The start-up based in Oakland, California, became successful with a user-friendly app that allows users to personalize their workplace environment. The company is also known under the name Comfy, its main product.

Following the acquisition, Building Robotics will operate as a wholly owned subsidiary of Siemens Industry Inc. and will continue to operate as a vendor-neutral platform provider. The two founders, CEO Andrew Krioukov and CTO Stephen Dawson-Haggerty, will remain on the Building Robotics management team in their current roles. Both parties have agreed not to disclose the financial details. The transaction is expected to be completed in the third quarter of 2018.

"With this acquisition, we are further advancing our leading position in the field of smart buildings," says Matthias Rebellius, CEO of Siemens Building Technologies. "The Comfy app enables a customizable workplace environment through direct interaction with the building, promoting employee satisfaction and engagement."

With the Comfy app, Siemens Building Technologies connects people, buildings and systems and contributes to a workplace environment where people are at the center of the building. Comfy connects with existing building automation systems, IT networks and IoT systems, enabling both personalized control and intelligent automation through a single intuitive app. With this app, users can change the temperature and lighting in seconds, book meeting rooms and provide feedback.

"Comfy has revolutionized the interaction between employees and their workplace environment," said Andrew Krioukov, CEO and co-founder of Building Robotics. "Being part of Siemens, the world's leading provider of Total Building Solutions, opens up new perspectives for us to develop new functionalities faster, expand the ecosystem for open protocols and reach more people around the world."

Founded in 2012, the start-up has extensive expertise in the areas of artificial intelligence, the development of intuitive and user-friendly designs (UX) and enterprise services, and develops software solutions for building operators and users. Its customers include international companies from the USA, Australia, Singapore and India.