{{Short description|American technology company}} {{Infobox company |name = People Power Co. |type = Private |genre = |logo = File:People_Power_Company.png |founded = 2009 |founder = Gene Wang <small>(CEO)</small><br>David Moss <small>(CTO)</small> |defunct = |hq_location_city = Palo Alto, CA |hq_location_country = U.S. |hq_location = |num_locations = |area_served = Global |key_people = |industry = {{flat list | *Technology *Internet of Things }} |products = {{flat list | *Mobile apps *Cloud-based software }} |services = |market cap = |revenue = |operating_income = |net_income = |aum = |assets = |equity = |owner = |num_employees = |num_advisors = |parent = |divisions = |subsidiaries = |website = [http://www.peoplepowerco.com/ Official Website] |footnote = }}
The '''People Power Company''' (or simply, '''People Power''') is an American technology company and software and mobile app creator headquartered in Silicon Valley.<ref name="LAT">{{cite news | last =Rodriguez| first =Salvador | title =App turns iPhone and iPad into security camera, motion detector | newspaper =Los Angeles Times| date =28 March 2013 | url =https://www.latimes.com/business/la-xpm-2013-mar-28-la-fi-tn-presence-security-cameras-people-power-20130328-story.html | access-date =21 October 2015}}</ref><ref name="Bloom">{{cite web |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/research/stocks/private/snapshot.asp?privcapid=58172837|title=Company Overview of People Power Company|author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |website=www.bloomberg.com |publisher=Bloomberg |access-date=21 October 2015}}</ref> It is, perhaps, best known as the creator of the "Presence" app,<ref name="USA">{{cite news | title =Presence By People Power: get surveillance on iPhone| newspaper =USA Today| date =31 May 2013 | url =https://www.usatoday.com/story/tech/columnist/saltzman/2013/05/31/presence-people-power-surveillance-app-iphone-ipod/2142313/ | access-date =21 October 2015}}</ref><ref name="BI">{{cite web | last =Eadicicco| first =Lisa| title =9 Ways To Reuse Your Old iPhone Now That You've Got The iPhone 6| website =Business Insider | date =20 September 2014 | url =http://www.businessinsider.com/what-to-do-with-your-old-iphone-2014-9?op=1 | access-date =21 October 2015}}</ref><ref name="Time">{{cite magazine | last =Pullen| first =John Patrick| title =5 Super-Useful Things You Can Do With Your Old iPhone| magazine =Time | date =25 December 2014 | url =https://time.com/3647101/old-iphone/| access-date =21 October 2015}}</ref> which allows unused smart phones and tablets to be turned into home monitoring devices and energy efficiency tools.<ref name="GigaPivot">{{cite news | last =Higginbotham| first =Stacey| title =With Presence app, People Power pulls a pivot| publisher =Gigaom | date =28 March 2013 | url =https://gigaom.com/2013/03/28/with-presence-app-people-power-pulls-a-pivot/| archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20130331012932/http://gigaom.com/2013/03/28/with-presence-app-people-power-pulls-a-pivot/| url-status =dead| archive-date =March 31, 2013| access-date =21 October 2015}}</ref><ref name="Forbes">{{cite magazine | title =How To Give Your Old iPhone New Life| magazine =Forbes | date =9 October 2013 | url =https://www.forbes.com/sites/toyota/2013/10/09/how-to-give-your-old-iphone-new-life/| access-date =21 October 2015}}</ref> Their products frequently employ "Internet of Things" (IoT) concepts and methodologies.<ref name="IOT">{{cite news | last =Schefflin-Emrich| first =Kasey| title =New App Turns Unused iPhones, iPads into Home Monitoring System| publisher =IoT Evolution | date =8 January 2013 | url =http://www.iotevolutionworld.com/m2m/articles/322014-new-app-turns-unused-iphones-ipads-into-home.htm| access-date =21 October 2015}}</ref>
People Power Company now delivers IoT services for consumer service providers including:<ref>{{cite web|title=People Power Company. Humanizing the Internet of Things.|url=https://readwrite.com/2019/11/05/people-power-company-humanizing-the-internet-of-things/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191106021017/https://readwrite.com/2019/11/05/people-power-company-humanizing-the-internet-of-things/|url-status=usurped|archive-date=November 6, 2019|website=readwrite.com|date=5 November 2019 |access-date=2021-11-25}}</ref>
