Alex Capecelatro: The Mind Behind the Magical Home ✨
In the world of smart home technology, where innovation often outpaces intuition, one name stands out as a beacon of thoughtful design and user-centric innovation: Alex Capecelatro. As the co-founder and CEO of Josh.ai, Alex has not only redefined how we interact with the spaces we inhabit, but has also championed a vision of a home that is intuitive, private, and truly magical.
From Rocket Science to Smart Homes: Early Life and Education
Alex’s journey began at UCLA, where he studied engineering with a focus on materials science. It was there that he honed his analytical thinking, technical rigor, and curiosity—traits that would come to define his entrepreneurial path. His early academic background gave him the grounding to tackle complex systems and the imagination to envision transformative applications of technology. Even as an undergraduate, Alex was thinking far beyond the classroom. He conducted research at NASA and the Naval Research Laboratory, exploring projects that touched on everything from advanced propulsion to energy systems. These experiences instilled in him a lifelong respect for precision, innovation, and systems-level thinking.
Breaking Into the World of Consumer Technology
After college, Alex joined the design team at Fisker Automotive, an early player in the electric vehicle market. Working on the cutting edge of sustainable transportation, he witnessed firsthand how technology and design could converge to reshape an industry. However, he was not content simply contributing and wanted to lead.
Alex left Fisker to pursue his own ventures. His first major startup, "At The Pool," was a social discovery platform focused on connecting people offline, followed by "Yeti," a location-based community for shared experiences. Though very different from home automation, both platforms reflected a common theme in his work: using technology to make human interactions more natural, seamless, and serendipitous.
The Birth of Josh.ai
In 2015, Capecelatro co-founded Josh.ai with Tim Gill, a software pioneer and philanthropist. Their shared vision was bold and ahead of its time: build a home automation platform that leverages contextual artificial intelligence, prioritizes user privacy, and offers intuitive design. At the time, the smart home market was flooded with devices that were either overly complex, visually obtrusive, or data-hungry. Alex saw an opportunity to do things differently.
Josh.ai was founded in 2015 on three pillars: utilizing AI to transform the home, design-forward interfaces, and an unwavering commitment to privacy. From its earliest days, the company has focused on building AI that understands natural language, multi-task commands, and nuanced preferences without selling user data or listening when it is not supposed to. This foundational vision was highlighted in early coverage by publications such as Forbes and CE Pro, which noted Josh.ai's commitment to data security as a unique differentiator in the voice assistant market.
Reimagining Home Control: Josh.ai’s Flagship Products
Launched in 2018, Josh Micro was the company’s first widely adopted product. It introduced a compact, far-field microphone with built-in smart home control, packaged in an elegant design suitable for any room. The device embodied Alex’s philosophy of blending high-performance AI with refined aesthetics and privacy. It helped position Josh.ai as a design-focused alternative to mainstream voice assistants.
Unveiled during Josh.ai’s first keynote in late 2020, Josh Nano was introduced as the world’s first architectural microphone. Designed to disappear into the ceiling or wall, Nano allowed for powerful voice control without visual intrusion. This innovation reflected Alex’s deep respect for interior design and his mission to make technology invisible yet impactful in luxury spaces.
Released alongside Nano, Josh Core is the processor designed to power large-scale smart home installations. Built for speed, reliability, and data security, Core serves as the central hub for control processing and system management. It reinforced Capecelatro’s commitment to performance and local privacy—values that have guided the company's technical architecture from day one.
Debuting at CEDIA 2023, Josh One was designed to bring the power of Core to smaller-scale projects. As a more affordable processor, it makes Josh.ai’s technology accessible to a wider audience without compromising quality. This product was another step in Alex’s ongoing effort to expand the reach of privacy-focused, luxury automation.
Together, these products define Josh.ai’s approach to modern home control: blending powerful AI, privacy, and elegant design to create a seamless and intuitive living experience.
Leading the Industry
Alex’s impact on the industry extends well beyond product development. He currently serves as Chairman of the Board at CEDIA, the global trade association for the home technology industry. In this role, he advocates for integrators, promotes education and innovation, and helps shape the future of the profession. His leadership has earned Josh.ai numerous accolades, including the prestigious CEDIA Young Professional of the Year and multiple Best New Product Awards. Under his guidance, the company has become a mainstay in the custom smart home space, regularly featured in top publications and recognized by designers, architects, and technologists alike.
A Voice for the Future
Alex is also a sought-after speaker, often sharing insights on the intersection of artificial intelligence, design, and architecture. Whether on a podcast, at a trade show, or during a keynote address, he speaks with a clarity and passion that resonates with technologists and creatives alike. He champions the idea that great technology should amplify our lives, not distract from them, and that homes should be as beautiful as they are intelligent.
The Vision Ahead
Looking forward, Alex continues to lead Josh.ai with a sense of purpose. As AI evolves and the expectations around privacy grow more urgent, he remains committed to building systems that respect the user, elevate the home, and enhance daily life. His dream is not only to make homes smarter, but to make them feel magical—responsive, elegant, and attuned to the people who live in them. Through thoughtful engineering, visionary leadership, and a relentless focus on the user experience, Alex is going beyond shaping the future of smart homes. He is creating a new paradigm where technology fades into the background and the home becomes a seamless extension of the self.
