Along with with an elevated seed funding round, Dallas-based infant care tech pioneer Harbor announced the nationwide shipping of its advanced baby monitoring system, which offers parents “greater control, privacy, and security” without relying on internet.

Harbor said it has also secured $7 million in seed funding, led by Trust Ventures, with participation from Tim Ferriss, Morrison Seger Venture Capital Partners, retired U.S. professional tennis player John Isner and Madison McKinley, NFL punter Thomas Morstead and Lauren Morstead, founder of The Hustle Sam Parr and Sara Sodine Parr, and other family offices.

In February, Harbor announced raising an initial $3.7 million in seed funding. Since then, Harbor has raised additional seed funding including from new investor Ferriss, an Austin-based early-stage investor, author, and podcaster. Harbor said that comedian and content creator Trey Kennedy, who joins as an investor in the seed round, will serve as Harbor’s “Chief Dad Officer.”

Harbor’s “smart” baby monitor [Photo: Harbor]

“We built Harbor because we were frustrated with products that overpromised and underdelivered when it came to safety and usability,” Harbor co-founder and CEO Kevin Lavelle said in a statement. “This new funding allows us to fulfill all the pre-orders from parents who have been eagerly waiting for a solution they can trust to safeguard their little ones while providing the peace of mind they deserve.”

Lavelle is also the founder of Mizzen+Main, a Dallas-based performance-fabric apparel company.

“I see extraordinary potential in Harbor, which is why I invested much more than is typical for my early-stage angel investing,” new investor Ferriss said in a statement. “Having seen so many of my friends struggle with baby monitors and sleep with young kids, I’m excited for true innovation that solves real long-standing pain points. There is a large market for a simple, smooth, and—under the hood—sophisticated solution. I’ve seen Kevin build great brands before, and he’ll also bring his refined playbook to a great product. This is why, even though I’ve taken a long hiatus from this type of consumer investing, this is the breed of startup that gets me really excited.”

Harbor said that for years, baby monitors have been dominated by “status-quo products “that depend on unreliable apps and inconsistent internet connection, leaving families in a vulnerable position when devices crash or lose power.

Harbor added that many current systems also store sensitive data in third-party clouds, sparking concerns over privacy and security. Biometric add-ons, such as breathing bands, can increase parental anxiety rather than easing it with the American Academy of Pediatrics advising against using these devices, the company said.

Per Harbor, key features of its monitors include:

A 10-inch, high-resolution monitor that allows you to see up to four different camera feeds in one dedicated device, not only on your phone. You can manage the volume and zoom of each feed independently, too.

Smart audio controls for noise, motion, and time-based alerts, reducing unnecessary disturbances

Parent-specific haptic alerts, which silently wake one caregiver via Apple Watch when their child needs them with backup audio alerts if you don’t wake up

The ability to work with or without the internet, ensuring you never lose connection.

The system also includes:

• A high-quality camera with up to 2K resolution
• Plug-and-play portability for travel
• On-device storage secured through end-to-end encryption
• Customized guest and caregiver access with control over who’s watching
• Access to the Harbor Care team, including Remote Night Nannies, Infant Care Experts, and Lactation Consultants
• Record and rewind functionality to save important moments
• Less intense infrared light exposure
• Failsafe notifications, even if the internet goes down
• A mobile and desktop app

Harbor said the company was inspired by a personal experience Lavelle had while using another brand of monitor. He woke up one morning to find that the app on his phone had crashed, leaving his son unmonitored overnight. He then realized that app-based systems can fail to provide the reliability needed for a true baby monitor and partnered with co-founder and Chief Product Officer Charlie Hill to build what Harbor calls “a secure, reliable, and quality solution for children and parents alike.”

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