DoorBird flying high since 2014

Inside a decade, Berlin startup DoorBird has become a trailblazer in the smart intercom space – we explore the key to the company’s success

Ingenuity and the highest quality materials have always made Germany a great place to do business Indeed, the story of Bird Home Automation GmbH shows just this: by focusing on core values in service delivery and business strategy, market domination is fully achievable in just ten years.

Starting up

Berlin, 2014, Joachimsthaler Straße, not far from Berlin’s main shopping centre, a small team are working to corner the global market for smart door intercom systems by designing a compact, ultra-modern, high-quality affordable product – meet DoorBird. The goal was to make it possible for residents to speak to visitors at their door, and even open up for them, no matter where in the world they might be at that moment.

By autumn 2014 the time had come, the very first models were ready. With a high-definition, ultra-wide-angle camera complete night vision mode, plus a motion sensor, wi-fi, and various connections, this groundbreaking technology quickly caught on globally. In December 2014, a customer from Florida placed the very first DoorBird order, and the first sale in Germany followed just days later.

Next Level smart door communication

But the very first DoorBirds were just the beginning. While the D10x series was still maturing into its final version, another product range was already in the works. This range satisfied the high demand for models made of stainless steel for flush or surface mounting, with the same technical functionality. Accessories such as the additional BirdGuard camera or alarm were also taken into account.

The small company quickly became a key player in the door intercom market. Over the next few years, new or expanded models, indoor stations, upgrade and access control systems, as well as accessories were introduced. By 2024, just ten years after the company’s foundation, the total number of products numbered in the thousands. Almost every one of these many products had been met with widespread approval from customers across 161 countries. And that’s no surprise, because from day-one, DoorBird has always tailored its innovation to the precise needs of its customers.

Whether it was more products or more employees, the DoorBird family led by its founders Bernd Müller and Sascha Keller continued to grow in order to create the best possible product experience – with the promise of ‘Made in Germany’ always central to the companies value proposition.

All products are developed internally, all design phases undergo strict controls, and each finished product is extensively tested in specially developed test environments. This in-house approach ensures the highest level of quality and reliability – the high degree of compatibility of the DoorBird products further enhances user friendliness. Thanks to a well-documented interface (API), the products can be easily integrated into smart environments and can interact with a wide variety of garage doors, smart door locks, and much more. This means the customer can combine smart home applications from different manufacturers according to their own taste and do not have to commit to a single brand. The DoorBird Connect network currently has over 80 integrated partners.

Go west meets Made in Germany

DoorBird is a Berlin-based company, and still designs, tests and manufactures in the German capital to this day. However, the founders quickly recognised the USA as a key market and presenting the technology at Stateside trade fairs came early. Home automation and security was prevalent in the US much earlier than in Europe, and successful trade fair appearances in January 2015 confirmed the company’s strategic direction.

In the summer of 2015, the company moved into its first premises on American soil, in San Francisco. With its proximity to Silicon Valley, San Francisco was the ideal starting point for conquering the U.S. market. Specialising in the upscale residential segment, plus an additional B2B strategy, the second location was opened in Jacksonville in 2021 to get close to partners and customers on America’s East Coast.

Part of a big family

With their focused product development and sales strategy, Bernd Müller and Sascha Keller set the course for success right from the start. And in 2022, they took the opportunity to think even bigger, forming new partnerships. Since then, Bird Home Automation GmbH has been part of the ASSA ABLOY Group – the world’s leading manufacturer and supplier of locking and security systems. Success in the commercial space has followed, with large projects such as hotels, business facilities, and entire residential complexes becoming part of the offering, providing endless possibilities for DoorBird’s future.

Since working with ASSA ABLOY, DoorBird has developed an incredible, cutting-edge product range that is compatible worldwide. And there will be more innovation to come. Because meeting customer demand with world-class products is what DoorBird does best – always made with precision and care, and always made in Berlin.

Further information – doorbird.com