Contractor: Security Developer

Many smart home users feel a growing unease as their personal space becomes increasingly monitored and controlled by large technology corporations. These companies often prioritize data collection for financial gain, leaving customers with little say over their own information and limited choices in how their devices interact. This creates a frustrating environment of vendor lock-in, where products from different brands don't work together, and the constant pressure to buy new gadgets contributes to electronic waste. Customers are often forced to trade their privacy for the convenience of a connected home, a compromise that feels both invasive and unnecessary. The core of the problem is a loss of control; users want a smart home that serves their needs, not the agenda of a tech giant.

The Open Home Foundation was established to directly address these challenges by championing a user-centric smart home. We believe that everyone has a right to a private, customizable, and sustainable home environment. Our solution is to support and govern a vast ecosystem of open-source projects, ensuring that the software and standards that run your home are transparent and community-driven. By taking ownership of over 250 projects like Home Assistant, ESPHome, and Z-Wave JS, we create a bulwark against surveillance capitalism and the risk of project abandonment. We empower users by ensuring their data stays local and under their control. We foster choice by promoting open standards that allow devices from any manufacturer to work together seamlessly. And we promote sustainability by enabling users to repurpose and extend the life of their hardware. Through our work, we are building a future where the smart home is truly yours, free from prying eyes and built to last.