{{short description|Cloud-based physical security startup}} {{Infobox company | name = Verkada Inc. | logo = File:Verkada logo.png | image = | num_employees = 1,700 (est.)<ref name="Craft Profile">{{cite web|url=https://craft.co/verkada |title=Verkada Company Profile - Office Locations, Competitors, Revenue, Financials, Employees, Key People, Subsidiaries |website=www.craft.co |date=August 22, 2020}}</ref> | type = Private | industry = Physical security | founded = {{start date and age|2016}} | founder = {{unbulleted list|Filip Kaliszan|James Ren|Benjamin Bercovitz|Hans Robertson}} | hq_location = San Mateo, California | area_served = <!-- or: | areas_served = --> | key_people = Filip Kaliszan, CEO | products = security cameras, access control, environmental sensors, intrusion alarms, guest management, mailroom management | revenue = 806 millions $ | revenue_year = 2025 | owner = <!-- or: | owners = --> | website = {{URL|https://www.verkada.com/}} }} '''Verkada Inc.''' is an American security technology company, based in San Mateo, California. The company combines security equipment such as video cameras, access control systems and environmental sensors, with cloud based machine vision and artificial intelligence.<ref name=tech1/><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.messengernews.net/news/local-news/2022/04/fd-school-board-approves-bathroom-vape-sensors/ |title=FD school board approves bathroom vape sensors|website=MessengerNews.com |last1=Wingert|first1=Kelly|date=April 26, 2022|access-date=January 20, 2023}}</ref>
The company was founded in 2016.<ref name=forbes1/>
==History== Verkada Inc. was founded in 2016 in Menlo Park, California by three Stanford University graduates: Filip Kaliszan, James Ren, and Benjamin Bercovitz, who were joined by Hans Robertson, co-founder and former COO of Meraki (now Cisco Meraki). Kaliszan, Ren, and Bercovitz had previously collaborated on CourseRank, a class data aggregation platform that was acquired by Chegg in 2010.<ref name=forbes1>{{cite web|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/alexkonrad/2019/04/25/this-startup-making-security-camera-systems-for-schools-reached-a-540-million-valuation-in-3-years/ |title=This Startup Making Cloud-Connected Security Camera Systems Reached A $540 Million Valuation In 3 Years|website=www.forbes.com |date=April 25, 2019}}</ref> The company installed its first security cameras in 2017, at an Equinox Gym in Beverly Hills.<ref name=FortuneGarfinkle>{{cite news |last=Garfinkle |first=Allie |date=February 19, 2025 |title=Exclusive: Verkada’s $200 million Series E values the company at $4.5 billion |url=https://fortune.com/2025/02/19/exclusive-verkadas-200-million-series-e-values-the-company-at-4-5-billion/ |work=Fortune |access-date=March 26, 2026}}</ref>
In 2019, ''Forbes'' included Verkada in its Next Billion Dollar Startups list, as well as that year's AI 50 list of most promising artificial intelligence companies.<ref name=forbes2>{{cite web|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/amyfeldman/2019/07/16/next-billion-dollar-startups-2019/ |title=Next Billion Dollar Startups 2019|website=www.forbes.com |date=July 16, 2019}}</ref><ref name=forbes3>{{cite web|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/jilliandonfro/2019/09/17/ai-50-americas-most-promising-artificial-intelligence-companies/ |title=AI 50: America's Most Promising Artificial Intelligence Companies|website=www.forbes.com |date=September 17, 2019}}</ref> In April of that year, the company announced a $40 million Series B funding round, which valued the company at $540 million.<ref name=forbes1/>
