YI Technology
YI Technology is a Shanghai-based smart home security and computer vision company, founded in 2014, that builds edge AI-powered consumer security cameras (YI Home, Kami) and enterprise solutions (Smart Retail analytics, Smart Drive ADAS), serving 20M+ users across 14+ countries.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2014
- HeadquartersSunnyvale, United States
- Headcount251–500
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What YI Technology does
YI Technology is a smart home security and computer vision company founded in 2014 and headquartered in Shanghai, China, with US operations based in Sunnyvale, California. The company designs and sells consumer security cameras marketed under the YI Home and Kami sub-brands, alongside enterprise solutions in Smart Retail (face recognition, customer heat mapping, retail analytics) and Smart Drive (fleet management with ADAS capabilities). Its underlying technology is edge AI-based computer vision, supported by a portfolio of 150+ patents spanning computer vision, deep learning, edge computing, and ADAS. The company reports more than 20 million users globally, processes 113 million+ daily smart alerts, and claims a Top 3 position among AI+Cloud Open Platforms worldwide.
The business model combines three revenue streams: one-time hardware sales of cameras and doorbells, recurring cloud subscription revenue (YI Cloud, Kami Cloud), and enterprise professional services for Smart Retail and Smart Drive deployments. Go-to-market is hybrid and channel-diversified. Consumer reach is product-led via major global e-commerce marketplaces including Amazon, AliExpress, Lazada, Shopee, and TokoPedia, supplemented by voice integrations with Alexa and Google Assistant and partnerships with Noonlight (emergency response dispatch) and Cove (Kami Shield 24/7 professional monitoring). Enterprise reach is driven by field sales into retail and fleet operator accounts. The company operates across 14+ countries, won the Best New Retail Data Solution award in the APAC FMCG category in 2020, and has been the recipient of a $90 million strategic investment from Xiaomi in 2016 and a $10 million round from Qiming Venture Partners in 2018.
YI Technology firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- YI Technology
- Legal name
- Yi Technology Co., Ltd.
- Website
- https://yitechnology.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2014
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 251–500 employees
- Short description
- YI Technology is a Shanghai-based smart home security and computer vision company, founded in 2014, that builds edge AI-powered consumer security cameras (YI Home, Kami) and enterprise solutions (Smart Retail analytics, Smart Drive ADAS), serving 20M+ users across 14+ countries.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
YI Technology industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Consumer Smart Home Security Cameras
- NAICS
- Security Systems Services (except Locksmiths) (561621)
- SIC
- Household Audio & Video Equipment (3651)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Smart Security Cameras & Surveillance Systems Retail (CRAIAMAF)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Smart Doorbell Cameras (Wi‑Fi/App-Connected) (HSAHAIAE), Residential CCTV & Door/Perimeter Surveillance Packages (HSAHACAH), Smart Home Security Automation & Integration (Monitored) (HSAHAAAF), AI/Analytics Video Surveillance (Detection, LPR, People Counting) (HSAHACAF)
Keywords
Where YI Technology is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Sunnyvale
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
YI Technology business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- Hardware Sales: Sale of smart home security cameras including YI Home, Kami, and outdoor cameras. One-time purchase model for physical products.
- Cloud Storage Subscriptions: Subscription-based cloud storage for video recordings. Plans include activity-only and continuous video recording options, with up to 30 days video history. Connect up to 5 cameras in single plan.
- Kami Shield Cloud Service: Premium cloud subscription enabling face search, unlimited video recordings, and 24/7 monitoring features for Kami doorbell and cameras.
- Smart Retail Solutions: AI-based retail analytics solutions for business customers including face recognition, heat maps, customer path tracking, and in-store behavior analysis.
- Smart Drive Solutions: Fleet management and ADAS solutions for commercial vehicles including driver fatigue alerts, vehicle tracking, and behavior scoring.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Monthly | Cloud storage with automated AI alerts - up to 5 cameras, 30 days video history |
| Subscription | Annual | Annual cloud storage subscription |
| Subscription | Monthly | Kami Shield premium cloud service with face detection and unlimited recordings |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels7 records
Marketing channels6 records
YI Technology product offering
Product offeringCore offering
YI Technology designs, manufactures, and sells AI-powered smart home security cameras under the YI Home and Kami sub-brands, supported by mobile apps and optional cloud subscription services. The company also offers enterprise computer vision solutions, including Smart Retail (face recognition, heat maps, customer path tracking) and Smart Drive (fleet management, ADAS, driver behavior monitoring) for business customers.
