Why this intercom startup is getting funding from Amazon

Nucleus, an NYC-based IoT company with Philly ties, just announced the closing of a $5.6 million Series A round led by Amazon’s investment arm for voice technology, better known as the Alexa Fund.
Bright and early on Wednesday, the company said the funds will go toward building out a national footprint and speeding up research and development. With this round, Nucleus, which makes a home intercom system, now racks up a total war chest of $10 million.

Nucleus raises $5.6M in Series A funding led by Amazon's Alexa fund https://t.co/Ga2dKc8JIV by @fitztepper

— TechCrunch (@TechCrunch) September 21, 2016

“It’s incredible to receive this level of support in such a short period of time,” said Jonathan Frankel, the Lower Merion-based cofounder and CEO of Nucleus. “It speaks to the importance of our shared vision: Bringing families closer together with ease and convenience through world-class technology.”
News of the big raise came coupled with the announcement of an acquisition: on Wednesday Nucleus bought Insensi, a New York-based company that makes a family communication system called Ily.
Though Insensi cofounder Ilan Abehassera will not be coming along for the ride, he did say most of the startup’s staff of 15 will be joining Nucleus.

Today, @Nucleus_Life has acquired @insensi, the company I started 2 years ago. Ily ❤️ https://t.co/2lGaJNWm4E

— ilan abehassera (@ilan) September 21, 2016

When we last caught up with Jonathan Frankel — back in October 2015 — he had announced a considerable raise of $1.5 million from Foxconn (you know, the company that makes your iPhone). Back then he said his team — spread across the globe — communicated via Nucleus.
Looks like it’s time to add a few more screens to that setup.