Norwest is a venture capital and growth equity investment firm that specializes in venture and growth equity companies. Since its inception, it has invested in more than 600 companies and partnered with over 140 active companies across our venture and growth equity portfolio. The firm invests in early to late-stage companies across a wide range of sectors with a focus on consumer, enterprise, and healthcare. It offers a deep network of connections, operating experience, and a wide range of impactful services to help CEOs and founders scale their businesses.

Norwest Venture Partners

Benhamou Global Ventures is an early-stage venture capital firm. The firm works with passion and commitment to building valuable companies. It places particular emphasis on cloud technologies; virtual and software-defined networking; productivity-based applications; cybersecurity, mobility, and the Internet of Things. In 2004, Eric Benhamou founded the firm in Palo Alto, California.

Benhamou Global Ventures

Verizon Ventures seeks and invests in promising entrepreneurial companies who are tackling some of today’s biggest technological challenges for Verizon's consumer and enterprise customers.  Over the last decade Verizon Ventures has invested in more than forty companies covering a range of industries, technologies and market segments. Verizon Ventures offers support to its portfolio companies with technology and product development, market planning and sales, and access to the networks and platforms of Verizon Communications.  Combining the power of experienced investment professionals with a focused venture development team, Verizon Ventures connects innovators with strategic and financial resources that advance their businesses.

Verizon Ventures

Technologies bringing about a new reality

Extended Reality

HaptX is a developer of haptic technology that provides the sensation of touch in a VR environment. Its latest product, the enterprise-focused Haptx Gloves G1, is priced at USD 4,500, comes in multiple sizes and offers wireless mobility, multiplayer collaboration and a more ergonomic design relative to its predecessor. The gloves are built with patented microfluidic technology which would inflate and physically displace the user’s skin the way a real object would. This contrasts to other VR gloves, which are limited to vibration and force feedback.The company previously launched its HaptX Gloves DK2 in January 2021, priced at USD 5,495. The HaptX Gloves DK2 can also be used to control robots (e.g., hands, grippers, and arms) and maneuver them from a distance and receive touch information through the HaptX gloves.Additionally, the company’s SDK allows developers to incorporate realistic touch functions for their applications. The company also generates revenue from its Haptics Subscription program, providing access to its SDK for USD 495 per month.Government and enterprise use cases include VR training and simulation, industrial design, and robotics. As of September 2022, the company stated that its ultimate goal was to develop a haptic-based full body suit.Key customers and partnershipsIn <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/21878">September 2023</a>, the company partnered with Y-12 National Security Complex to integrate its haptic feedback gloves into Y-12’s virtual glove box simulator, allowing for realistic simulated tactile and force feedback.The company also partnered with Lowe’s to prototype realistic touch simulation for retail customers in July 2023.Funding and financialsThe company’s most recent funding came in September 2022, when it raised USD 23 million in a funding round co-led by AIS Global and Crescent Cove Advisors. The fresh funds were allocated to accelerate the commercialization of next-generation HaptX Gloves and double its headcount.

Yerba Buena Virtual Reality (YBVR) is a VR video distribution platform for live sports. The company’s technology, YB One, is designed to deliver high-quality 8K 360-degree live streams with field of view optimization that consumes up to 80% less bandwidth.The company’s value proposition is that its cloud-based tech provides sports, music event organizers and other rights holders with new avenues for engagement and revenue.Key customers and partnershipsYBVR’s tech was used in the Wimbledon, the Australian Open, Real Madrid, Euroleague Basketball, and others in the sports industry, as well as Verizon, TELUS, Singtel, and Telefonica. In November 2022, YBVR partnered with Meta to launch Xtadium, a VR streaming platform.Funding and financialsIn July 2021, YBVR received USD 1 million in convertible notes from TELUS Ventures. As part of the investment, the company planned to introduce a platform for immersive sports viewing in Canada.

