Student-led Startup Turns Cameras Into 24/7 Watchmen
Outcome/Accomplishment
The Center for Smart Streetscapes (NSF CS3) is a U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF)-funded Engineering Research Center (ERC) based at Columbia University. Columbia graduate students Mahshid Ghasemi and Jeremy Johnston co-founded an ERC accelerator startup called Cyrus Technology, Inc., based on their development of agentic technology to transform IP cameras into intelligent, always -on watchmen for smarter, safer cities.
Impact/Benefits
The company’s new camera technology lowers barriers to intelligent monitoring for smaller organizations and communities by using AI instead of human monitors. It interacts with existing security infrastructure through natural language and works with any IP camera.
Explanation/Background
The pre-revenue startup raised $100K in angel funding and is piloting with distributors and integrators in the U.S., Brazil, and India. The founders expect the system to be production-ready by EOY 2026.
Location
New York City, NYwebsite
Start Year
Microelectronics and IT
Quantum, Microelectronics, Sensing, and IT
Lead Institution
Core Partners
Fact Sheet
Outcome/Accomplishment
The Center for Smart Streetscapes (NSF CS3) is a U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF)-funded Engineering Research Center (ERC) based at Columbia University. Columbia graduate students Mahshid Ghasemi and Jeremy Johnston co-founded an ERC accelerator startup called Cyrus Technology, Inc., based on their development of agentic technology to transform IP cameras into intelligent, always -on watchmen for smarter, safer cities.
Location
New York City, NYwebsite
Start Year
Microelectronics and IT
Quantum, Microelectronics, Sensing, and IT
Lead Institution
Core Partners
Fact Sheet
Impact/benefits
The company’s new camera technology lowers barriers to intelligent monitoring for smaller organizations and communities by using AI instead of human monitors. It interacts with existing security infrastructure through natural language and works with any IP camera.
Explanation/Background
The pre-revenue startup raised $100K in angel funding and is piloting with distributors and integrators in the U.S., Brazil, and India. The founders expect the system to be production-ready by EOY 2026.