* China Mobile, with more than 6 million subscribers * BGE (Baltimore Gas and Electric) * PepCo used in over 600 homes * DelMarva used in over 1,000 homes
==History==
The People Power Company was founded by Gene Wang (CEO) and David Moss (CTO) in Palo Alto, California in January 2009<ref name="Wired">{{cite magazine | last =Pavic| first =Miran| title =Startup's Kits Help You Hack Your Home| magazine =Wired | date =14 May 2010 | url =https://www.wired.com/2010/05/people-power-gadgets/| access-date =21 October 2015}}</ref> and officially launched in November 2009.<ref name="GigaKit">{{cite news | last =Fehrenbacher| first =Katie| title =Get Your Open Source Home Energy Developer Kit, Courtesy of People Power | publisher =Gigaom | date =15 March 2010 | url =https://gigaom.com/2010/03/15/get-your-open-source-home-energy-developer-kit-courtesy-of-people-power/| archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20130720015405/http://gigaom.com/2010/03/15/get-your-open-source-home-energy-developer-kit-courtesy-of-people-power/| url-status =dead| archive-date =July 20, 2013| access-date =21 October 2015}}</ref> Wang and Moss had previously worked at Bitfone, which was acquired by Hewlett-Packard.<ref name="TC01">{{cite news | last =Keen| first =Andrew| title =Keen On… People Power: The App That Will Power The Future| work =TechCrunch | date =13 January 2012 | url =https://techcrunch.com/2012/01/13/keen-on-people-power-the-app-that-will-power-the-future/| access-date =21 October 2015}}</ref> People Power was initially envisioned as a greentech company with a focus on energy efficiency.<ref name="Wired"/><ref name="GTMHAN">{{cite news | last =Wesoff| first =Eric| title =People Power Hints at Their HAN| publisher =Greentech Media | date =26 March 2010 | url =http://www.greentechmedia.com/articles/read/people-power| access-date =21 October 2015}}</ref>
In 2013, the company released its "Presence" app, which is designed to turn older smartphones and tablets into home monitoring devices and sensors using the device's built-in camera.<ref name="GigaPivot" /> The Presence app also allows users to monitor and control third-party internet-connected appliances and electrical usage in their homes.<ref name="SVBJPresence">{{cite news | last =Upadhyaya| first =Preeti | title =Power to the people through Presence | newspaper =Silicon Valley Business Journal| date =28 June 2013 | url =http://www.bizjournals.com/sanjose/print-edition/2013/06/28/power-to-the-people-through-presence.html | access-date =21 October 2015}}</ref> The app was originally available for iPad, iPhone, and iPod Touch devices.<ref name="USA" /> In mid-2013, the company's Chief Scientist, John Teeter, was selected as a Presidential Innovation Fellow and worked at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). He would go on to work on the Green Button Initiative, which is a program designed to allow home energy customers to access and download their energy usage data.<ref name="NIST">{{cite news | last =Boutin| first =Chad | title =Three Presidential Innovation Fellows Begin Work at NIST| publisher =NIST | date =25 June 2013 | url =https://www.nist.gov/el/pif-062513.cfm | access-date =1 November 2015}}</ref><ref name="Biz">{{cite news | last =Hertzog| first =Christine| title =Will Green Button open energy data markets in other countries?| publisher =GreenBiz | date =29 July 2013 | url =http://www.greenbiz.com/news/2013/07/29/green-button-open-energy-data-markets| access-date =1 November 2015}}</ref><ref name="MWed">{{cite news | title =People Power Leaders Selected as Presidential Innovation Fellows by White House | publisher =Marketwired | date =25 June 2013 | url =http://www.marketwired.com/press-release/people-power-leaders-selected-as-presidential-innovation-fellows-by-white-house-1805735.htm| access-date =1 November 2015}}</ref>