8i’s technology combines and compresses volumetric data captured from up to 60 2K/4K cameras to create 3D assets/holograms in standard streamable formats. The platform also has an editing tool compatible with industry-leading tools like Maya and Blender, and integrates with Unity, Unreal, and 8th Wall to bring hologram assets into native and WebXR experiences. 8i’s streaming technology allows these holograms to be streamed live or on-demand to any device including smartphones, tablets, desktops, and VR headsets, for applications in areas such as training, commerce, communication, and entertainment.The company provides all the hardware and the software needed to capture holograms, including stages, premium computer vision cameras, lighting, sync boxes, computers, and recording software. 8i’s system uses proprietary machine learning techniques to automatically reconstruct 3D figures using multiple video sources. Its 1000x compression technology is also supported by proprietary machine learning and enables high-quality real-time encoding.The company first demonstrated its technology to render volumetric data in real time and stream live holograms in October 2021, during what the company claims, was “the world’s first livestreamed hologram interview”. Use cases for this technology include live presentations, concerts and performances, sports and entertainment events, training and education experiences, personal fitness, and shopping.Key customers and partnershipsAs of January 2024, the company had worked with notable customers such as LG, Walmart, L'Oréal, MTV, and Volkswagen.

StatusPro is an XR-based sports technology company&nbsp; co-founded by former Cincinnati Bengals and Cleveland Browns player Andrew Hawkins.&nbsp; The company leverages real-time player data to develop training solutions, having created an XR simulation solution for pre-game prep. In <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/33016">August 2024</a>, StatusPro announced NFL Pro Era 2025, the next version of their VR football game. NFL Pro Era 2025 will allow players to control offense and defense, with the ability to play as a quarterback or linebacker. The game will feature smarter AI teammates and opponents, customization options for gear, stadiums, hairstyles, and improved play styles aligned with current-day formations. Additionally, the game was set to move to a live service model priced at USD 20 for current players and USD 40 for new players.Previously StatusPro developed the “Pro Era 2” VR in partnership with NFL and the NFLPA (launched in October 2023). The game’s predecessor (Pro Era), became the first licensed VR football game and the first major gaming title to be developed by athletes. The Pro Era series allows fans to experience the realism of a football game from a quarterback’s perspective, with the games being priced at USD 29 and USD 14 respectively. The games are available on Meta Quest devices and PlayStation VR.&nbsp;The company also previously launched the “Lamar Jackson Experience” in which fans can recreate signature moves from the NFL MVPs 2019 season in which he was named NFL MVP.Key customers and partnershipsAs of April 2024, the company’s XR simulations for pre-game prep were utilized by six NFL teams.

Dreamscape Learn is a company launched by <a href="https://sp-edge.com/companies/456101">Dreamscape Immersive </a>and Arizona State University. The company uses VR technology to transform education by integrating cinematic storytelling, immersive technology, and advanced pedagogy. Its flagship products include 1) Immersive Learning Courses, a virtual biology lab that takes place in a space-based sanctuary for endangered species, 2) Virtual Classroom platform, which enables live, instructor-led classes to be conducted from within a virtual re-creation of any location, 3) Centers of Innovation, cost-effective location-based "pods" that facilitate creative curricular collaboration and learning opportunities for students offered at educational institutions), and 4) The Dreamscape Learn platform, a software package that allows for the creation of VR experiences and supports the development of new environments and tools by third parties, with its SDK enabling users to create 3D environments in real time with minimal technical resources.A 2D cloud-streaming version of Dreamscape Learn, targeting online learners who are unable to attend the 3D haptic pods, was released in May 2022, with a larger rollout planned for the latter part of the year. As of January 2024, the company had plans to expand experiences offered to climate science and sustainability alongside other fields.Key customers and partnershipsNotable customers include Glendale Community College and Rowan UniversityFunding and financialsIn <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/15824">January 2023 </a>, the company raised USD 20 million in Series A financing, with the funds being allocated to develop the company’s XR educational experiences