In January 2020, the company raised $80 million in a Series C funding round led by Felicis Ventures, giving the company a $1.6 billion valuation.<ref name=tech1/> In spring 2020, the company launched its first access control device, the first move in a shift to moving beyond cameras, and integrating security cameras and locks onto a single platform.<ref name=tech1>{{cite web|date=January 29, 2020|title=Verkada raises $80M at $1.6B to be every building's security OS|url=https://techcrunch.com/2020/01/29/verkada-security/|website=www.techcrunch.com}}</ref> During the COVID-19 crisis Verkada instituted a program to offer free surveillance kits to healthcare institutions and municipalities in order to remotely monitor high-risk locations.<ref name=SecurityInformed>{{cite web |url=https://www.securityinformed.com/news/verkada-covid-19-program-free-video-monitoring-critical-infrastructure-healthcare-shelter-locations-co-1552977087-ga.1586422188.html |title=Verkada unveils COVID-19 programme to offer free video monitoring for critical infrastructure, healthcare and shelter locations |date=2020 |website=securityinformed.com |access-date=March 26, 2026}}</ref> In September 2020, Verkada expanded its product line with a suite of environmental sensors that report metrics such as air temperature and quality as well as a "people heatmaps" feature that identifies overcrowded locations within a facility.<ref name=american1>{{cite web|url=https://theamericangenius.com/housing/real-estate-tech/beef-up-security-against-covid-new-environmental-sensor-suite/ |title=Beef up your security against COVID with this new environmental sensor suite |website=The American Genius |date=September 21, 2020 |access-date=June 9, 2021}}</ref>
In September 2021, the company began donating security cameras to Asian Pacific American business communities, starting with the Oakland California Chinatown Chamber of Commerce, to address growing anti-Asian threats and violence against its members.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://abc7news.com/oakland-chinatown-aapi-stop-crime-asian-hate/11066181/ |title=New surveillance cameras installed in Oakland's Chinatown to combat violent attacks |website=ABC News |date=September 30, 2021 |access-date=November 15, 2021}}</ref>
Verkada's Series D funding round closed in October 2023 and raised $305 million at a $3.2 billion valuation.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Staff |first=S. S. I. |date=2023-10-10 |title=Verkada Closes Series D Fundraising Round With $305M in Fresh Capital |url=https://www.securitysales.com/business/operations/verkada-series-d-fundraising-305m-fresh-capital/ |access-date=2023-11-23 |website=Security Sales & Integration |language=en}}</ref> In February 2025, Verkada's Series E funding round raised another $200 million at a $4.5 billion valuation.<ref name=FortuneGarfinkle/> A December 2025 funding round led by Alphabet's venture capital arm CapitalG brought in $100 million at a $5.8 billion valuation.<ref name=CNBCYip>{{cite news |last=Yip |first=Jaures |date=December 3, 2025 |title=Security startup Verkada hits $5.8 billion valuation in latest funding round led by CapitalG |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2025/12/03/verkada-capitalg-valuation-security.html |work=CNBC |access-date=March 26, 2026}}</ref> At the end of 2025, Verkada had approximately 30,000 active customers.<ref name=TheTechBuzz>{{cite news |author=<!--Staff writer(s)/no by-line.--> |date=December 3, 2025 |title=Verkada hits $5.8B valuation as Google bets big on AI security |url=https://www.techbuzz.ai/articles/verkada-hits-5-8b-valuation-as-google-bets-big-on-ai-security |work=The Tech Buzz |access-date=March 30, 2026}}</ref>
In 2026, Verkada expanded within the EMEA market by establishing an office in Dubai.<ref name=SSIJan26>{{cite news |author=<!--Staff writer(s)/no by-line.--> |date=January 21, 2026 |title=Verkada Expands Operations to Dubai, United Arab Emirates |url=https://www.securitysales.com/news/verkada-middle-east-dubai-office/616458/ |work=Security Sales & Integration |access-date=March 26, 2026}}</ref> The company also announced that it would be partnering with Carahsoft to sell its security technology to government agencies.<ref name=ExecutiveBizSmith>{{cite news |last=Smith |first=Kristen |date=January 22, 2026 |title=Verkada, Carahsoft Enter Into Distribution Partnership for Public Sector Security Tech |url=https://www.techbuzz.ai/articles/verkada-hits-5-8b-valuation-as-google-bets-big-on-ai-security |work=Executive Biz |access-date=March 26, 2026}}</ref>
