About Portal Entryways

We're eliminating physical access barriers, and we're starting with facility entry points.

Doors Don't Understand People, But Now They Can.

When attending university, our founders, Josh and Sam, had many good friends with disabilities who regularly asked friends (and as a last resort, complete strangers) for help accessing buildings so they could get to class and work. Unfortunately, one of their friends had her leg shattered by an automatic accessible door. This incident sparked our journey to re-imagine how people get from point A to point B.

We believe technology should be friendly, adaptive, and serve people according to what they need in the moment. Portal Entryways enables all people to have the same level of independence and access to wherever they're going. Mark Weiser once said, "The best computer is a quiet, invisible servant." This is what we hope the essence of Portal to be.

Our team is breaking down challenging barriers, and is backed by the same people behind Airbnb, Stripe, Lockitron, and other industry innovators.

frequently asked questions

Hereā€™s answers to our most common questions

If I turn on Location Services, does it use GPS? And wouldn't that drain my battery?

Portal Entryways doesn't use GPS services. It only uses Bluetooth location services so that it can still help you activate doors even when the app is closed or not in use.

Does Bluetooth Low-Energy (BLE) drain the battery of the phone?

The Portal Entryways app uses Bluetooth Low Energy technology, which is different than the older Classic Bluetooth devices you may have used before. Bluetooth Low Energy requires very little power and will have minimal impact on your phoneā€™s battery life.

How long will the door stay open for me?

As long as you are within a doorā€™s opening range, it will stay open until you have safely passed through.

If I install the Smart Door Opener, will the existing button actuators stop working?

Portal receivers integrate in parallel with existing actuator systems. This means all components of the existing system, including motor, receiver, and button transmitters, continue to function as normal.

What phones will Portal Entryways support?

Portal Entryways app works on all modern iPhone and Android phones. You need at least an iPhone 5 running iOS 11.2+, or an Android phone with Lollipop (5.0) or newer. Your phone must also support Bluetooth Low Energy (Bluetooth 4.0).

Do I need to pair my phone with every door I want to open?

No pairing is required. Just download the app, turn on the Portal Signal and Bluetooth, and you're good to go.

Do I have to enable Bluetooth on my phone?

Yes, without a Bluetooth signal, the Portal-enabled door will not ā€œseeā€ you, and you will not be able to use your phone to open the door.

Will I need a certified electrician to install?

No. Portal doesnā€™t access any power source above 24 volts (V), so any authorized personnel at any facility can install Portal. Portal hardware has a step-down converter which will convert 12-24 V AC or DC to meet its power requirements.

Learn More About Portal