KIWI

What KIWI does

KIWI.KI GmbH is a Berlin-based provider of digital, keyless access control systems focused primarily on the German Wohnungswirtschaft (housing industry). Founded in 2012, the company replaces mechanical keys in multi-tenant residential and commercial buildings with a hardware-and-software stack that includes smart door knobs (KIWI Knauf), smart handles (KIWI Klinke), a key fob transponder, intercom/gate controllers (KIWI Smart Entry), and a key safe (KIWI Safe), all managed through the cloud-based KIWI Portal and accessed via the KIWI App over Bluetooth Low Energy and NFC. The company holds a DPMA-granted patent on its transponder encryption algorithm, which uses unique non-repeating data exchanges to prevent replay attacks, and offers a REST API (KIWI API) for integration with property management and coworking platforms such as Cobot.

KIWI sells two product lines: KIWI Classic, which uses proprietary gateway infrastructure for online-connected buildings, and KIWI Blue, launched in October 2024, which uses BLE without gateways and supports self-installation. The business model is a hybrid of upfront hardware sales and recurring service subscriptions under a 24-month minimum contract, with optional KIWI-certified professional installation. Go-to-market combines direct enterprise sales into housing companies (with free consulting, project management, and an online configurator) and a product-led motion via KIWI Blue and the developer kit for API partners. The installed base spans 600+ housing companies in Germany, with named enterprise customers including Gewobag, KHW, Gundlach, WG Eberswalde 1893 eG, Gesobau, and Covivio, and strategic backers include Arbonia AG (Europe's largest multi-family door manufacturer, invested 2018) and Griffwerk (design hardware specialist, invested 2022), while Deutsche Wohnen led a ~$10.9M round in April 2020. KIWI reports quantified customer outcomes of approximately €1,600 annual savings per typical multi-family building versus mechanical systems and up to 80% reduction in ongoing operational costs for larger portfolios.

Name

KIWI

Legal name

KIWI.KI GmbH

Website

https://kiwi.ki

Company type

Private

Founded year

2012

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

KIWI provides cloud-managed, keyless digital access control (BLE and NFC hardware plus portal/app/API software) primarily for Germany's housing industry, serving 600+ Wohnungsunternehmen and adjacent coworking, vacation rental, and care-living segments.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Smart Access Control Systems for Residential Housing

NAICS

Security Systems Services (except Locksmiths) (561621)

SIC

Measuring & Controlling Devices, Nec (3829)

akta.pro primary industry

Multi-Family & Property Management Access Solutions (Common Area & Unit Access) (HSAHAEAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Physical Security, Access Control & Visitor Management (HSAPAPAD), Remote Access, Guest & Temporary Credential Management (Airbnb/Short-Term Rental) (HSAHAEAF)

Keywords

• Digital access control
• Smart locking systems
• Keyless entry solutions
• Property access management
• IoT door hardware

Headquarters

HQ city

Berlin

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Hardware Sales: Sale of physical access control devices including KIWI Knauf, KIWI Klinke, KIWI Transponder, KIWI Smart Entry, and KIWI Safe. Hardware includes both Classic line (with gateways) and Blue line (BLE, self-install).
2. Subscription/Service Fees: Recurring service fees for cloud platform access (KIWI Portal), API usage, and ongoing support. Minimum contract term of 24 months. Service fees can be adjusted after initial 24-month period with 6 months notice.
3. Professional Installation Services: Optional installation service by KIWI-certified technicians for customers who prefer not to self-install.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

KIWI provides a digital locking and access control system for multi-tenant buildings, combining proprietary BLE/NFC hardware (smart door handles, cylinders, transponders, key safes, intercom modules) with a cloud-based portal, mobile app, and REST API. The platform enables housing companies and property managers to centrally manage, grant, and revoke access rights for buildings, apartments, and common areas without mechanical keys.

Product overview

KIWI offers a modular digital access control ecosystem for the residential housing industry. The portfolio consists of two product lines: KIWI Blue (BLE-based, gateway-free, self-installable) and KIWI Classic (gateway-based infrastructure). The hardware product family includes KIWI Smart Entry (for intercoms/gates), KIWI Knauf (smart door knob), KIWI Klinke (smart door handle), KIWI Safe (for key cabinets), and KIWI Transponder (key fob). The software layer comprises the KIWI Portal (cloud-based access management), KIWI App (mobile access), and KIWI API (for system integration). The KIWI Smart Door (invisible integration into door leaves) complements new construction deployments. Together, these products enable housing companies to digitally manage and control access to buildings, apartments, and common areas without traditional keys.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• KIWI Portal: Cloud application for digital access management
• KIWI App
• KIWI API
• KIWI Knauf
• KIWI Klinke
• KIWI Smart Entry
• KIWI Safe
• KIWI Transponder
• KIWI Blue
• KIWI Classic
• KIWI Smart Door

