One Raven, a privacy-focused smart home platform, announced its launch alongside a $5 million seed funding round led by Fifth Wall. The company aims to redefine the smart home by keeping intelligence and data inside the home rather than relying on cloud infrastructure.
At the center of the platform is the One Raven Home Server, which enables smart devices to operate locally while storing homeowner data on the home’s own network. The system eliminates the need for cloud processing, subscriptions, recurring fees, or behavioral data collection. Homeowners can still securely manage their systems remotely without sending data to third-party cloud services.
Unlike many existing smart home ecosystems that require manual setup, One Raven’s hardware arrives pre-paired and factory-configured. The platform supports devices such as smart thermostats, locks, leak detectors, and security sensors, allowing homeowners to deploy a fully integrated system immediately after installation.
The company believes today’s smart home market has become overly dependent on cloud connectivity, fragmented mobile apps, recurring subscription models, and shifting pricing structures that can limit device functionality over time. By operating locally, One Raven says its platform continues functioning even if internet connectivity is interrupted.
One Raven was founded by Lucas Haldeman and Sarah Roudybush, who previously helped build SmartRent into one of the largest smart apartment platforms serving multifamily real estate. Their new venture targets homeowners directly with a privacy-first approach centered on local intelligence and full ownership of home data.
The seed financing was led by Fifth Wall, which previously invested in SmartRent. As part of the investment, Fifth Wall Founder, CEO, and CIO Brendan Wallace has joined One Raven’s board of directors.
The new funding will be used to scale production of the One Raven Home Server and its initial smart device portfolio, expand the company’s local-intelligence software platform, and grow its engineering, sales, and partnership teams. One Raven is also hiring across hardware engineering, software development, field deployment, and go-to-market functions in Phoenix, with its first homebuilder partnerships expected to be announced during the third quarter.
KEY QUOTES:
“We spent a decade building the smart home for the renters and commercial owners of multifamily portfolios. One Raven is for every homeowner who wants a modern living experience while maintaining their privacy.”
Lucas Haldeman, Co-Founder and CEO of One Raven
“The first generation of the smart home asked homeowners to send their data to the cloud and pay monthly fees for features they already owned. We don’t think any of that is necessary. One Raven is built to prove there is a better model—one where the home is intelligent, simple, private, and fully owned by the homeowner.”
Sarah Roudybush, Co-Founder and President of One Raven
“Fifth Wall is backing Lucas and Sarah for a second time because we believe they are building the next generation of the smart home. The first generation was fragmented, cloud-dependent, and built around recurring fees. One Raven is building the opposite: a local-first, privacy-first platform designed for homeowners, builders, and a future where the home itself becomes intelligence infrastructure.”
Brendan Wallace, Founder, CEO, and CIO of Fifth Wall