Sports Tech

StatusPRO, Inc. is a sports technology and gaming company based in Miami, FL. It combines real-time player data with augmented, mixed, and virtual reality technologies to develop a suite of training and gaming products. StatusPRO's flagship offering is NFL PRO ERA, the first-ever NFL and NFLPA-licensed virtual reality (VR) simulation game launched in September 2022. This immersive, first-person simulation allows players to experience the game from the perspective of an NFL quarterback. The game utilizes real NFL game data and StatusPRO's athlete-led technology to provide an authentic football gaming experience.
NFL PRO ERA features gameplay modes like a two-minute drill, practice mode, multiplayer sandbox, and full 11-on-11 games. The game also includes details like ambient sounds, stadium atmosphere, and the ability to call plays from the huddle. In October 2023, StatusPRO released NFL PRO ERA II, which introduced new features like head-to-head multiplayer gameplay across platforms.
Since its launch, NFL PRO ERA has gained over 1 million users, with players spending an average of 41 minutes per session, double the VR industry average. It is one of the fastest-selling and top-performing sports titles on the Meta Quest platform. In February 2024, StatusPRO raised USD 20 million in Series A funding led by GV (Google Ventures) to develop new sports titles and enhance its existing offerings.
Key customers and partnerships
StatusPRO has partnerships with notable entities like the NFL, NFLPA, and star athletes serving as investors and brand ambassadors. The company's investors include LeBron James, Naomi Osaka, Drake, Maverick Carter, and NFL quarterback Lamar Jackson, who was the cover athlete for NFL PRO ERA.
StatusPRO has also collaborated with teams like the Green Bay Packers to promote NFL PRO ERA through fan activations. The Packers, who invested in StatusPRO through their venture capital arm TitletownTech, showcased the game to fans during the 2022 London Games.

ShotTracker is a revolutionary sensor-based technology that provides real-time statistics and analytics for basketball teams, broadcasters, and fans. Developed by Data Driven Sports (DDSports), ShotTracker utilizes sensors installed in arenas, on players' jerseys, and inside the basketball itself to capture rich performance data. The system tracks over 70 unique statistics, including advanced metrics like lineup efficiency, ball movement, and screen types with outcomes, with sub-second latency.
ShotTracker's sensors map the court in 3D, allowing for precise shot location tracking and advanced shot analytics. The technology assigns shots to one of 23 designated zones around the basket, providing detailed insights into a team's scoring efficiency from different areas of the court. This data is processed through a proprietary algorithm and made available to coaches, players, and broadcasters through a custom app, enabling real-time strategic adjustments and player development conversations.
In addition to its statistical capabilities, ShotTracker has integrated video analysis tools, allowing coaches to review plays and reinforce teachings with visual aids. The technology has been adopted by several NCAA Division I conferences, including the Big 12, where it is mandated for use during conference games.
ShotTracker's products are designed to enhance the game experience for teams, broadcasters, and fans alike. The company has developed automated visualization tools that bring ShotTracker data to life in dynamic graphics for broadcast, digital, and in-venue signage. It has also partnered with companies like Catapult to combine performance and tactical analytics, providing a comprehensive view of athlete development and physical output.
Key customers and partnerships
ShotTracker has established partnerships with several prominent sports organizations and equipment manufacturers. In the college basketball realm, it has secured agreements with major conferences like the Big 12, where its technology is integrated into arenas and used during conference games. ESPN has also partnered with ShotTracker to incorporate its advanced analytics into linear and digital broadcasts, enhancing fan engagement and storytelling.
On the equipment side, ShotTracker collaborates with brands such as Nike, Adidas, Under Armour, Spalding, and Wilson to ensure seamless integration of its sensors into basketballs and player jerseys.
The company has also forged strategic alliances with companies like Catapult, a leader in sports performance technology, to combine performance and tactical analytics into a single workflow. This integration provides coaches and analysts with a holistic view of player development and performance data.

ScoreStream is a platform that provides real-time, crowd-sourced scores, photos, and videos for high school sports events. The company's technology facilitates fan-driven content, allowing real fans in the stands to contribute scores, photos, and videos of games. This approach enables comprehensive coverage of high school sports, including football, across all states in the US. ScoreStream's platform offers customizable team pages and a suite of online tools for partners, including real-time scoreboards, photo and video galleries. The company's system allows for scheduling games in advance, managing coverage from a desktop, and reporting live scores on-site through a mobile app. ScoreStream's technology powers scoreboard widgets, mobile apps, and on-air tickers simultaneously, providing a unified solution for sports coverage.

