Vodafone Ventures

A new generation for mobile connectivity with 5G and beyond

Next-gen Mobile Networks

Affirmed Networks is a company that provides fully virtualized and cloud-native mobile solutions for network operators. Its technology enables operators to handle more traffic, simplify network operations, and rapidly create and launch new revenue-generating services. Affirmed Networks' solutions are integrated with Microsoft's Azure for Operators initiative, which aims to help operators transform their networks and services to the cloud.
The company's solutions are designed to support 5G connectivity, offering high bandwidth, massive density, and low-latency connectivity capable of supporting new enterprise and consumer services. Affirmed Networks' cloud-native 5G core network functions can run on various platforms, providing operators with the opportunity to modernize their network infrastructure in a monetizable way.
Affirmed Networks has disrupted the mobile industry by delivering high-performance, low-cost, virtualized 4G evolved packet core and cloud-native 5G core network functions. As part of Microsoft Azure for Operators, the company leverages hybrid-edge cloud platforms, AI-driven automation, and advanced analytics services to reduce operational costs and accelerate new revenue opportunities for operators.
In September 2018, Affirmed Networks launched its "Mobile Network as a Service" solution on Amazon Web Services (AWS), enabling mobile operators to quickly and economically deliver both 4G and 5G services over a scalable cloud infrastructure without excessive capital investments. This solution significantly lowers the total cost of ownership for delivering next-generation mobile services.
Key customers and partnerships
Affirmed Networks has over 80 customers across five continents, including some of the world's largest and most innovative operators. Transatel, a global IoT cellular connectivity enabler and an AWS Partner Network (APN) Standard Technology Partner, is a long-time client of Affirmed Networks' solutions. Transatel leverages Affirmed Networks' web-scale mobile core solution on AWS to cost-effectively expand into new markets on-demand and deliver innovative service offerings.

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 AST SpaceMobile is developing the first and only space-based cellular broadband network designed to operate directly with standard, unmodified smartphones. The company's technology aims to provide global connectivity by deploying a constellation of satellites in low Earth orbit that can communicate directly with mobile devices on the ground. AST SpaceMobile's satellites, called Bluebirds, feature large communications arrays measuring 693 square feet, making them the largest commercial communications arrays ever deployed in low Earth orbit. The company's first five commercial satellites completed final assembly in July 2024 and were prepared for shipment to Cape Canaveral for a planned launch in September 2024. These initial satellites are expected to provide non-continuous service across the US with over 5,600 cells in premium low-band spectrum. AST SpaceMobile's technology utilizes the 850 MHz low-band spectrum, which offers superior signal penetration and coverage capabilities. In April 2023, the company successfully demonstrated its technology by placing the world's first call from an ordinary cellphone in Texas to another cellphone in Japan using its BlueWalker three prototype satellite. AST SpaceMobile aims to deploy up to 168 satellites to achieve global coverage, with an estimated total cost approaching USD 5 billion for the full constellation.
 
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AST SpaceMobile is building the first and only global broadband cellular network in space to operate directly with standard, unmodified mobile devices based on our extensive IP and patent portfolio. The company's team of engineers and space scientists are on a mission to eliminate the connectivity gaps faced by today's five billion mobile subscribers and finally bring broadband to the billions who remain unconnected. The company was founded on May 31, 2017 and is headquartered in Midland, TX.

Kngine is an intelligent engine that answers naturally posed factual questions and performs actions. Kngine understands what users are actually seeking and provides them with meaningful results.  Kngine is modeled after the 2 most predominate approaches in AI: Deep Learning and Knowledge-based.  Kngine has built a technology that understands natural language. When Kngine crawls the web, it doesn't just index pages, it extract the factual information from every sentence to build/update our knowledge graph. Also Kngine utilize the power of deep learning, big-data and unsupervised learning to achieve state-of-the-art accuracy.  To learn more about Kngine, see www.youtube.com/watch?v=OmwZ9bsgVTM.

Flybits is the leading customer experience platform for the financial services sector, delivering personalization at scale. With the most advanced capabilities in the market, its enterprise-level solution brings relevant content, products, offers, and information to a bank’s digital channels based on what each individual customer needs in the moments that matter. With Flybits, banks are able to design, launch, and measure data-driven consumer experiences that deliver the right information to the right customer at the right time, while preserving their privacy. www.flybits.com

Eventtus provides a one stop shop for event organizers to manage their events, in few minutes they can add their event’s information, create a web page for the event, sell the tickets and build a beautiful mobile app for the event with agenda, speakers bios, live announcements, realtime polling and a networking platform for all attendees. For attendees Eventtus is their personal mobile app for events, it’s the one app they’ll need for all events. It includes all events' information like full schedule, speakers and even attendee opinion polls, right in their pockets. They can interact with the sessions and speakers, start meaningful conversations and exchange contacts with other attendees through the app directly.