Product overview
YI Technology offers a comprehensive smart home security ecosystem featuring two main product lines: the YI Home cameras and the Kami sub-brand. The YI Home line includes indoor cameras (YI PRO 2K, YI Home 3 Camera, YI Dome 1080p, YI Dome X, YI Dome Guard 2K, YI Dome U, YI Dome U Pro) and outdoor cameras (YI Outdoor 1080p, YI Outdoor PTZ). The Kami sub-brand provides indoor cameras, outdoor cameras, wire-free cameras, mini cameras, doorbell cameras, baby monitors, and a modular smart security starter kit. All cameras are supported by the YI Home and Kami Home apps, with Kami Cloud subscription service for cloud storage and AI detection features. Beyond consumer products, YI offers enterprise solutions including Smart Retail (face recognition, customer tracking, heat maps) and Smart Drive (fleet management, ADAS, driver monitoring) for business customers.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Kami: Smart home security camera brand offering indoor cameras, outdoor cameras, wire-free cameras, doorbell cameras, and baby monitors.
- Kami Vision
Products and services
- YI PRO 2K Indoor security camera featuring 2K resolution (2304 x 1296) at 3MP, AI-powered human detection, motion tracking, and sound detection designed for home monitoring.
- YI Home 3 Camera Indoor camera offering 1080p Full HD video at 20fps with H.264 compression, AI-based detection that differentiates humans, pets, and other motion, abnormal sound detection, and dual SD card/cloud storage.
- YI Outdoor 1080p Camera (H30) Weatherproof outdoor security camera with IP65 rating, 1080p resolution, 110-degree lens, 20fps recording, enhanced night vision up to 50 feet, two-way audio, and Amazon Alexa compatibility.
- YI Dome 1080p Camera Panoramic dome camera with 360-degree auto-cruise, baby crying detection, two-way audio, enhanced night vision, 10-second motion tracking, and multiple installation options including ceiling, wall, and table.
- YI Dome X Camera Dome camera providing 360-degree coverage with 340-degree pan and 95-degree tilt, Full HD 1080p recording, AI human detection, abnormal sound detection, and enhanced night vision.
- YI Dome Guard 2K Camera Mini dome camera with 2K resolution, motion tracking, sound detection, 360-degree auto cruise, enhanced night vision, and Noonlight 24/7 emergency response integration.
- YI Dome U Camera Privacy-focused dome camera with integrated Senslab chip for face detection, advanced human detection, 360-degree PTZ, and privacy-mode features.
- YI Dome U Pro Camera Pro version dome camera with 3MP Full HD recording (2304x1296), F1.4 large-aperture lens, face detection, human detection, motion tracking, 340-degree horizontal and 90-degree vertical coverage, and privacy mode.
- YI Outdoor 1080P PTZ Camera Outdoor PTZ camera with 350-degree pan, 90-degree tilt, AI human tracking, superior color night vision (IR/Color/Smart modes), IP66 weatherproof rating, floodlight, and Alexa/Google Assistant support.
- Kami Indoor Camera Kami sub-brand indoor camera offering 340-degree pan, 95-degree tilt, smart human detection, abnormal sound detection, 360-degree auto-cruise, dual-band Wi-Fi (2.4/5GHz), and privacy mode.
- Kami Outdoor Security Camera Weatherproof Kami outdoor camera with AI human detection, advanced Starlight night vision, two-way audio, and smart activity zones.
- Kami Wire-Free Outdoor Camera 100% wire-free outdoor camera offering 3-6 months battery life, IP65 weatherproof rating, 140-degree wide-angle lens, 1080p HD images, PIR motion sensor, and enhanced night vision.
- Kami Mini Camera Compact camera with Senslab-chip-based face detection, smart activity zones, two-way audio, 1080p HD, f/2.0 aperture, 112-degree wide-angle lens, 4x digital zoom, and 940nm infrared LEDs for night vision.
- Kami Doorbell Video Camera Smart doorbell camera with AI human detection, IP65 weatherproof rating, automatic pre-recorded reply, optional Cove-powered 24/7 professional monitoring (Kami Shield), and face detection cloud service.
- KamiBaby Smart Monitor All-in-one baby monitor featuring smart sleep summary, livestream video sharing, temperature monitoring, 360-degree high-quality speaker, two-way audio, and lullaby playback.
- Kami Smart Security Starter Kit with Base Station Modular security system requiring no monthly contracts, with sensors offering one-year battery life, flexible installation, accurate push alerts via PIR sensor, supporting unlimited Kami Sensors and up to 4 Kami Wire-Free Cameras.
- YI Smart Retail Solution AI-based retail analytics platform featuring face recognition with a 100,000-face local database, customer path tracking, in-store heat maps, product engagement rates, edge computing for real-time processing, and black/whitelist capabilities for retail environments.
- YI Smart Drive Solution Fleet management solution offering Advanced Driver Assistance System (ADAS), driver fatigue alerts, vehicle location tracking, driver behavior scoring, traffic flow records, and AI-based vision technology for commercial fleet optimization.
- Kami Cloud Service Cloud subscription service for YI and Kami cameras providing AI person detection, unlimited motion-detected storage, cloud and SD card activity viewing, no cool-down periods for battery-powered cameras, face detection features, and up to 30 days of video history.
