Peel

Peel is a technology company.

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Updated: Feb 17, 2026 ·

Recent News & Mentions

Sep 1, 2021FundingPeel - Seed Apr 1, 2013FundingPeel - Series C May 1, 2011FundingPeel - Series B

Financial History

Peel has raised $42.0M across 3 funding rounds. Most recently, it raised $5.0M Seed in September 2021.

Total Raised

$42.0M

Valuation

N/A

Funding Rounds Raised

Date	Round	Other Investors
Sep 1, 2021	$5.0M Seed	Anorak Ventures, Applied Ventures, Breakthrough Energy Ventures, Cantos Ventures, Data Tech Fund, ENIAC Ventures, Helpful Capital, Kickstart Fund, Pathbreaker Ventures, Rabo Ventures, Sequoia Capital, Colin Carrier
Apr 1, 2013	$20.0M Series C	Accel, GFT Ventures, Mathias Schilling, Khosla Ventures, Menlo Ventures, OnePrime Capital
May 1, 2011	$17.0M Series B	Lightspeed Venture Partners

Financial History

Peel has raised $42.0M across 3 funding rounds.

Total Raised

$42.0M

Valuation

N/A

Deep Dive

High-Level Overview

Peel is a consumer electronics company that developed the Peel Smart Remote app, transforming smartphones into universal remote controls for TVs, set-top boxes, DVRs, and other devices using infrared blasters, Bluetooth, and voice control.[1][2][3] It serves consumers seeking convenient device control, content discovery, and personalized recommendations, solving the problem of fragmented remotes and enhancing TV viewing with social features and brand interactions.[1][2][3] The app gained massive scale with over 120 million registered users by 2015, pre-installed on Samsung and HTC devices, and compatibility with 98% of consumer electronics across 3,500 TV brands and 600 set-top box types; however, growth stalled amid controversies, with its last funding round of $50M in 2014 and Android app removal from Google Play by 2019.[1][2][3]

Note: A separate entity at peelinsights.com offers Shopify analytics tools, but search results confirm the query aligns with the original Peel Smart Remote company from Mountain View, CA, founded in 2008-2009.[1][2][3][4]

Origin Story

Peel was founded in 2008 (per CB Insights) or launched in 2009 by CEO Thiru Arunachalam and co-founder/chief product officer Bala Krishnan, initially as Zelfy, before rebranding.[1][2] The idea emerged to leverage smartphones' infrared capabilities for universal remote control, starting with pre-installation deals on Samsung and HTC devices sold in India, building early traction through OEM partnerships like Samsung's "WatchOn" and HTC's "SenseTV."[2][3] Pivotal moments included rapid user growth to 120 million registered users by 2015, generating 100 billion remote commands and 30 billion monthly actions across 200+ countries, fueled by $86.7M-$90M+ in funding from investors like Redpoint Ventures, Lightspeed, Harrison Metal, TransLink, and Alibaba's $50M in 2014.[1][2][3]

Core Differentiators

Universal Compatibility and Smart Features: Works with 98% of consumer electronics, including 3,500 TV brands and 600 set-top boxes; integrates content recommendations, viewing habit learning for personalization, social interactions, and brand/network engagement.[1][3]
Smartphone-Centric Design: Turns phones/tablets into remotes via IR blasters, Bluetooth Low Energy, voice control, and solar options; preloaded on flagship devices like Samsung Galaxy S6 and HTC One M9 for seamless access.[1][2][3]
Scale and Global Reach: Handled 30 billion monthly actions in 110 countries with program guides; added content browsing, recording reminders, and promotions for TV networks.[2][3]
OEM Integrations: Deep ties with Samsung and HTC for pre-installation, boosting adoption despite later ad-related backlash.[2][3]

Role in the Broader Tech Landscape

Peel rode the early 2010s smartphone-IR blaster trend, capitalizing on devices like Samsung Galaxy S4/S5 and HTC One to disrupt physical remotes amid rising smart TV adoption and cord-cutting.[2][3] Timing was ideal as mobile computing converged with home entertainment, enabling content discovery in fragmented ecosystems; market forces like OEM partnerships and Alibaba's investment amplified its reach in emerging markets like India.[1][2][3] It influenced the ecosystem by popularizing app-based control—paving the way for modern smart home hubs (e.g., akin to Wyze integrations)—and highlighting privacy/ad trade-offs in free apps, as seen in its adware criticisms and data-sharing issues.[2]

Quick Take & Future Outlook

Peel's early dominance showcased the power of software-hardware convergence for consumer IoT, but adware controversies, app delisting, and no funding/activity since ~2014 suggest dormancy or pivot, with its last known stage as "Corporate Minority - II | Alive" but minimal updates post-2019.[1][2] Next could involve revival via voice assistants (e.g., Alexa/Google Home integrations) or acquisition by smart home players, shaped by trends like streaming dominance, IR decline, and AI-driven personalization; its influence may evolve as a cautionary tale on user trust, potentially inspiring ad-free, privacy-first remote apps in a post-smartphone IR era.[1][2] This aligns with its original mission to simplify TV control, now ripe for reinvention in connected homes.

Sources

Frequently Asked Questions

How much funding has Peel raised?

Peel has raised $42.0M in total across 3 funding rounds.

Who are Peel's investors?

Peel's investors include Anorak Ventures, Applied Ventures, Breakthrough Energy Ventures, Cantos Ventures, Data Tech Fund, ENIAC Ventures, Helpful Capital, Kickstart Fund, Pathbreaker Ventures, Rabo Ventures, Sequoia Capital, Colin Carrier.