=== Data breach === On March 8, 2021, Verkada was hacked by an international group including maia arson crimew and calling themselves the "APT{{Thin space|-}}69420 Arson Cats," which gained access to their network for about 36 hours and collected about 5 gigabytes of data.<ref>{{Cite news|last1=Bajak|first1=Frank|last2=O'Brien|first2=Matt|date=March 10, 2021|title=Security camera hack exposes hospitals, workplaces, schools|work=Seattle Times|url=https://www.seattletimes.com/business/security-camera-hack-exposes-hospitals-workplaces-schools/|access-date=March 19, 2021}}</ref>{{Failed verification|date=March 2023}}
Initially, it was reported that the scope of the incident included live and recorded security camera footage from more than 150,000 cameras. It was later reported that 95 customers' video and images data were accessed<ref>{{Cite web|last=Goodin|first=Dan|date=March 10, 2021|title=Hackers access security cameras inside Cloudflare, jails, and hospitals|url=https://arstechnica.com/information-technology/2021/03/hackers-access-security-cameras-inside-cloudflare-jails-and-hospitals/|access-date=March 19, 2021|website=Ars Technica|language=en-us}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|last=Turton|first=William|date=March 31, 2021|title=Verkada Says Hackers Accessed Cameras of 95 Customers|language=en|work=Bloomberg News|url=https://news.bloomberglaw.com/tech-and-telecom-law/verkada-says-hackers-accessed-cameras-of-95-customers|access-date=March 31, 2021}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Gartenberg|first=Chaim|date=March 9, 2021|title=Security startup Verkada hack exposes 150,000 security cameras in Tesla factories, jails, and more|url=https://www.theverge.com/2021/3/9/22322122/verkada-hack-150000-security-cameras-tesla-factory-cloudflare-jails-hospitals|access-date=March 19, 2021|website=The Verge|language=en}}</ref> Crimew told Bloomberg News that the hack "exposes just how broadly we're being surveilled".<ref name="BloombergHackersExpose">{{Cite news|last=Turton|first=William|date=March 9, 2021|title=Hackers Breach Thousands of Security Cameras, Exposing Tesla, Jails, Hospitals|language=en|work=Bloomberg News|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-03-09/hackers-expose-tesla-jails-in-breach-of-150-000-security-cams|access-date=March 19, 2021}}</ref>
In response to the data breach, in April 2021 it was reported that Verkada CEO Filip Kaliszan announced a series of measures, including red team/blue team exercises, a bug bounty program, mandatory two-factor authentication use by Verkada support staff, and the sharing of more audit logs with Verkada customers.<ref>{{cite news |last=Healy |first=Conor |date=March 25, 2021 |title=Verkada Revokes Global Admin Access To Cameras, Says Requiring 2FA 'Excellent Suggestion' |url=https://ipvm.com/reports/verkada-revoke |work=IPVM |access-date=May 10, 2021}}</ref>
==Controversies== In 2020 it was reported by several media outlets that a group of male staff in leadership positions used the company's own facial recognition system to harass female workers, with employees telling reporters that the incidents contributed to a culture of sexism. The issues stretched back to 2019, but action was only taken the following year once increasing media attention was cast upon the company, with Verkada eventually terminating those deemed responsible.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.vice.com/en/article/surveillance-startup-used-own-cameras-to-harass-coworkers/|title=Surveillance Startup Used Own Cameras to Harass Coworkers|first=Lauren Kaori Gurley and Joseph|last=Cox|date=October 26, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://ipvm.com/reports/verkada-culture?code=samr|title=Verkada Faces Sexism, Discrimination, And Cultural Challenges|date=October 13, 2020|website=IPVM}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.theverge.com/2020/10/26/21535089/surveillance-company-verkada-harassed-female-employees|title=Surveillance company harassed female employees using its own facial recognition technology|first=Zoë|last=Schiffer|date=October 26, 2020|website=The Verge}}</ref>
