Sentian
Sentian designs and sells the Sentian 3i smart hub, integrating existing alarm systems, CCTV cameras, and home automation into a unified platform with video alarm verification. It serves South African residential homeowners and small businesses across Cape Town and Johannesburg.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2015
- HeadquartersCape Town, South Africa
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Sentian does
Sentian (Pty) Ltd is a Cape Town-based smart technology company that designs and sells the Sentian 3i, a proprietary hardware hub that integrates existing residential alarm systems, CCTV cameras, and home automation devices into a single platform controlled via iOS/Android mobile and web applications. Founded in 2015 by engineers Tigue Little (UCT) and Trevor Lewis (Wits) after Little experienced a home burglary, the company's central technical proposition is video alarm verification: when an alarm is triggered, the Sentian 3i automatically identifies which connected CCTV camera covers the relevant zone and sends a 12-second video clip to the user, addressing the stated fact that ~99.97% of alarm activations are false alarms. The hub integrates with DSC and Paradox wireless alarm panels, ONVIF-compliant IP cameras, and HikVision Turbo DVR systems, positioning the product as a "brain" that bridges existing infrastructure rather than requiring replacement.
The business operates a three-part revenue model: a one-time hardware sale of the Sentian 3i unit priced between R9,495 and R12,995 (excluding VAT and installation), an ongoing monthly cloud subscription for video storage and remote access, and professional installation delivered through a network of authorized alarm installer channel partners. Sentian primarily serves South African residential homeowners and small business owners — including a stated use case for multi-property SMB monitoring — and is currently commercially available only in Cape Town and Johannesburg, with stated intent to expand further. The company has one disclosed funding round (October 2019, Imfezeko Investment Holdings) and has been featured in regional trade publications including Security Focus Africa, Hi Tech Security Solutions, and OUTLOOK Magazine.
Sentian firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Sentian
- Legal name
- Sentian (Pty) Ltd
- Website
- https://sentian.co
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2015
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Sentian designs and sells the Sentian 3i smart hub, integrating existing alarm systems, CCTV cameras, and home automation into a unified platform with video alarm verification. It serves South African residential homeowners and small businesses across Cape Town and Johannesburg.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Sentian industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Smart Home Security
- NAICS
- Security Systems Services (except Locksmiths) (561621), Computer Systems Design and Related Services (54151)
- SIC
- Services-Computer Integrated Systems Design (7373), Auto Controls For Regulating Residential & Comml Environments (3822)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Gate & Perimeter Video Entry Systems (Villas/Estates/HOAs) (HSAHAIAH)
Keywords
Where Sentian is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Cape Town
- HQ country
- South Africa
- HQ region
- Africa
Offices1 record
Markets served
Sentian business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Technology or R&D, Supply Chain, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Hardware Sales (Sentian 3i): The Sentian 3i smart hub device is sold as a one-time hardware purchase. The unit is priced between R9,495 and R12,995, excluding VAT, installation, and supporting equipment costs.
- Cloud Subscription: An ongoing monthly cloud subscription fee is charged for video storage, remote access, notifications, and cloud-based system management. The specific monthly amount is not publicly disclosed.
- Professional Installation Services: Sentian's authorized alarm installers provide professional installation services. Installation costs are quoted separately based on property specifications and existing system requirements.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Sentian 3i hardware unit |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels7 records
Sentian product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Sentian designs and sells the Sentian 3i, a hardware smart hub that integrates with customers' existing DSC/Paradox alarm systems, ONVIF IP cameras and HikVision DVRs, and home automation devices into a single platform. The system delivers 12-second alarm video verification clips, automatic camera routing on alarm triggers, and remote control of gates, garage doors, lights and alarm zones via mobile (iOS/Android) and web applications, backed by a recurring cloud subscription.
Product overview
Sentian offers a unified smart security and home automation platform centered around the Sentian 3i (also referred to as the Sentian Smart Hub) hardware device. The platform integrates existing alarm systems (DSC, Paradox), CCTV cameras (ONVIF-compliant IP cameras, HikVision Turbo DVR), and home automation devices into one intelligent system controlled via the Sentian mobile app and web application. Key capabilities include alarm video verification (automatically capturing 12-second video clips when alarms trigger) and home automation control (lights, gates, garage doors). The company charges R9,495 - R12,995 for the hardware unit plus an ongoing monthly cloud subscription fee.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Sentian 3i (Sentian Smart Hub) The Sentian 3i is a hardware smart hub sold to residential homeowners and small business owners that connects their existing alarm systems (DSC, Paradox), CCTV cameras (ONVIF-compliant IP cameras, HikVision Turbo DVR), and home automation devices into a single intelligent platform. It enables 12-second alarm video verification, automatic camera routing on alarm triggers, and remote control via mobile and web applications, with a one-time price of R9,495–R12,995 (excluding VAT, installation and supporting equipment).
- Sentian Mobile Application A mobile application available for iPhone and Android smartphones and tablets that provides remote control of the Sentian 3i security system, including arming/disarming alarms, viewing live camera feeds, receiving alarm notifications with 12-second video verification clips, and controlling automated devices such as gates, garage doors and lights.