Fan Controlled Football (FCF) is an innovative indoor 7-on-7 football league that empowers fans to make key decisions for their favorite teams through an interactive mobile app. Launched in February 2021, FCF redefined football for the digital age by combining the excitement of live sports, the engagement of fantasy sports, and the interactivity of video games. The league features a 50-yard field, fast-paced games lasting around 70-90 minutes, and no kicking plays.
FCF's unique concept allows fans to call offensive plays in real-time, draft players, choose team logos and jerseys, and even vote on league rules. During games, fans vote on one of several pre-selected run or pass plays, and the play with the most votes is relayed to the quarterback via an earpiece. Players are encouraged to showcase their personalities, with bonuses awarded for the best touchdown celebrations and interviews.
In its inaugural 2021 season, FCF operated as a bubble environment with four teams owned by celebrities like Marshawn Lynch, Richard Sherman, and Austin Ekeler. The league expanded to eight teams for the 2022 season, with new franchises owned by cryptocurrency groups and Web3 entities like Bored Ape Yacht Club and Steve Aoki. FCF experienced significant growth in viewership and fan engagement, attracting over 21 million live views and becoming one of the fastest-growing sports channels on Twitch.
After a successful second season, FCF prepared for a return in May 2023 as the first-ever professional spring football league to launch a third season. In September 2023, the league announced plans to expand into other interactive sports properties through partnerships and technology licensing deals.

PlaySight Interactive is a leading sports technology company that specializes in providing advanced video analysis and coaching solutions for various sports. Their flagship product, SmartCourt, is a connected camera system that leverages artificial intelligence (AI) and deep learning capabilities to offer live streaming, multi-angle video recording, and comprehensive performance analytics.
PlaySight's technology democratizes access to cutting-edge video analysis tools, making them available to athletes and teams at all levels, from youth sports to professional leagues. The SmartCourt system enables automated video capture, eliminating the need for human camera operators, and uses AI algorithms to track player and ball movements, providing valuable insights into performance metrics.
In March 2024, PlaySight was acquired by US tennis company Slinger for USD 82 million, with the acquisition aimed at scaling up the distribution of PlaySight's mobile AI-based technology globally.
PlaySight's solutions cover over 30 sports, with a strong presence in tennis, pickleball, volleyball, and other racquet sports.
Key customers and partnerships
PlaySight has established numerous partnerships with universities, sports organizations, clubs, and facilities worldwide. Some notable partnerships include:
- Atlantic Coast Hockey Academy (ACA)
- Boise State Beach Volleyball
- Rutgers Wrestling
- University of Wisconsin Tennis
- Cracked Racquets (Broadcasting partnership for racquet sports)
- RedPADEL Rating (USPA rating system partner)
- Magnus Sports Group (Optical tracking and analytics)
- Scorli (Fan engagement solutions)
- Pin Point Raleigh (Large tennis facility)
- DUPR (Dynamic Universal Pickleball Rating system)
- Troy University (Streaming for 12 tennis courts)
- PickleRage (Indoor pickleball club franchise)
- Playbypoint (Reservation and video analysis integration)
- SpinInsight Analytics (Tennis analytics)
- SEE LiveSports (Balkan sports marketing)
- University of Richmond Tennis
- National Pickleball League, Australia
- Pickleball Kingdom (Premier pickleball locations)
- Scorebird (Sports viewing experience enhancements)
PlaySight's technology is widely adopted, with installations at over 20,000 venues across 57 countries as of March 2022. The company has grown rapidly, with partnerships spanning collegiate athletic programs, professional teams, and a diverse range of sports organizations worldwide.

AI-based solutions for evolving digital threats

Next-gen Cybersecurity

<div>
 
 Versa Networks provides cloud security products including AI/ML-enabled cloud access security brokers (CASBs), secure web gateways (SWGs), and zero-trust network access products via the Secure Access Service Edge (SASE) architecture.
 
 
 In January 2021, the company launched its first global channel partner program, Versa ACE, for resellers, system integrators, and service providers. The program is designed to help build broad competencies around Versa&rsquo;s offerings. Versa Networks is also the primary supplier of software-defined WAN(SD-WAN) and software-defined security for China Telecom (CT) and Apcela.
 
 
 Versa Networks had an employee headcount of 625 and it was valued at more than USD 700 million, as of October 2022. The company is currently expanding its coverage in North America, Europe, LATAM, and Asia.&nbsp;
 
 
 Key customers and partnerships
 
 
 The company served more than 10,000 enterprises and over 1 million users globally, as of October 2022. Notable customers include BP and Capital One.
 
 
 In June 2021, Comcast Business partnered with Versa Networks, to expand into advanced security solutions for mid-size and large enterprises.
 
