Amit Sherman approaches technology not as a collection of tools, but as a means to solve real human challenges. For him, innovation begins with people’s safety, their comfort, and their everyday experiences. With over 20 years of engineering experience, including his early work designing semiconductors at Intel, Amit Sherman has reshaped how millions of Americans live in multifamily housing. His career is proof that when guided by empathy, engineering can redefine entire industries.
As the founder of Gatewise, Sherman has transformed access control from a cumbersome necessity into a seamless, secure part of modern living. What began as an engineer’s curiosity about how to make property access more intuitive has evolved into a mission that now touches more than a million lives every day across the United States.
The Problem Before Gatewise: Fragmentation and Inefficiency
Before Sherman’s innovations, the multifamily access control industry was a tangled network of disconnected systems. Property managers had to juggle multiple platforms just to keep up with resident changes. Adding or removing a tenant required manual database updates across multiple systems, leaving ample room for errors.
The consequences were real: lost time, unnecessary costs, and potential security risks. Residents might find themselves locked out after hours, or worse, former tenants could still have lingering access. Devices like cameras and keypads didn’t communicate with property management software, so there were no real-time updates or automation.
For Sherman, this lack of connection wasn’t just a technical flaw; it was a human one. “Technology should make life easier,” he often says, “not add another layer of frustration.” With that mindset, he began engineering solutions that bridged the gap.
Amit Sherman’s Technological Breakthroughs
Sherman’s engineering philosophy centers on one principle: integration with purpose. Every device, every system, every line of code is designed to remove friction and add value for real people, residents, property managers, and first responders alike. But these innovations didn’t come from behind a desk.
Amit spent time on-site at multifamily communities, observing move-in and move-out procedures firsthand to understand where delays and frustrations occurred. He attended industry conferences, listening closely to property managers, maintenance staff, and developers about recurring issues with access credentials. Wanting complex data, he even dove into the support logs of major Property Management Software platforms to quantify how often access card errors triggered support tickets. The takeaway was clear: the manual credentialing process wasn’t just inefficient, it was a massive industry-wide problem.
With conviction, Amit began building a proof-of-concept. He personally sketched out the system architecture: a pipeline that could extract resident and lease data, convert it into a standardized format, and push it directly to a lock controller to provision access cards in real time. This hands-on process from discovery to prototype laid the foundation for the four core innovations that followed.
Image by Freepik
Here are the four groundbreaking innovations that have reshaped the multifamily housing landscape:
1. Access Control System: A New Industry Standard
Sherman’s first major innovation was a fully integrated Access Control System that connects directly with leading U.S. property management platforms, including Yardi, RealPage, Entrata, ResMan, and RentManager.
Before this, property managers spent hours manually updating access permissions for every move-in or move-out. Sherman’s system changed that. Now, whenever a tenant’s status changes in the property management software, their access credentials update automatically across all devices.
The impact was immediate: fewer errors, tighter security, and a dramatic reduction in administrative work. This seamless integration didn’t just streamline operations; it set a new industry benchmark for what access control could be.
2. Smart AI Camera: Real-Time Intelligence That Respects Privacy
The Smart AI Camera is a prime example of Sherman’s seamless integration of cutting-edge technology with human-centered design. Unlike traditional surveillance systems that rely on cloud processing, Sherman’s camera operates independently, analyzing video data locally.
Using advanced computer vision and machine learning, the system recognizes emergency vehicles, such as ambulances, fire trucks, police cars, and instantly grants them access to the community. No calls, no delays.
For residents, it means knowing that help can reach them without a second lost. For emergency responders, it’s an innovation that can save lives. And because the data never leaves the device, residents’ privacy stays protected, proving that safety and privacy can coexist through thoughtful engineering.
3. LoRa Keypad: Wireless, Scalable, and Effortless
Managing dozens of gates and access points across a large property can be likened to managing a small city. Sherman’s LoRa Keypad was built precisely for that challenge.
Powered by long-range radio (LoRa) technology, this wireless, battery-operated keypad delivers unmatched reliability and scalability. It works even in environments where Wi-Fi or cellular signals struggle to reach, making it ideal for sprawling communities.
Property managers no longer need to deal with complex wiring or maintenance-heavy systems. Instead, they get a device that’s simple to install, easy to expand, and built to last.
4. Multifamily Integrated License Plate Recognition (LPR) System: Access Without the Hassle
The Multifamily Integrated License Plate Recognition (LPR) System is another breakthrough that reimagines how residents and guests access gated communities. The system automatically recognizes registered vehicles and grants them entry in seconds, eliminating the need for fobs, cards, or manual approvals.
Outdated data is instantly removed, ensuring only authorized vehicles gain access. The result? Faster entry for residents, fewer headaches for managers, and enhanced safety for everyone.
For the people who use it every day, it’s more than just convenience; it’s trust in a system that simply works.
Transforming an Industry
To bring these innovations to market, Amit founded Gatewise with a clear mission: to modernize access control for the multifamily housing industry. Thanks to his engineering leadership and product vision, Gatewise quickly grew into one of the sector’s most trusted providers. Today, the company partners with more than 360 property management firms and serves over 1,600 apartment communities nationwide. More than 1 million residents and staff rely on Sherman’s technology every day, a testament to the lasting impact of his solutions.
But the real impact isn’t measured in numbers, it’s in moments. It’s the relief of a resident getting home late at night and finding their gate opens automatically. It’s the confidence of a property manager knowing that their system updates itself before they even touch a keyboard. It’s the security of a parent who knows emergency services can reach them instantly if something goes wrong.
By integrating engineering precision with real-world empathy, Amit Sherman has quietly redefined what “smart living” means in multifamily communities across America.
A Lasting Legacy in Smart Access
Image by I’M ZION on Unsplash
Amit Sherman’s journey from crafting microchips at Intel to designing intelligent access systems used across the U.S. is more than an entrepreneurial success story. It’s proof that engineering excellence can drive human progress.
His technologies have made multifamily living safer, more connected, and more convenient. They’ve helped property managers reclaim valuable time, reduced administrative costs for entire portfolios, and provided residents with a smoother, more secure living experience.
For Sherman, innovation isn’t about complexity; it’s about clarity.
“It’s not the technology that matters most,” he says. “It’s the experience it creates.”
And that experience of safety, simplicity, and trust is the legacy Amit Sherman continues to build, one community at a time.
About the Author
Jordan Hale is a technology and innovation writer with a focus on emerging solutions in real estate, innovative infrastructure, and urban mobility. With a background in systems engineering and over a decade of experience covering proptech trends, Jordan explores how innovators are reshaping the way we live, work, and connect. His work has been featured in industry publications across North America and Europe.