Swipe'nTap is an Egyptian company developing, selling and maintaining innovative ordering solutions. The company started in late 2011 offering digital menus, and has evolved since to offer a wide variety of products and services.

Affirmed Networks is transforming and advancing intelligence in mobile data networks. The company’s solution bundles gateway functionality with rich application and content delivery services into an industry-leading, virtualized solution. It was founded in 2010 and headquartered in Acton, Massachusetts.

Jibe Mobile, the Cloud Communications Company for mobile operators, handset manufacturers, and other communication networks, provides an open end-to-end technology platform enabling carriers to rapidly launch and commercially scale the most innovative IP communication services to mobile consumers globally. Bridging the worlds of telecom standards and Silicon Valley-style innovation, Jibe’s Communications Cloud supports industry standards (including WebRTC, RCS, joyn™) and interoperability enabling carriers to seamlessly deliver rich IP-based communications services — high quality video calling, group chat and large media-file sharing — as part of mobile consumers’ everyday conversation, regardless of network, device, or region. Jibe Mobile headquarters is in Mountain View, with offices in London and Dusseldorf.

Cognia develops cloud voice and data solutions, for use in financial institutions, government and the Fortune 1000. Cognia’s secure, global communication services platform, transforms the cost and ease by which organizations can control, capture and analyze voice and non-voice communications across distributed workforces.  The platform provides a single solution for both traditional fixed-line and mobile, and emerging IP communications, replacing the high capex and complex rollouts of on-premise systems with a flexible, pay-as-you-use cost model.

eshtery combines both; the convenience of e-shopping and the ever-lasting pleasure of “real” shopping through its mobile applications and interactive virtual stores.   It’s simple and fun: we place our walls and boards in nearby convenient locations. Those have everyday items - like food & groceries – printed on them with QR codes identifying each item allowing our users to scan and buy the items they wish with our mobile applications and yup; have them delivered!  Think of a busy day at work where you worry still about going to the market to buy your grocery and stand in a long cue to pay at the cashier or when you have to wait for a LONG time for your favorite fast food chain’s call center to finally get your order … that’s all soon going to be over! With eshtery you get all your items instantly accessible through our mobile application and our printed walls.  And in case you were wondering; our mobile application acts also as a standalone e-shopping venue granting you direct order access. Our applications run on Nokia, Android, iOs, J2ME and Blackberry.  eshtery is proudly an Egyptian startup run by young passionate individuals and now launching in the States. Find more about us: eshtery.me

InToTally delivers a vast leap forward in wireless technology solutions that enable network operators and device manufacturers to accelerate innovation and deliver more powerful mobile services. InToTally’s patented approach optimizes wireless technologies to ensure the best user experience for the always-on digital lifestyle.

Finsphere was founded in 2007 on the simple, yet powerful vision that a mobile phone can be used as a proxy for an individual’s identity,--Mobile as Identity. A leader in mobile authentication services, Finsphere utilizes sophisticated analytic platforms and applications, protected by the U.S. and international patents, for non-intrusive, privacy-enhancing services to authenticate credit and debit card transactions in real-time.

CellEra designs and produces fuel-cell power. The company was founded in 2007 and is based in Israel.

Qualia empowers organizations to deliver seamless consumer experiences across all devices, from intent to conversion.  The Qualia Data Intelligence Platform combines its IQ Decision Engine™ with cross-device technology to create a closed-loop, device agnostic, audience insights solution. Trusted by leading brands, agencies and marketing technology providers, Qualia’s cloud-based platform continuously identifies in-market consumers on all of their devices and digital touchpoints, enabling real-time, omni-channel targeting, reach, measurement and attribution.   Qualia is led by Kathy Leake, CEO (also co-founder of Dstillery) who is committed to defining the next generation of consumer targeting through data integrity and quality.   The company is headquartered in NYC and has offices in Chicago, Irvine, Los Angeles, San Francisco and Atlanta.   For additional information, visit www.qualia-media.com

