Vancouver’s Mojio has gained $2.3 million in seed funding to further develop its connected car app, which is in the final stages of development and will launch within a few months.
The round was led by Relay Ventures with participation from 500 Startups, BDC and a number of other private funds.
“Mojio is creating a custom driver experience through an ecosystem of car apps that will mirror the highly personalized relationships people have with their smartphones, making people’s driving lives intuitive and seamless,” said CEO Jay Giraud. “This financing has now propelled our company to a leadership position to bring that vision to the rapidly growing connected car market.”
Here’s the CBC’s Amanda Lang and Kevin O’Leary interviewing Giraud, a former Dragons’ Den participant:
The company connects cars to people, places and things, through the cloud. An iOS and Android app supports the platform that unlocks and connects real-time vehicle information to a user’s life. “From parking payments to turning off lights as a user leaves home, Mojio will automate many everyday tasks while keeping driver safety and convenience top of mind. Quick and easy to install, the device simply plugs into the onboard diagnostic port (OBD) of most cars introduced since 1996,” read a blog post from the company.
Mojio uses an always-on cellular connection and an open platform to support an ecosystem of drivers, partners and companies focused on continually improving the driver experience through the world’s first app store for cars.
“Mojio has the right approach to becoming the breakaway leader of the connected car space and has the right team to execute on the company’s vision,” said Relay Ventures partner John Occhipinti.
According to the company, the first release of Mojio will include diagnostic reporting, social connection and location tools.
Diagnostic Reporting
Mojio protects cars by collecting critical vehicle data and alerting the driver in simple language when there is a problem, and provides peace of mind when all systems are in check. The engine light dilemma will be reduced as Mojio specifies the problem and recommends mechanics offering a real-time deal or the nearest locations for a repair. Mojio will also offer road warriors mileage tracking and quick and easy fuel efficiency reports.
Social Connectivity
Each Mojio user creates a profile complete with their user preferences and car details. Mojio automatically loads the user’s profile to create a seamless connected driving experience in any Mojio-enabled car. According to the company, with a couple of screen swipes, Mojio lets drivers share their data or follow friends with turn-by-turn directions.
It also claims to keep driver safety and attention high, “by removing the social pressure to respond to texts while driving by auto-responding on the driver’s behalf. Mojio knows the driver’s next destination and will automatically notify people they will be meeting of an updated estimated time of arrival (ETA),” read the company’s blog.
Location Tools
With a 4G cell connection built into the Mojio device, drivers are connected to the car “at all times”, enabling the driver to easily find their car. Mojio will alert the driver if the car is being towed, stolen or broken into, and can provide real-time tracking to police or help deliver facts for an insurance claim.