After losing several bicycles in a series of break-ins at his apartment, Nader—then an engineer at Texas Instruments—tried to install his own security alarm system.

[5] Nader described Butterfleye as "Dropcam meets Nest," a combination of streaming cameras and home automation technology.

[6] Butterfleye's cameras are wireless with an estimated two-week battery life, allowing them to continue functioning in case of power interruptions.

[7][8] Butterfleye's cameras are distinguished by their facial recognition technology, which prevents false alarms, and their ability to learn what not to record (for example, footage of the home's residents themselves).

Each camera uploads using AES 128bit encryption, and has 12 hours of internal storage in the event of wireless network or Internet connection failure.