Your door. Your phone. No key needed.
[email protected] · getykey.com · Alpha Demo 2025
Combined expertise in hardware engineering, firmware, economics and growth strategy
A compact Bluetooth-enabled servo device that mounts on top of any existing door lever handle. Zero modifications. Zero locksmith. Zero lost keys.
YKey clips over the lever — manual operation unchanged
The key insight: Every competing smart lock requires replacing the cylinder. YKey makes the handle smart — landlord-friendly, renter-legal, install in 30 seconds.
Slide YKey over your door lever handle. The adjustable bracket locks in place. No tools. No screws. Takes 30 seconds.
Open the YKey app, scan to pair via Bluetooth. Calibrate the servo to your lever angle once. Setup complete.
Tap unlock in-app or use auto-unlock on approach. Share time-limited digital keys to anyone — revoke anytime.
Our alpha prototype is fully functional and installed on a real door. ESP32 + servo, controlled via custom BLE firmware.
With $2,000 seed funding, we move from breadboard prototype to an injection-molded, consumer-ready enclosure with polished app and packaging — ready to sell.
Smart lock incumbents target homeowners. YKey owns renters — the fastest-growing housing segment.
| Product | Price | Install | Renter OK |
|---|---|---|---|
| August Smart Lock | $229 | Replaces cylinder | ✗ |
| Schlage Encode | $249 | Full replacement | ✗ |
| Yale Assure | $199 | Full replacement | ✗ |
| YKey | $49 | Clip-on, 30s | ✓ |
We started where we live. Yale's 6,500 undergrads represent a dense, validated test market with a real, recurring problem.
We surveyed 100 Yale students and urban renters ages 18–35 on access control pain points and purchase intent.
★ Largest segment willing to pay $50–75. Our $49 price point captures 83% of respondents.
Key finding: The $49 price point is validated as the optimal balance — capturing the maximum addressable buyer segment while maintaining healthy margins. Respondents cited "no installation required" and "key sharing" as the top two purchase drivers.
One product. One price. Low enough to buy without thinking — high enough to be profitable from day one.
Conservative bottom-up model based on campus penetration and urban renter expansion. Hardware first, SaaS later.
YKey is not a lock. It's an accessory — like a door knob cover or a hook. Here's exactly why we're clear.
YKey clips onto the lever handle using friction-fit or removable adhesive. Zero screws, zero drilling, zero permanent change to the door, frame, or lock cylinder. Landlord lease clauses prohibiting "modifications" do not apply.
The original lock mechanism remains fully intact. Anyone can push down the handle manually from inside at all times — critical for fire code compliance (NFPA 101 Life Safety Code requires egress from inside without special knowledge or keys).
Under US product law, YKey is classified as a consumer electronic accessory. Selling it requires no locksmith license, no UL certification (optional), and no building permits. CE/FCC compliance for BLE is straightforward.
Most US lease agreements allow tenants to add removable accessories. Unlike smart lock replacements, YKey does not alter shared infrastructure. Consult individual lease language — overwhelmingly permissible for renters.
YKey only operates the handle from the non-cylinder side — it cannot unlock a deadbolt. It works only on lever-style latches. Physical key remains required for deadbolts. This makes it legally distinct from a bypass device.
ESP32 is pre-certified FCC ID: 2AC7Z-ESPWROOM32. Our product inherits this certification path. Bluetooth operation under FCC Part 15 requires only standard equipment authorization — no special licensing needed to sell in the US.
Bottom line: We are not replacing the lock. We are adding an electronic servo on top of the handle — legally equivalent to adding a decorative lever wrap. No locksmith. No permit. No problem.
A single seed check to turn our working breadboard prototype into a polished, sellable product — ready for the Yale campus launch.
We have the hardware, the firmware, the market validation, and the team. We just need $2,000 to make it shippable. Let's unlock something together.
"Never lose a key again. Never be locked out again. Never pay a locksmith again."