In 2014, People Power began energy efficiency pilot programs in Cape Cod and Oahu. These pilot programs provided a certain number of homes with the Presence app and several free "SmartPlugs," which were created by Monster Cable and can be connected to and controlled via Wi-Fi.<ref name="KITV">{{cite video |people=Lara Yamada (newscaster), David Moss (interviewee) |date=26 February 2015 |title=Become energy efficient with People Power |url=http://www.kitv.com/news/thismorning/Become-energy-efficient-with-People-Power/26420402 |publisher=KITV|access-date=21 October 2015 }}</ref><ref name="PBNOahu">{{cite news | last =Shimogawa| first =Duane | title =California startup expanding free energy efficiency program in Hawaii | newspaper =Pacific Business News| date =23 December 2014 | url =http://www.bizjournals.com/pacific/news/2014/12/23/california-startup-expanding-free-energy.html | access-date =21 October 2015}}</ref> In Hawaii, the results of the pilot program showed that homes could reduce their energy usage by about 10% per month.<ref name="EEM">{{cite news | last =Cohn| first =Lisa | title =People Power Pilot Yields Up to 10 Percent Energy Savings By Changing Behavior | publisher =Energy Efficiency Markets | date =28 February 2015 | url =http://energyefficiencymarkets.com/people-power-pilot-yields-10-energy-savings-changing-behavior/ | access-date =21 October 2015}}</ref>
In September 2015, People Power received $4.4 million in a series B funding round led by MediaTek, bringing its total funding to $12 million.<ref name="Angle">{{cite news | last =Tolentino| first =Mellisa | title =People Power raises $4.4m to push IoT tech | publisher =Silicon Angle| date =30 September 2015 | url =http://siliconangle.com/blog/2015/09/30/people-power-raises-4-4m-to-push-iot-tech/ | access-date =21 October 2015}}</ref> People Power also has a company band (the People Power Band) that plays a mix of covers and original songs.<ref name="GigaBand">{{cite news | last =Moresco| first =Justin| title =People Power: Using Facebook To Cut Carbon | publisher =Gigaom | date =26 January 2010 | url =https://gigaom.com/2010/01/26/people-power-using-facebook-to-cut-carbon/| archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20130318095320/http://gigaom.com/2010/01/26/people-power-using-facebook-to-cut-carbon/| url-status =dead| archive-date =March 18, 2013| access-date =1 November 2015}}</ref> The band, which features Gene Wang on saxophone and David Moss on trumpet, has played at numerous "green" events and conferences including Earth Day SF and Earth Day on the National Mall in Washington, D.C.<ref name="Hey">{{cite web |url=http://heyevent.com/event/zobevkp4co6bea/people-power-band-performs-at-earth-day-sf|title=People Power Band performs at Earth Day SF!!|author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |website=www.heyevent.com |publisher=Hey Event|access-date=1 November 2015}}</ref><ref name="CB">{{cite magazine | last =Halliday| first =Matthew| title =6 Questions: One-on-One with Gene Wang, CEO, People Power Company | magazine =Canadian Business | date =14 July 2010 | url =http://www.canadianbusiness.com/technology-news/6-questions-one-on-one-with-gene-wang-ceo-people-power-company/| access-date =1 November 2015}}</ref> The band has released two albums: ''Green Bandwagon''<ref name="IM">{{cite news | title =Gene Wang – CEO and Co-founder of People Power | publisher =Ideamensch | date =16 October 2013 | url =https://ideamensch.com/gene-wang/| access-date =1 November 2015}}</ref> and, in 2015, ''Powered Up''.<ref name="Baby">{{cite web |url=http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/genewang4|title=Powered Up|author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |website=www.cdbaby.com |publisher=CD Baby|access-date=1 November 2015}}</ref>
==Products==
