** selling ******** **** ******* *** **** projects ***** ****** ********* **** ** included (*********** **** ***** *******, ***.). Two ********* ********* ******:
*. **** ***** ** * ****** for ****** *********** ** **** *********** just ****** ********** ******* ***** ***** from ************* ****?
*. **** **** ********* **** ***** solutions (****** *******, *********, ***.)? **** is ************ ***** ********* ***.
*** **** **** *'** **** *********** offering '******* ****' *** ****** ******* that ***** ** *****, ******* **** lapse ** * ****** ********, *******/***/*** on ******* *** ****'* **, ** walk ****.
******** ****** (*********/***********) ** * ****** feature **** *** * ****** **** can ** **** ** ** ** bill ** ** ****** ***** ** tweak.
**** ********** ****** ******* ******* **** those **** **** * ****** *********, see *** ***** ** **, *** are ******* ** ***.
**'** ********* ** ****** **** ** I ***'* **** *** ** ***** work ** ***** *********. ** **** install *** ******* **** ** ****** for ** ** **** ** *** budgets.
**** ****** ** ***********. * **** set ** * *:** ** *** Zoom **** *** ** **** ****. More **** ** ******.
****, **** **** ** *** ******* and ******** *** *******. **** *** their ***** ** **.
*****, * **** * ***** **** this **** **** * *****!
(*) **'* **** ** **** **** "only **** ******". * **** ***** back *** ** *** *** ** ask ** ** **** ******* ****.
(*) **'* ******* ** ** **** they ***** ****** * **** ***** that *** *** * ****** *** Verkada. ** * *** * *********** that ***** ** ********* ** ** since ** ***** *** ******* *** into ***** / ** *** *** they **** ** ** ** ******** you ** *** ****.** ** ******.
****.** *** *** ****** * ***** release ***** ****** **** **** *******:**** ** ***** **** ****, **-*******, NDAA-Compliant ******* | ******** ****
*****:
******* ** **** ********** ** **** important **** **** ** ************* ******* continue ** *********.
****** ******* ***** ******* **** ****** cybersecurity ** ** *** ******. ****** is * ******* **** ******** ***** from ********* -****** **** *** *********
*'** *** **'* ** *********** ****. Is ***** ****** ** * ****** in *** ***-********** / ***-***** ***** for **** ** *** ********? *****'* a *** ** ********* **** **** a ****** *** *** *** ******* and **** ***'* **** ** **** to ***** ***** ***** ****** ** all. *** "**** *******" ** ** attention-getting ************** **** **** *** ****** in ** ****:
*) ************* ****** *** ******* ******* outlay *** *** ***********. ********* **** in *** *****-**** ************ ** ***** is **** ****** *** ******* ** a ******* ***** ******, ******* **'* proprietary ******* **** ******* ** *****-***** ones ********* **** * *****.
*) *********** ********* ** * *** that ***** *********** **** *******, ******, Rhombus, **. ** ***'* *****. *** already **** * ****** ******* ** your *****? ** ******* ****, ** rip *** *******, *** ** *** want ** *** **** ******* *** can ** ** *** ** ****** cost.
*** **** *** ****** ********** *** revenue ***** ** **** ********* ***** system *** ********* ** * ***** to *** ** *** **** ***** of ********* (**** **** ****** *******)? I'm ******** **** ** ***** ******** plan ** * ******* ************ **** Longse *****, ** **** ***** ***, they ***** ****** ****** ** ******* their ****** ******* ***** ******* *** low ***** ***** ****** ** **** Spot.ai's *******.
** ***-***-**** ***** ** "**," *** with * ******* ****** **** ** they *** *** *** ********** ***** pouring ** ****** **** **** ** show **** ******, **** ***** **** waves.
*** **** ****** *** ******* **** their *******?******* - **** **
***** *****, ****** ****:
***, **** *** *** *********** ************ on ******. *.*.:
******, *** ******* ********* **** **** AI ** ** ******:
**** ** ** ** * ****** obvious ********** ** ***** ********* / surveillance ****** **'* ************** ********** ** the ************.
** ***** ** ************ ******, **** AI **** **** *** *** ** "thousands ** *********" ****** ** ********** of *** **** **** ** ****** by *** ** * *** ***** customers (*.*., **** ****** ****** **** thousands ** *********).
** ******* ** ******* ** ***********, with **** *********** **** ********* *******:
*** **** ******** ** *** ********* self *********. *** *********, ***** *** many ***** *** **** **** ***'*. And ***** ** **** * ***** staffed *** ******* ****, ***** **** is ** **** *** *** *** up *** ***** ** **** ** possible.
*******, *******, ******** **** ** ***** an **-*********/******* *** ** *** ******* sales:
**** ** ******* ** ***** **** us *** **** ** * ******.
"*************,*** ******* ********* $** (*.*., ******) ******* *** nearly ********* ************** ** $**** ****:
**** ** ** ********* ****** ***** to ***, ****** ****.***** * ****** ************ ****."
**!
******** **** **** **** **** ***** first ********** *** ******** *************. *** bad ********* *** **** **** ** far. *********** **** **** ****'* ********** anything ***** ***** ** ***** *********... Although *** ********* ********* ** ** doubt ***** **** *** ********** ***** costs.