Pearl Automation
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{{Orphan|date=August 2024}}
{{advert|date=May 2017}}
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{{Infobox company
| name = Pearl Automation
| logo = Pearl_Automation_Logo.png
| type = Private
| founded = 2014
| founder = Bryson Gardner, Joseph Fisher, Brian Sander
| hq_location_city = Scotts Valley, CA
| num_employees = 80
| homepage = http://www.pearlauto.com
}}
Pearl Automation Inc. was a company building aftermarket automobile technology, focused on delivering “driver awareness features”{{Cite web|url=https://www.latimes.com/business/autos/la-fi-hy-rear-vision-in-cars-apple-20160620-snap-story.html|title=Got an old car? Thanks to three Apple renegades, you can install your own rearview camera|last=Times|first=Los Angeles|website=Los Angeles Times|access-date=2016-07-21}} and helping to “speed up the pace”{{Cite web|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/aarontilley/2016/06/21/pearl-backup-camera/#282691d05b34|title=These Ex-Apple Engineers Want To Put A Backup Camera With Computer Vision On Your Car|last=Tilley|first=Aaron|website=Forbes|access-date=2016-07-21}} of technology adoption in cars. Pearl was founded by Bryson Gardner, Joseph Fisher, and Brian Sander in 2014 and announced its first product in June 2016.{{Cite web|url=https://techcrunch.com/2016/06/21/pearl-automotives-license-plate-cover-puts-a-car-backup-camera-on-your-phone/|title=Pearl Automation's license plate cover puts a car backup camera on your phone|last=Lynley|first=Matthew|website=TechCrunch|access-date=2016-07-21}} The company was based in Scotts Valley, California.
Products
The Pearl Rear Vision product was purchased by American Road Products Inc.{{Cite news|url=https://www.twice.com/product/american-road-products-inks-deal-pearl-automation-65400|title=American Road Products Inks Deal With Pearl Automation|work=Twice|access-date=2018-03-20|language=en-us}} as Pearl Automation Inc. closed its operations.{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/06/26/technology/pearl-automation-founded-by-apple-veterans-shuts-down.html|title=Pearl Automation, Founded by Apple Veterans, Shuts Down|last=Goel|first=Vindu|date=2017-06-26|work=The New York Times|access-date=2018-03-20|language=en-US|issn=0362-4331}}
Pearl’s first product, Rear Vision, was an aftermarket automotive backup camera and alert system{{Cite web|url=http://www.recode.net/2016/6/21/11990878/apple-engineers-car-tech|title=A team of ex-Apple engineers just launched the Nest for cars|last=Bhuiyan|first=Johana|date=2016-06-21|website=Recode|access-date=2016-07-21}} that attaches around a license plate and sends video directly to your smartphone. The system is solar powered{{Cite web|url=https://www.theverge.com/2016/6/21/11982104/pearl-rearvision-rearview-camera-apple-veterans|title=A huge team of Apple veterans is now making smart accessories for your car|last=Popper|first=Ben|date=2016-06-21|website=The Verge|access-date=2016-07-21}} and included two wide angle high-definition cameras.{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/01/02/technology/pearl-automation-apple-alumni.html|title=Growing a Different Apple|last1=Goel|first1=Vindu|date=2017-01-02|last2=Cruz|first2=Anthony|newspaper=The New York Times|issn=0362-4331|access-date=2017-01-20}}
Pearl sells products directly to consumers through its website, Amazon.com and Crutchfield.{{Cite web|url=https://www.macrumors.com/2016/09/27/rearvision-camera-launches-500/|title=Former Apple Employees' 'RearVision' Vehicle Camera Launches for $500|last=Broussard|first=Mitchel|access-date=2017-01-20}} In January 2017, Pearl announced a partnership with Installer Net.
The company went defunct in 2017.{{cite web | url=https://www.santacruztechbeat.com/2017/06/26/pearl-automation-shuts/ | title=Pearl Automation shuts down | date=26 June 2017 }}
Funding
Pearl has raised a total of $50 million in Series A and B venture capital rounds, from investors Shasta Ventures, Accel, Venrock, and Wellcome Trust.