AccessGrid raises $4.4M to help turn phones into key fobs

AccessGrid, founded by Auston Bunsen after leaving his previous company QuickNode, has raised $4.4 million in a seed funding round led by Harlem Capital to develop a platform that transforms smartphones, particularly iPhones, into secure digital keys for access control. The company aims to modernize the outdated access control industry, which often relies on insecure, on-premises systems and easily hackable ID cards. AccessGrid offers an API that issues encrypted, uncloneable credentials managed via the cloud, enabling features such as unlocking doors even when an iPhone is locked or powered off, with synchronization to Apple Watch. Bunsen emphasizes the company’s focus on security, employing “military-grade” dual encryption and multi-factor authentication to protect server access. Unlike competitors, AccessGrid operates as a pure API developer platform rather than selling middleware or service contracts tied to existing hardware. The fresh funding will support further security enhancements, new product development, and expansion into automobile access solutions. Ultimately, AccessGrid