Experiences designed around the human voice will fundamentally improve the way people use technology. The Alexa Fund—named for the cloud-based voice service that powers Amazon Echo—provides up to $100 million in investments to fuel voice technology innovation from developers, manufacturers, and start-ups of all sizes.

Today we announced the next recipient of the Alexa Fund, Sutro. Sutro is creating a connected smart pool monitor that uses breakthrough technology to remove the burden of water maintenance and enable homeowners to focus on enjoying their pool and spa investments. Sutro automates water testing, can ship chemicals when needed either direct from Sutro or through Amazon’s Dash Replenishment Service, and guides users on how and when to maintain their pool. Sutro is using the Alexa Skills Kit so that Amazon Echo users can simply say “Alexa, ask Sutro what temperature is my pool?” or “Alexa, ask Sutro how long until my spa is ready?” Customers can sign up today and be the first to know when Sutro launches in early 2016 at www.mysutro.com.

“We’re thrilled to be working with the Alexa Fund to build skills for Alexa so our users can get information about their pool and spas using only their voice,” said Ravi Kurani, CEO and Co-Founder at Sutro. “With Sutro and Alexa, you won’t have to manually check chemical levels or make sure your pool is ready—just ask.” 

Sutro joins 11 companies—Invoxia, Petnet, Musaic, Rachio, Orange Chef, Scout Alarm, Garageio, Toymail, Dragon Innovation, MARA, and Moji—that have already received investments from the Alexa Fund. And, recipients Garageio and Scout Alarm have already launched new skills for Alexa. Garageio created a skill for Alexa that allows you to control your garage door using only your voice. Once you’ve enabled the Garageio Alexa skill, you can say, “Alexa, tell Garageio to open my door” or “Alexa, ask Garageio if my door is open”. With Scout Alarm, you can now stay updated on your Scout security system, check the status and alert others using Alexa. You can say, “Alexa, tell Scout to disarm” or “Alexa, ask Scout about the bedroom window” to control your system using your voice. We look forward to seeing how Sutro and the rest of the Alexa Fund recipients use Alexa to build new voice-enabled experiences for their customers.

Grow Your Business with the Alexa Fund

Beyond financial support, the Alexa Fund builds on Amazon’s track record of helping innovative individuals grow ideas into successful products and businesses. With established business and technology expertise, Amazon can help take ideas from initial concept to the marketplace by offering tools such as early access to SDK capabilities, hands-on development support for hardware or software, enhanced marketing support on Amazon.com, placement at Amazon showcase events, membership in AWS Activate, and more. Tell us about your idea.

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You may also want to check out these additional Alexa developer resources:

Order Echo - Amazon.com Page
Alexa Skills Kit (ASK)
Alexa Voice Service (AVS)
Alexa Forums