In August 2021, Motorola Solutions filed a 52-page complaint<ref>{{cite letter |first=Lisa M. |last=Kattan |recipient=The Honorable Lisa R. Barton |subject=Certain Video Security Equipment and Systems, Related Software, Components Thereof, and Products Containing Same, Inv. No. 337-TA- |language=English |date=August 9, 2021 |url=https://d1tzzns6d79su2.cloudfront.net/uploads/embedded_file/cf7ce9dfe18e8ef3d76ac5b8ef8616a7ec99e34b4ba62952427f8a36915ce7fe/8a32753a-9ed7-4281-8367-e2c828ee7333.pdf |access-date=October 18, 2021}}</ref> against Verkada with the United States International Trade Commission, alleging that Verkada cameras and software infringe upon patents held by Motorola subsidiary Avigilon.<ref>{{cite news |last=Decker |first=Susan |date=August 9, 2021 |title=Motorola Solutions Seeks to Block Rival Security Camera Imports |url=https://news.bloomberglaw.com/ip-law/motorola-solutions-seeks-to-block-rival-security-camera-imports |work=Bloomberg Law |access-date=October 15, 2021}}{{subscription required|s}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Griffin |first=Joel |date=August 12, 2021 |title=Motorola Solutions files ITC complaint against Verkada |url=https://www.securityinfowatch.com/video-surveillance/article/21234198/motorola-solutions-files-itc-complaint-against-verkada |work=Security Info Watch.com |access-date=October 15, 2021}}</ref> Verkada subsequently filed a lawsuit against Motorola Solutions in the California Northern District Court in September 2021,<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.law.com/radar/card/verkada-inc-v-motorola-solutions-inc-et-al-41685117-0/ |title=Verkada, Inc. v. Motorola Solutions, Inc. et al |author=<!--Not stated--> |date= |website=Law.com |publisher=ALM Media Properties, LLC |access-date=October 18, 2021 |quote=}} </ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.law360.com/cases/6131d42eb0c74e52106314db |title=Verkada, Inc. v. Motorola Solutions, Inc. et al |author=<!--Not stated--> |date=September 2, 2021 |website=LAW360 |publisher=Portfolio Media, Inc. |access-date=October 18, 2021 |quote=}}</ref><ref name=SSI>{{cite news |last=Karantzoulidis |first=Steve |date=September 7, 2021 |title=Verkada Sues Motorola Over Patent Infringement Complaint |url=https://www.securitysales.com/news/verkada-sues-motorola-patent/ |work=Security Sales & Integration |location=San Mateo, Calif. |access-date=October 18, 2021}}</ref> arguing that Motorola has "sought to effectively shut Verkada’s business down."<ref>{{cite court |litigants=VERKADA, INC. v. MOTOROLA SOLUTIONS, INC.; AVIGILON CORPORATION; AVIGILON FORTRESS CORPORATION; AVIGILON PATENT HOLDING 1 CORPORATION; AND AVIGILON TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION |vol= |reporter= |opinion= |pinpoint= |court=N.D. Cal. |date=2021 |url=https://d1tzzns6d79su2.cloudfront.net/uploads/embedded_file/200ea6aa406c899cf6f7a6fc13fc2ed50aae97bcb7384565fb7fb1e700423c3c/e2e26967-8929-4246-8209-3fc2be1ccfdd.pdf |access-date=October 16, 2021 |quote= |postscript= }}</ref><ref name=SSI/> Later in September, the International Trade Commission initiated its investigation into Motorola's complaint,<ref>{{cite web |url=https://d1tzzns6d79su2.cloudfront.net/uploads/embedded_file/756167248bb83222b202d2ac8df6d1afa3257f0bf9d8fce2a2021bd1cc499414/aadce4de-efc0-45d3-8ae8-6ba6724bcba5.pdf |title=NOTICE OF INSTITUTION OF INVESTIGATION |author=<!--Not stated--> |date=September 8, 2021 |website= |publisher= |access-date=October 18, 2021 |quote=}}</ref> with Verkada stating in its response that it does not infringe upon any of Motorola's patents.<ref>{{cite court |litigants= |vol= |reporter= |opinion= |pinpoint= |court=US ITC |date=September 29, 2021 |url=https://s.ipvm.com/uploads/embedded_file/19a518b9dc6fb67288fd90621ba3305f81fb0538a4e34ab2b3a2d1feca1db6ca/8011fb1b-a44e-497c-9eae-49d72f2f1867.pdf |access-date=October 18, 2021 |quote= |postscript= }}</ref>
In April 2021, news site Bloomberg News reported allegations by former employees accusing the company of having a "bro" culture, with lax device security, excessive focus on profit, and parties during the COVID-19 pandemic.<ref name=bloomberg1>{{cite web |last1=Turton |first1=William |last2=Gallagher |first2=Ryan |last3=McBride |first3=Sarah |last4=Ford |first4=Brody |title='Bro Culture' at Camera Maker Verkada Pushed Profits, Parties |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-04-09/-bro-culture-at-camera-maker-verkada-pushed-profits-parties |archive-url=https://archive.today/20210409152848/https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-04-09/-bro-culture-at-camera-maker-verkada-pushed-profits-parties |url-status=dead |archive-date=2021-04-09 |website=Bloomberg |access-date=April 9, 2021}}</ref> In the Bloomberg reporting, Verkada acknowledged an internal lapse in judgment, and was reportedly working to create a more inclusive work environment, including reviewing gender pay equity and implementing better training.<ref name=bloomberg1/>
