Cyber-Rain rakes in $1.5M for smart sprinkler systems
Cyber-Rain, an Agoura Hills, Calif.-based maker of wireless sprinkler control systems, has raised $1.5 million in first round funding led by Funk Ventures. Its seed funding round last June was led by Momentum Venture Management; it also has several angel investors.
The firm’s control system lets users sync their sprinklers via computer from the comfort of their home. It also downloads regular weather updates to allow for easy scheduling adjustments.
On a hot, dry day, for example, the system would automatically increase sprinkler watering. The general idea is to have users enter a few settings and then let the system work on its own.
Cyber-Rain claims its technology can save customers 30 to 70 percent on their watering bills. While smart networks are nothing new in the utility sector, Cyber-Rain is one of the few startups we’ve seen that offers wireless control systems for water management.
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About the Author, Jeremy Jacquot
Jeremy Jacquot is a doctoral student at the University of Southern California who is studying watershed management and global biogeochemical cycling. He previously studied marine biology at UCLA where he earned his B.S. in 2005; he is the Los Angeles correspondent for TreeHugger, where he focuses on science/technology and business news.