 
 Funding and financials
 
 
 In October 2022, the company 
 <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/14111">
 raised USD 120 million
 </a>
 as part of a pre-IPO funding round led by BlackRock. The funds were utilized to accelerate its SASE product innovations and support go-to-market expansion. Versa Networks also indicated that it could most likely be its last funding round before it looks at going public over the following 18 months.
 
 
 During that period, Versa Networks also reported that its annual revenue value grew by 60% over the preceding years.
 
</div>

<div>
 
 SAM Seamless offers a device-agnostic solution for the security of IoT devices for consumers and small and medium businesses (SMBs). The company&rsquo;s approach employs behavioral techniques and machine learning to detect and prevent threats to smart devices. Its SMB offerings include features to protect network routers, manage IoT devices in the network, implement content controls and other service quality features. SAM Seamless also offers its solution to network operators and gateway manufacturers to enable the security of the network devices provided to customers. For network operators, the company also offers white-label mobile applications which the former can offer to their users to manage security features.
 
 
 
 
 The company counts technology companies such as Liberty Global, CabelLabs, and Bezeq as its clients. As of May 2021, SAM Seamless protected 2 million networks covering 70 million devices globally. The company expects to grow this number to 10 million networks and 500 million devices, by the end of 2021.
 
 
 
 
 In May 2021, SAM Seamless raised USD 20 million in a Series B funding round led by Blackberry and Verizon Ventures. The company expects to use the funding to accelerate the growth of its product. More specifically, it aims to advance its offering by taking full advantage of 5G edge computing architecture to make faster security decisions for IoT devices. 
 
</div>

<div>
 
 Securonix provides security information and event management (SIEM), user and entity behavior analytics (UEBA), and security orchestration, automation, and response (SOAR) capabilities. The company leverages these capabilities to monitor, detect, and respond to threats across cloud (cloud infrastructure, cloud data sharing applications, cloud access management tools, and cloud enterprise applications such as Amazon Web Services, Google Cloud Platform, Microsoft Azure, and Microsoft Office 365), hybrid, multi-cloud, and on-premises systems. Securonix XDR leverages UEBA and patented machine learning (ML) analytics to deliver automated threat hunting and response capabilities aligned to the MITRE ATT&amp;CK framework, across endpoint, network, cloud, application, and identity solutions.
 
 
 The company&rsquo;s dedicated research team provides actionable intelligence on threat adversary tactics, techniques, and procedures, and helps prevent advanced cyber attacks by creating patented algorithms for behavioral and peer analytics.
 
 
 Securonix 
 <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/10042">
 partnered
 </a>
 with the healthcare-focused IoT cybersecurity startup, Cynerio in April 2022 to integrate their solutions for enhanced network and security visibility across the Internet of Medical Things (IoMT) network of healthcare organizations.
 
 
 Securonix expanded its SaaS business by more than 100% over 2021, driven by the launch of its &ldquo;Bring Your Own Snowflake&rdquo; program in July 2021. Securonix serves Fortune 500 enterprise customers and government agencies globally. The company operates in the US, UK, Germany, Singapore, India, and generates more than half of its revenue in the US. Notable customers include Pfizer and AmerisourceBergen.
 
 
 In February 2022, the company 
 <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/8479">
 raised more than USD 1 billion
 </a>
 in a private funding round led by Vista Equity Partners. The funds were expected to be utilized to expand its product offerings globally and hire senior employees. In April 2022, strategic investors such as Capital One Ventures and Snowflake Ventures 
 <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/10066?industryIds=51">
 joined this round
 </a>
 by investing an undisclosed sum in Securonix. The funds were to be used to extend security to the application layer, penetrate key verticals and geographic regions, and build customer and partner relationships.
 