Products and services

• KIWI Portal Cloud-based browser application that enables administrators to manage access rights, users, and doors in real time through an intuitive online interface, supporting unlimited users and doors per installation.
• KIWI App Mobile application that enables keyless door access via smartphone via Bluetooth Low Energy, supports hands-free operation, and allows tenant and guest invitations.
• KIWI API REST interface that enables property management systems, coworking platforms, and IoT ecosystems to integrate KIWI access control, manage sensors (doors), users, permissions (IS_GUEST, IS_HOST, IS_MANAGER, IS_ADMIN), and organisations programmatically.
• KIWI Smart Entry Digital access module for intercom systems, garage doors, and barriers that enables housing companies to control access to building entrances and gates digitally.
• KIWI Knauf Smart digital door knob (and digital construction cylinder variant) that replaces mechanical cylinders for retrofitting apartment doors, cellar doors, and other access points; available in indoor (IP55) and outdoor (IP66) variants with exterior-side battery replacement.
• KIWI Klinke Digital door handle replacing traditional levers for retrofitting apartment and cellar doors, with optional parallel use of a mechanical key and compliance with panic function and fire protection standards.
• KIWI Safe Digitally controlled key safe that provides secure access to physical metal keys, typically used by service providers such as heating technicians to retrieve keys for technical rooms without manual key handover.
• KIWI Transponder Key-fob access device that combines NFC tap-to-open, hands-free Bluetooth, and push-button for garage/gate access, allowing door opening without a smartphone app and using a patented DPMA encryption algorithm (1020121049556).
• KIWI Blue KIWI product line using Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) radio technology that removes the need for gateways and supports self-installation by customers or local partner companies, enabling reliable door opening even without internet or mobile reception.
• KIWI Classic KIWI product line based on the original KIWI Gateway infrastructure for online connectivity, real-time synchronization, and management of access rights across an installed base of KIWI hardware.
• KIWI Smart Door Smart apartment door with KIWI technology invisibly integrated into the door leaf, designed in collaboration with Arbonia AG as a complete door solution for new construction projects with intelligent building technology.
• KIWI Professional Installation Service Optional installation service delivered by KIWI-certified technicians (or local partner companies) for customers who prefer not to use KIWI Blue's self-installation option.

Quantifiable outcome

• Annual savings of approximately 1,600 EUR per typical multi-family building compared to mechanical locking systems
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

Yes

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature7 records

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Uhlmann & ZachercoreTechnology or IntegrationGerman manufacturer producing KIWI's electronic locking hardware (door handles, cylinders). Products are branded with both KIWI and Uhlmann & Zacher product IDs (e.g., CX4120, CX4174). This is a critical manufacturing partnership for hardware production.
• Amazon Web Services (AWS)coreTechnology or IntegrationCloud infrastructure provider for KIWI's cloud-based platform. Customer data is stored exclusively in Germany. AWS provides the underlying compute and storage for KIWI Portal and API services.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Assa Abloy: World's largest lock and access-control group; its Yale, VingCard and CLIQ brands target residential and commercial multi-tenant digital access, giving KIWI direct overlap with a global incumbent that has much deeper distribution in property management.
• Salto Systems: Global access-control vendor (electronic locks, mobile credentials, cloud platform SALTO KS) serving commercial, hospitality and increasingly residential multi-tenant properties — overlapping with KIWI's hardware-plus-cloud proposition at greater scale.
• Bosch Smart Home: Consumer and prosumer smart-home platform including door/window contacts and entry solutions; competes indirectly with KIWI for the connected-residential and multi-tenant mindshare of German housing operators and residents.
• ABUS: German security specialist with smart-lock and access-control products (e.g., ABUS wAppLoxx, HomeTec Pro) targeting residential and small-commercial multi-tenant use cases across Europe — comparable breadth of customer base but in a wider security portfolio.
• Dormakaba: Swiss-listed access solutions group combining mechanical locks, electronic access and entrance systems for commercial and residential properties — a broad incumbent whose Exivo and evolo platforms overlap with KIWI's multi-tenant and commercial offerings.

Emerging players

• RemoteLock: Cloud-managed smart-lock platform that integrates with multiple lock brands for vacation rentals, commercial and multi-family residential — comparable software/API-first access-management positioning versus KIWI's KIWI Portal.
• Latch: US-focused smart-access and resident-experience platform for multi-family buildings combining hardware, software and delivery services — comparable multi-tenant residential focus and SaaS business model.

Direct peers

• Nuki Home Solutions: Austria-based smart lock vendor with strong DACH presence serving both consumer and multi-family/property-management use cases via BLE-based retrofit locks and an API/app layer — directly comparable to KIWI's Classic and Blue lines.
• SimonsVoss Technologies (Allegion): German digital locking specialist (now part of Allegion) focused on electronic cylinders, SmartHandles and SmartRelays for offices, healthcare and residential multi-family housing — a closely comparable German-centric peer.

Others

• Uhlmann & Zacher: German manufacturer of electronic locking hardware (CX-series cylinders and handles) that co-produces KIWI's locks; functions as supplier and partial competitor in adjacent property-management and office access segments.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/kiwiki-gmbh
• Facebookfacebook.com/kiwi.ki.gmbh

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds4 records

Investors4 records

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about KIWI