Since launching in February 2010, the vouchercloud app has had over 5 Million downloads and is available in UK, DE, NL, SA, MT and IE.  The mobile voucher platform has been embraced by some of the top national brands such as Debenhams, Gap, Pizza Hut, PizzaExpress and Strada as well as 1000's of local businesses.  vouchercloud is one of the first mobile applications to have a direct financial benefit to the consumer. This clearly measurable gain presents an opportunity for generating ongoing incremental revenues.  The GPS location-based app is also supported by a bespoke online merchants' dashboard, which will transform the way in which discounts are promoted throughout the UK and Europe.   Developed over 12 months by IDL, the web-based merchant dashboard allows any business, whether a major international corporate chain or your favourite local family-run bistro to instantly upload their own branded offer directly to their target customer's mobile and the vouchercloud site, a tailor-made promotion which they can then track and control.  This is an instant and highly flexible direct advertising platform.  The vouchercloud website is a portal for every kind of saving of interest to the end user. Under the motto of ''live more, spend less,'' the site gives users a choice of platforms to receive their preferred money-saving offers: either via their mobile, printable vouchers or online voucher codes.   The site also presents a sizeable added revenue opportunity from voucher codes.   The response from merchants to the vouchercloud proposition has been exceptional. We have already secured over 2000 brand relationships across multiple verticals.

PlaySpanâ„¢ is the global leader in monetization solutions for over 1,000 online games, virtual worlds, and social networks. PlaySpan's patent-pending in-game digital goods commerce and micropayment platform enables game publishers and developers to generate new revenues, acquire new users, and extend the loyalty of existing users.   PlaySpan also provides global payment solutions through its UltimatePay product which enables users to make safe, convenient, and friendly in-app purchases using over 85 global payment methods in 180 countries. UltimatePay includes PlaySpanâ€™s ULTIMATE GAME CARD, which is a pre-paid card available in over 45,000 retail locations across North America and growing rapidly worldwide.    PlaySpan is headquartered in Silicon Valley with offices in Ohio, Virginia, and Mumbai. Investors include Easton Capital, Menlo Ventures, STIC and Novel TMT Ventures.  The company won the 2009 OnHollywood Category Award for Best Gaming Company.

Evolution Robotics, Inc. develops robotics solutions, and partners with original equipment manufacturers to integrate those technologies into new and more intelligent products. Whether used within autonomous robots for commercial or consumer use, or electronic devices with increased, intelligent functionality, Evolution Robotics provides the technologies and services to bring those products to life, and to market. The company's flagship product - ERSPÂ® - is a software development platform designed to provide core infrastructure for robotic application development projects. This core infrastructure along with key robotic functionality including computer vision, navigation and path planning, and human-robot interaction, enables companies to focus on creative product development using state-of-the-art tools.

Caringo Inc. is an innovative software provider focused on delivering the most advanced object-based technology for accessing, storing and distributing unstructured or file-based data. Its flagship product, CAStor, enables private cloud storage that dramatically improves the scope and economics of storing content by enabling customers to implement robust storage clusters without being locked into proprietary hardware. Founded on the operating principle that things should be made as simple as possible and a customer-first focus, Caringo makes content and file storage affordable, scalable, fast and easy.

Advertising solutions that unify, optimize and grow your business. Finally, there’s a platform that understands how people consume content today. A platform that understands that as people move across screens, advertisers and broadcasters need to adapt instantly. Only Amobee makes it easy for you to find your audience—no matter where they are, no matter what they’re watching. Amobee is built on three fundamental truths: consumers move fluidly across screens, love video, and value their privacy. Amobee helps brands, agencies, and media companies unify audiences to optimize results across all TV, connected TV, and digital media, including social, to drive customers’ growth.

SavaJe Technologies, Inc. provides operating system to support handhelds and wireless devices. It offers SavaJe OS, a wireless Java solution. The company serves information appliances, including smart phones, hand-held computers, personal digital assistants, set-top boxes, and Web pads. SavaJe Technologies, Inc. was founded in 1999 and is headquartered in Chelmsford, Massachusetts.

Clickmarks, a venture backed company focused on providing a rapid, cost effective solution for performing integration and wireless enablement of enterprise applications.

Vodafone Ventures firm specializes in investments in seed/start up, early stage, and mid stage in wireless and Internet sectors. It invests between £2 million ($3.6 million) and £10 million ($18.1 million) in the portfolio companies. Vodafone Ventures was formed in 2000 and is based in the Newbury, United Kingdom. Vodafone Ventures is the investment arm of Vodafone Group PLC.

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