</div>

A new generation for mobile connectivity with 5G and beyond

Next-gen Mobile Networks

Verana Networks is a developer of innovative 5G radio access network (RAN) solutions focused on millimeter wave (mmWave) spectrum. Founded in 2020, the company aims to address the cost challenges associated with deploying 5G networks in mmWave bands. Verana is building a new 5G technology platform from the ground up, with purpose-built, software-defined hardware optimized for dense outdoor small cell deployments.
Verana's solution is centered around a multi-hop Integrated Access and Backhaul (IAB) architecture, where its 5G small cells can provide wireless backhaul to other Verana small cells while simultaneously offering 5G access to smartphones and fixed wireless access (FWA) devices. This scalable, multi-hop IAB approach reduces the need for fiber backhaul links by more than 90%, lowering capital and operational expenditures while increasing flexibility in site selection and accelerating network rollouts.
The company's products include plug-and-play 5G small cells, called Mesh Radios, which provide 360-degree coverage for both access and backhaul. Verana's offerings are compliant with 3GPP and O-RAN specifications. As of April 2022, Verana had raised USD 43 million in venture capital funding across two rounds to commercialize its mmWave 5G RAN technology. In February 2023, Verizon announced a field trial agreement with Verana to test its IAB solution for enhancing the reach of Verizon's 5G Ultra Wideband network.

Cellwize is a provider of cloud-native, multi-vendor Radio Access Network (RAN) automation and orchestration software solutions. Its flagship product, CHIME, is a platform that connects RAN, vRAN, and Open RAN systems to applications, enabling 5G and Open RAN readiness for mobile network operators (MNOs). CHIME leverages artificial intelligence and machine learning technologies for zero-touch 5G deployments, automating network optimization across 2G/3G/4G/5G networks, and delivering mobile network assurance capabilities.
By leveraging CHIME's open architecture and open API layer, MNOs can accelerate their 5G deployment by automating key business processes in the RAN domain. The platform allows operators to add self-created network applications on top of a multi-vendor RAN ecosystem with ease, delivering high quality of service, improved customer experience, accelerated time-to-market, and reduced costs. As of June 2022, Cellwize's solutions supported over 800 million subscribers globally across more than 40 MNO customers.
In June 2022, Cellwize was acquired by Qualcomm Technologies for approximately USD 350 million. The acquisition aimed to strengthen Qualcomm's ability to drive the development of modern 5G networks, accelerating Open RAN global adoption, cloud-based cellular infrastructure innovation, and 5G private network deployments.

Pivotal Commware is a company that develops 5G millimeter wave (mmWave) infrastructure products for extending the coverage area of radio access networks (RANs). Its key offering is a suite of products called the Pivot 5G ecosystem, which includes the Pivot 5G outdoor network repeaters, Echo 5G indoor subscriber repeaters, WaveScape network planning tool, and the Intelligent Beam Management System (IBMS) platform.
The Pivot 5G repeaters redirect mmWave signals beyond line-of-sight to expand wireless coverage, while the Echo 5G repeaters penetrate mmWave signals indoors through window glass. Pivotal's patented Holographic Beam Forming antenna technology enables this re-direction of signals with low cost, size, weight, and power consumption compared to traditional solutions.
In September 2022, Pivotal commercially launched its Pivotal Turnkey Services to accelerate fixed wireless access (FWA) network deployments for mobile network operators using mmWave technology. This service leverages Pivotal's ecosystem to deliver potential FWA subscribers, utilizing techniques like centimeter-resolution GIS data and 3D modeling for optimal network planning. As of January 2023, Pivotal introduced new MDU (Multi Dwelling Unit) FWA optimization and 3D visualization features in WaveScape to improve network design for high-density urban FWA deployments.
Pivotal's solutions have been deployed by major US carriers for their 5G and FWA rollouts. The company aims to enable mobile operators to cost-effectively grow their mobile and FWA coverage using mmWave frequencies. In August 2023, Pivotal raised USD 102 million in Series D funding to drive the rollout of its mmWave FWA solutions.

Building future-ready applications in the cloud

Cloud-native Tech

TileDB is a cloud database startup that offers a versatile and modern solution for handling complex, multi-dimensional data.TileDB's primary offering is its versatile cloud database platform, capable of storing an array of data types such as traditional, genomic, imagery, graphs, key values, and point clouds. It leverages serverless distributed computing to create efficient data pipelines and query algorithms, enhancing productivity and breaking down data silos. TileDB also supports generative AI models by enabling the combination of vector search and ML models, making it valuable for businesses safeguarding GenAI workloads. Additionally, it provides cost savings through reduced software licenses, lower cloud consumption, and streamlined data engineering. The platform excels in delivering fast insights due to its high-performance database.TileDB follows a subscription-based sales model for its cloud database platform.Key customers and partnershipsTileDB supports cloud storage integrations with Amazon S3, Azure Blob Storage, MinIO, HDFS, and Google Cloud Storage, allowing users to move data between these platforms.

