lock_and_app-lrMaveron, the Seattle-based venture capital firm, has led an $8 million Series A funding round for August, a home automation company co-founded by renowned designer Yves Behar and Jason Johnson, a serial entrepreneur and managing partner at Founders Den.

August, based in San Francisco, is currently in the process of finishing production of the August Smart Lock, which will allow users to replace the back side of their existing deadbolt with a unit that will allow authorized users with a smartphone to unlock a door without needing a physical key, while still allowing keyed entry if necessary.

“At August, we’re dedicated to building elegant and seamless home automation solutions,” Johnson said in the company’s press release. “With distribution of our smart lock on the horizon, we will leverage this financing and our new partners to perfect the August consumer experience and scale our operations in advance of shipping.”

lockinhandMaveron partner David Wu will be joining August’s board of directors as a part of the funding agreement.

“The August Smart Lock merges beauty and simplicity to create a magical experience for consumers. It is a privilege to invest in Jason and his vision for the connected home,” Wu said in a press release.

The company plans to expand from its smart lock roots to the rest of the home automation business, potentially putting it in competition with Nest, which recently released its Nest Protect smoke detector to go along with the company’s flagship thermostat.

For a look at how the August Smart Lock works, check out the video below:

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