On October 24, 2022, the presiding administrative law judge (“ALJ”) of the ITC issued a final initial determination (“FID”) finding that a violation of section 337 has occurred, that Verkada's products infringed claims 6–11 of 1 of 3 patents asserted by Motorola, but no infringement with respect to the other asserted claims of the 1 patent and the claims of other 2 patents.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=Certain Video Security Equipment and Systems, Related Software, Components Thereof, and Products Containing Same; Notice of the Commission's Final Determination Finding No Violation of Section 337; Termination of the Investigation |url=https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2023/04/06/2023-07165/certain-video-security-equipment-and-systems-related-software-components-thereof-and-products |access-date=2023-05-05 |website=federalregister.gov |date=6 April 2023 }}</ref> Both Verkada and Motorola filed for ITC review of the FID.<ref name=":0" /> On April 4, 2023, ITC issued a final determination and terminated the ITC investigation, finding that Verkada products did not infringe any of Motorola's 3 patents.<ref name=":0" />
Verkada uses facial recognition in its cameras, including systems installed in public housing. Independent testing showed a 15-85% false positive rate in the matches.<ref name=wapo /> The use of surveillance cameras equipped with facial recognition technology ends up affecting the daily lives of residents in poor neighbourhoods and public housing areas{{citation needed|date=April 2024}}. Their use makes their existence even more difficult and complicated, and there is no evidence of their usefulness in reducing crime.<ref name=wapo /><ref>{{Cite web |title=Facial Recognition Used to Evict Single Mother for Taking Night Classes |url=https://futurism.com/facial-recognition-housing-projects |access-date=2023-11-23 |website=Futurism |date=17 May 2023 }}</ref> Facial recognition has been outlawed in Illinois and Texas and has been under scrutiny by HUD.<ref name=wapo>{{Cite news |title=Eyes on the poor: Cameras, facial recognition watch over public housing |author=Douglas MacMillan |newspaper=Washington Post |date=16 May 2023 |access-date=16 May 2023 |url= https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2023/05/16/surveillance-cameras-public-housing/}}</ref>
In September 2024, Verkada was sued by the United States Department of Justice for violating the CAN-SPAM Act.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.justice.gov/archives/opa/pr/295m-penalty-and-permanent-injunction-resolves-lawsuit-against-verkada-inc-alleged-unlawful|title=Office of Public Affairs | $2.95M Penalty and Permanent Injunction Resolves Lawsuit Against Verkada Inc. for Alleged Unlawful Commercial Emails, Data Security Failures and Deceptive Practices | United States Department of Justice|date=September 4, 2024|website=www.justice.gov}}</ref> The company eventually settled, paying a fine of $2,950,000.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/security/verkada-to-pay-295-million-for-alleged-can-spam-act-violations/|title=Verkada to pay $2.95 million for alleged CAN-SPAM Act violations|website=BleepingComputer}}</ref>
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== *{{official website|verkada.com}}
Category:Video surveillance companies Category:Physical security Category:Companies based in San Mateo, California Category:Technology companies based in the San Francisco Bay Area Category:Computer companies of the United States Category:Computer companies established in 2016 Category:Computer hardware companies Category:American companies established in 2016 Category:2016 establishments in California