Iguazio is an Israel-based AI and machine-learning company that offers an enterprise data science and machine-learning operations (MLOps) platform. The Iguazio MLOps Platform automates data science workflows from end-to-end, accelerating the process of development of AI applications to deployment to management. The platform enables the ingestion and processing of data from any source, training of models at scale, deployment, and monitoring and retraining of models, reducing the time taken to create business value with AI. In 2023, Iguazio was acquired by McKinsey &amp; Company to accelerate and scale AI deployments for its clients. The Iguazio team was set to be integrated with McKinsey’s QuantumBlack AI team. Iguzio follows a direct sales model. Key customers and partnerships The company serves customers in the financial services, telecommunications, manufacturing, retail, AdTech, gaming, and healthcare sectors. Its customers include Google Cloud, Intel, Amazon Web Services (AWS), NVIDIA, Samsung, Ecolab, Sheba Medical Center, NetApp, Payoneer, PadSquad, and Microsoft Azure. Iguazio’s partners include AWS, Google Cloud, Intel, Rackspace Technology, Snowflake, Boston Limited, Microsoft Azure, and Seagate. Funding and financials Iguazio concluded a venture funding round in January 2020 when it raised USD 24 million, led by INcapital Ventures.

CloudBees is a software delivery platform that enables DevOps and IT professionals to build, deploy, and analyze software and applications.CloudBees' CodeShip offers a comprehensive suite of DevOps tools and services, including CI/CD pipelines, Docker integration, parallel testing, customizable workflows, security scanning, and scalable infrastructure. These features empower development teams to automate, streamline, and secure their software development and deployment processes while optimizing resource usage and ensuring code quality.CloudBees offers its platform through direct sales, marketplace, and resellers.In September 2022, CloudBees acquired ReleaseIQ, a DevOps platform, which was absorbed into the company.Key customers and partnershipsCloudBees’ customer base operates in industries and sectors such as automotive, insurance, financial services, federal government, software, and retail. Notable customers include IRS, HSBC, Bosch, Capital One, IHG, BNP Paribas, Autodesk, Nutanix, Exterro, TransUnion, and TODO1.CloudBees’ partners include Amazon Web Services (AWS), Google Cloud, VMware, Coralogix, Snyk, OverOps, Checkmarx, Synopsys, Mirantis, HCL Software, Dynatrace, RunSafe Security, ShiftLeft, and Rezilion.Funding and financialsCloudBees’ latest funding was in December 2021 from a USD 95 million debt financing round led by Goldman Sachs Asset Management.CloudBees is a software delivery platform that enables DevOps and IT professionals to build, deploy, and analyze software and applications.CloudBees' CodeShip offers a comprehensive suite of DevOps tools and services, including CI/CD pipelines, Docker integration, parallel testing, customizable workflows, security scanning, and scalable infrastructure. These features empower development teams to automate, streamline, and secure their software development and deployment processes while optimizing resource usage and ensuring code quality.CloudBees offers its platform through direct sales, marketplace, and resellers.In September 2022, CloudBees acquired ReleaseIQ, a DevOps platform, which was absorbed into the company.Key customers and partnershipsCloudBees’ customer base operates in industries and sectors such as automotive, insurance, financial services, federal government, software, and retail. Notable customers include IRS, HSBC, Bosch, Capital One, IHG, BNP Paribas, Autodesk, Nutanix, Exterro, TransUnion, and TODO1.CloudBees’ partners include Amazon Web Services (AWS), Google Cloud, VMware, Coralogix, Snyk, OverOps, Checkmarx, Synopsys, Mirantis, HCL Software, Dynatrace, RunSafe Security, ShiftLeft, and Rezilion.

Technologies that automate and optimize building operations using data-driven insights.

