Orient Group acquires Pakistani IoT startup Smart Devices

Smart Devices is among the first Pakistani startups to employ IoT systems


Ahmad Ali January 28, 2017
CEO Smart Devices Abdul Ghaffar speaks at the event. PHOTO: SMARTDEVICES

Smart Devices, a Pakistani startup to employ IoT (Internet of Things) systems, has been acquired by BlueEast Private Limited, an R&D wing of Orient Group.

The deal, which was reached after much deliberation, was signed by the BlueEast Director Adul Rehman Talat and Smart Devices CEO Abdul Ghaffar.

Speaking at the occasion Director Sales and Marketing Abdul Rehman Talat said, “We have been monitoring Smart Devices for about a year. They have been without a doubt been the most promising startup in IOT, in Pakistan,” adding that the startup is the only local company that has a finished product and shares their vision of a ‘connected Pakistan’.

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Smart Devices enables people to control home appliances from their smartphones and computers. It offers electronic devices featuring WiFi functionality to replace the conventional plug and socket set up.

The startup has also dedicated Android and Chrome apps as well as a cloud service, allowing its products to be in sync with different devices. They have also integrated their devices with third-party product like Amazon Echo, Google Home and Apple Watch.

The start-up was nominated for the World Summit Award (WSA) this year and went on to win the first ever IoT award in the Smart Home Category at Telenor’s IoT expo.

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Commenting on the country’s growing startup environment, Ghaffar said, “Smart Devices acquisition is the first of its kind in the region and with an industrial giant like Orient acquiring it, this proves Pakistan is ready for advance tech like IoT. I think it’s high time for IoT players to work together and create a better and common ecosystem.”

Prior to their acquisition, Smart Devices was incubated at Plan9 - PITB's Tech Incubator and then accelerated at PlanX – Pakistan’s largest technology accelerator.

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