People Power's most notable product is Presence, a home security and energy management app<ref name="Forbes"/> that can be utilized on otherwise unused iPad, iPhone, iPod Touch,<ref name="USA"/> and Android devices through a Wi-Fi connection.<ref name="Droid">{{cite news | last =Lynn| first =Jennifer | title =People Power's Presence Pro Energy app for Android | publisher =Droid Report| date =11 May 2014 | url =http://www.droidreport.com/people-powers-presence-pro-energy-app-android-9527 | access-date =21 October 2015}}</ref> The app was envisioned after co-founder Gene Wang's mother's home was burglarized.<ref name="SVBJPresence"/> The goal of an earlier version of the app was to provide users with the ability to monitor and control energy usage.<ref name="TC01"/> Both the security and the energy management functions are included in the app.<ref name="Forbes"/> The app starts recording video and/or audio when movement is detected, and users can program the app to send a video clip of the movement to their current smartphone.<ref name="LAT"/> The app has also been used for home monitoring purposes (including as a baby monitor).<ref name="USA"/>
The Presence app also allows users to control third-party internet-connected products and appliances remotely. Users can create "if-this-then-that" rules to control energy usage in their homes. For example, they can set specific times for certain smart plugs to stay on or off. They can also manage things like the thermostat and appliances. The app informs the user how much electricity a certain plug is using at any given time.<ref name="Forbes"/><ref name="KITV"/><ref name="EEM"/>
==Recognition and awards==
In 2017, People Power was named in Gartner's annual "Cool Vendors in Connected Home, 2017" report that identifies technology vendors with innovative products and services that have genuine market impact.<ref name="GartnerCoolVendor">{{cite web | title =People Power Named in Gartner "Cool Vendor" 2017 | website =MarketWatch| date =27 June 2017 | url =http://www.marketwired.com/press-release/people-power-named-a-cool-vendor-in-gartner-2017-connected-home-report-2223953.htm | access-date =17 January 2018}}</ref> In 2015, the Software and Information Industry Association awarded People Power with the Most Innovative and Overall NextGen Award in the "Mobile technology" category.<ref name="MWAward">{{cite web | title =People Power Selected as Winner of 2015 NextGen Mobile Awards | website =MarketWatch| date =17 April 2015 | url =http://www.marketwatch.com/story/people-power-selected-as-winner-of-2015-nextgen-mobile-awards-2015-04-17 | access-date =21 October 2015}}</ref> Also in 2015, the company was awarded the 2015 Energy Award for Outstanding Achievement in Energy Efficient Technology Deployment by the Association of Energy Services Professionals (AESP).<ref name="Yahoo">{{cite news | title =People Power Awarded AESP 2015 Energy Award for Outstanding Achievement in Energy Efficient Technology Deployment| publisher =Yahoo| date =10 February 2015 | url =https://finance.yahoo.com/news/people-power-awarded-aesp-2015-180500174.html | access-date =21 October 2015}}</ref> In 2012, the company won AT&T's "Power the Future" award at CES 2012.<ref name="TC01"/> In 2011, Gigaom named People Power one of the "10 Greentech Companies to Watch in 2011."<ref name="GigaTen">{{cite news | last =St. John| first =Jeff| title =10 Greentech Companies to Watch in 2011 | publisher =Gigaom | date =7 January 2011 | url =http://research.gigaom.com/report/10-greentech-companies-to-watch-in-2011/| archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20150311184650/http://research.gigaom.com/report/10-greentech-companies-to-watch-in-2011/| url-status =dead| archive-date =March 11, 2015| access-date =21 October 2015}}</ref> In 2010, the company won a GE Ecomagination Challenge Award.<ref name="GE">{{cite news | title =GE Awards First Ecomagination Millions to Smart Grid Firms | publisher =GreenBiz | date =16 November 2010 | url =http://www.greenbiz.com/news/2010/11/16/ge-awards-first-ecomagination-millions-smart-grid-firms| access-date =21 October 2015}}</ref>
==References==
{{reflist|3}}
==External links== *[http://www.peoplepowerco.com/ Official Website]
Category:Technology companies established in 2009 Category:Technology companies based in the San Francisco Bay Area Category:Companies based in Palo Alto, California Category:Companies based in Silicon Valley Category:2009 establishments in California