- Sentian Web Application (Webapp) A browser-based web application accessible on any desktop or laptop computer with an internet connection, offering the same functionality as the Sentian mobile app for remote security monitoring and control of the Sentian 3i system.
Quantifiable outcome
- 99.97% of alarm activations are false alarms — Sentian Video verification helps users distinguish genuine intrusions from false triggers
Companies that use Sentian
Customer profileNamed customers2 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Sentian technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration4 records
AI capability2 records
Feature7 records
Sentian partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Three partnerships are on record, tiered core.
- RDCcoreSentian's collaboration with RDC was featured as a cover story in Security Focus Africa magazine in April 2018. The nature of the partnership appears to involve joint development or distribution of integrated security solutions, though specific details are limited to media coverage.
- TPAcoreSentian's three-way collaboration with RDC and TPA was featured as a cover story in Security Focus Africa magazine in April 2018. The partnership appears to involve integrated security solution development or distribution, though specific details are limited to media coverage.
- Authorized Alarm InstallerscoreSentian operates a network of authorized alarm installers who assess customer needs, provide personalized quotes, and perform professional installation of the Sentian 3i system. These partners are the primary distribution channel for hardware installation and customer onboarding. Sentian actively recruits new integration partners and alarm installers to expand this network.
Scale indicators1 record
Recent moves4 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Sentian competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- SimpliSafe: SimpliSafe provides DIY and professionally installed home security with video verification and a recurring monitoring subscription. Comparable business model combining hardware unit cost plus ongoing cloud/service revenue, though more consumer-direct.
- Abode Systems: Abode offers a smart home security hub that integrates with existing third-party sensors, cameras, and home automation platforms, with professional and self-monitoring tiers. Directly comparable to Sentian's 'build on existing investment' model.
- Ajax Systems: Ajax Systems makes a wireless smart security hub integrating intrusion sensors, cameras, and home automation — a near-identical architecture to Sentian's 3i. Both serve residential and SMB customers via installer/integrator channels with video verification features.
- Scout Alarm: Scout Alarm sells a smart-home security hub with integration into existing sensors and cameras, plus monthly monitoring subscriptions. Closely comparable to Sentian's hardware-plus-subscription model and integration-first philosophy.
Broad incumbents
- Ring (Amazon): Ring is a broad incumbent in residential video doorbell, camera, and alarm security with deep integration and subscription (Ring Protect). Wider portfolio and brand reach than Sentian, but overlapping residential security + video verification space.
- Resideo (Honeywell Home): Resideo offers professionally installed smart-home security and home automation products, including Total Connect and the ProSeries platform with broad sensor/camera interoperability. Comparable integration approach, much larger incumbent.
- ADT Inc: ADT is the largest traditional home security provider, now offering smart-home and video verification packages. Targets the same residential/SMB security segment as Sentian but with national scale, monitoring centers, and large installer/partner network.
- Vivint Smart Home: Vivint is an established smart-home security provider combining alarms, cameras, and home automation with professional installation and monitoring services. Comparable to Sentian's integrated offering but at vastly larger scale via in-house sales force.
Others
- Control4: Control4 is a smart home automation platform integrated with security systems, professionally installed through dealer networks. Compares as an enabling/adjacent platform rather than direct competitor, but it overlaps with Sentian's home automation control capability.
Emerging players
- RISCO Group: RISCO Group manufactures professional security and home automation solutions (panels, detectors, smart apps) sold through installer channels globally. Comparable to Sentian's alarm-integration-and-automation focus but from an upstream hardware-vendor angle rather than integration-layer angle.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Sentian social profiles
Digital presenceSentian financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Sentian leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
Sentian funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds1 record
Investors1 record
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Sentian M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Sentian
What does Sentian do?
Sentian designs and sells the Sentian 3i, a hardware smart hub that integrates with customers' existing DSC/Paradox alarm systems, ONVIF IP cameras and HikVision DVRs, and home automation devices into a single platform. The system delivers 12-second alarm video verification clips, automatic camera routing on alarm triggers, and remote control of gates, garage doors, lights and alarm zones via mobile (iOS/Android) and web applications, backed by a recurring cloud subscription.
Is Sentian a public or private company?
Sentian is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Sentian founded?
Sentian was founded in 2015. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Sentian based?
Sentian is headquartered in Cape Town, South Africa, in the Africa region.
How does Sentian make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Hardware Sales (Sentian 3i) is the primary driver. The others are cloud Subscription and professional Installation Services.
Who are Sentian's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are SimpliSafe, Abode Systems, Ajax Systems and Scout Alarm. Broad incumbents are Ring (Amazon), Resideo (Honeywell Home), ADT Inc and Vivint Smart Home. Control4 is listed as an others. RISCO Group is listed as an emerging player.
Does Sentian have an API?
No public API is recorded for Sentian.
What industry is Sentian in?
Sentian's product category is Smart Home Security. Its primary akta.pro industry code is HSAHAIAH, Gate & Perimeter Video Entry Systems (Villas/Estates/HOAs). Its NAICS code is 561621 and its SIC code is 7373.