Quantifiable outcome
- 99% Positive Feedback from 18,000+ product reviews
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use YI Technology
Customer profileSegments4 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
YI Technology technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration4 records
AI capability9 records
Feature6 records
YI Technology partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Two partnerships are on record, tiered core.
- NoonlightcoreYI partnered with Noonlight to provide 24/7 Emergency Response solution. YI's motion alerts and live video feeds are equipped with the option to instantly involve Noonlight's certified emergency dispatchers who coordinate with local safety agencies and first responders on customers' behalf.
- CovecoreKami partnered with Cove, the #1 customer-rated home security system, to provide Kami Shield Powered by Cove. A full suite camera and home security system monitored by professionals 24/7. Cove's exclusive RapidSOS emergency dispatch integration could reduce emergency response times by an estimated 3-4 minutes.
Scale indicators7 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
YI Technology competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Ring: Amazon-owned smart home security camera and doorbell company. Direct competitor to YI's core indoor/outdoor camera and Kami Doorbell lines, with deeper Alexa ecosystem integration and stronger US market share.
- Google Nest: Google's smart home security brand offering indoor/outdoor cameras, doorbells, and a unified Nest Aware subscription. Competes with YI at the premium end with stronger AI and ecosystem integration.
- Hikvision: Global leader in video surveillance equipment and AI analytics for both consumer and commercial markets. Comparable to YI in computer vision technology and Smart Retail analytics, but at vastly larger scale and facing US regulatory headwinds similar to YI's geopolitical risks.
Direct peers
- Arlo Technologies: Publicly traded smart home security camera company offering indoor, outdoor, doorbell, and floodlight cameras with cloud subscriptions. Closely comparable to YI in product portfolio, AI features, and subscription business model.
- Wyze: US-based affordable smart camera company known for low-priced indoor/outdoor cameras and doorbells sold primarily through Amazon. Directly comparable to YI on price-led positioning and consumer marketplace GTM.
- Eufy: Anker-owned smart home security brand offering indoor/outdoor cameras, doorbells, and floodlights with local-storage AI features. Direct competitor in the affordable-to-mid smart camera tier with similar AI detection capabilities.
- Reolink: Smart home security camera company offering indoor, outdoor, battery-powered, and doorbell cameras sold via Amazon and own storefront. Directly competes with YI/Kami on product range, AI features, and marketplace-led distribution.
- Blink: Amazon-owned affordable home security camera brand focused on wire-free indoor and outdoor cameras. Directly comparable to YI's Kami Wire-Free Outdoor and affordable Kami/YI indoor lines, competing on price and Amazon channel.
- TP-Link (Tapo/Kasa): Networking giant that has expanded into affordable smart home cameras under the Tapo and Kasa brands, sold globally via Amazon and own channels. Competes with YI on price, broad product range, and marketplace distribution.
Emerging players
- Samsara: Connected fleet management and industrial IoT platform offering AI dashcams, vehicle telematics, and ADAS features. Comparable to YI's Smart Drive solution in fleet ADAS and driver behavior monitoring for commercial vehicles.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
YI Technology social profiles
Digital presenceYI Technology compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance2 records
YI Technology financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
YI Technology leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
YI Technology subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries2 records
YI Technology funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds3 records
Investors3 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
YI Technology M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments1 record
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about YI Technology
What does YI Technology do?
YI Technology designs, manufactures, and sells AI-powered smart home security cameras under the YI Home and Kami sub-brands, supported by mobile apps and optional cloud subscription services. The company also offers enterprise computer vision solutions, including Smart Retail (face recognition, heat maps, customer path tracking) and Smart Drive (fleet management, ADAS, driver behavior monitoring) for business customers.
Is YI Technology a public or private company?
YI Technology is a private company. It is classified as venture growth investor backed and is currently operating.
When was YI Technology founded?
YI Technology was founded in 2014. It employs 251 to 500 people.
Where is YI Technology based?
YI Technology is headquartered in Sunnyvale, United States, in the North America region.
How does YI Technology make money?
Five revenue lines are on record. Hardware Sales are the primary driver. The others are cloud Storage Subscriptions, kami Shield Cloud Service, smart Retail Solutions and smart Drive Solutions.
Who are YI Technology's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Ring, Google Nest and Hikvision. Direct peers are Arlo Technologies, Wyze, Eufy, Reolink, Blink and TP-Link (Tapo/Kasa). Samsara is listed as an emerging player.
Does YI Technology have an API?
No public API is recorded for YI Technology.
What industry is YI Technology in?
YI Technology's product category is Consumer Smart Home Security Cameras. Its primary akta.pro industry code is CRAIAMAF, Smart Security Cameras & Surveillance Systems Retail, with a secondary code of HSAHAIAE, Smart Doorbell Cameras (Wi‑Fi/App-Connected). Its NAICS code is 561621 and its SIC code is 3651.