Smart Building Technology

nami is a leading multi-sensing platform and ecosystem enabler for the internet of Things (IoT) industry. It enables enterprise customers to rapidly deploy intelligent presence, motion, and situation-aware IoT services. The company's full-stack platform ingests raw sensor data, augments it into actionable metadata, and uses it to trigger automation across the entire IoT environment, delivering unprecedented use cases.
nami's innovative fusion sensing platform combines cutting-edge AIoT technology with multi-protocol infrastructure. It blends RF wireless data points, such as Wi-Fi sensors or WiDAR (combination of Wi-Fi sensing and Radar), with inputs from analog sensors. Leveraging a dual radio infrastructure with Wi-Fi and Thread network protocols running on a single device, nami builds solutions performing Wi-Fi sensing even when home Wi-Fi coverage is poor or nonexistent. The platform also controls battery-operated accessories, such as contact sensors or water leak detectors, through a Thread mesh network.
In July 2023, nami raised USD 10.5 million in Series A funding from strategic investors, including Verizon Ventures, Amavi Capital, INSPiRE, and Aconterra. This funding empowered nami to expand its team and geographical presence to deploy its advanced digital sensing infrastructure across residential and commercial buildings on three continents.
nami's platform has been designed with privacy at its core, using Wi-Fi to detect human presence and movement without collecting personal information or employing intrusive technologies like cameras. The company's algorithms are randomized code that cannot be hacked, and all sensing data is encrypted to minimize cybersecurity risks.
In January 2024, at CES 2024, nami introduced its fusion sensing platform as part of the new Philips Home Safety 5000 series through its collaboration with Versuni. This partnership showcased nami's unique and cost-effective combination of sensing technologies for the home safety ecosystem.

Verdigris Technologies is an artificial intelligence (AI)-powered cleantech company that offers an internet of Things (IoT) platform for energy management in commercial and industrial smart buildings. The company's core offering is an IoT-based energy meter that can be installed on electrical panels to measure energy consumption at a granular level of 8,000 times per second. This allows Verdigris to detect anomalies and provide insights to reduce energy waste.
Verdigris' AI software analyzes the energy consumption patterns and provides comprehensive reports including energy forecasts, alerts about faulty equipment, maintenance reminders, and detailed usage information for every device and appliance. The company claims its solutions can deliver over 30% annual return on investment (ROI) through automation and optimization of energy usage.
A key differentiator for Verdigris is its ability to track unique data streams such as power quality and total harmonic distortion, in addition to energy consumption. The company's energy meters are certified and compliant with multiple international standards.
Verdigris was founded in 2012 by Mark Chung and Jon Chu, driven by their vision to leverage technology to reduce the carbon footprint of buildings and industries. The company is headquartered in Silicon Valley and excels in areas like IoT, machine learning, energy demand management, and smart building solutions.

Using data and automation to achieve 24/7 production.

Smart Factory

SparkCognition offers a suite of AI-powered data analytics solutions for businesses, specializing in the industrial sector. The company’s offerings include: 1) Industrial AI Suite, which enables users to connect datasets with configurable AI models, identify and contextualize risks to equipment, analyze maintenance actions, monitor performance, and visualize multi-asset systems, without requiring coding experience, and 2) Visual AI Advisor, which leverages computer vision to analyze real-time data from existing camera infrastructure for a number of different use cases, such as safety monitoring, visual inspection, and machine monitoring.&nbsp;In May 2023, the company launched the Generative AI Suite, a solution specifically tailored for the industrial sector, which enables users to build and deploy custom large language models (LLMs) on either private or on-premise cloud environments. Users also autonomously augment data sets by generating text, images, audio, and other signals and create imagery for use in simulated real-world environments. It claims to reduce the amount of foundational information needed for decision-making by up to 20x.Since 2021, the company has acquired a number of companies to further develop its product offering. This includes Indian visual AI startup <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/9370?industryIds=6">Integration Wizards</a> (March 2022) to expand its intellectual property (IP) portfolio to improve vision capabilities as well as digital knowledge platform Maana (July 2021), software developer for the renewable energy industry Ensemble Energy (May 2021), and financial technology company AIM2 (February 2021).&nbsp; Key customers and partnershipsSparkCognition’s clientele comprises large companies such as Boeing, Hitachi, and British Petroleum. It has also built partnerships with Google for cloud platform services, Hewlett-Packard Enterprise to offer AI predictive maintenance on HPE Edgeline Converged Edge Systems, and OSIsoft to integrate SparkCognition’s machine learning technology with OSIsoft’s PI system to improve data and process data analytics.&nbsp;

Providing a seamless consumer experience is one hope for bringing back brick and mortar retail, automated stores are being built to do just that.

Automated Stores

AiFi offers a grab-and-go checkout solution powered by computer vision and AI. Its solution enables a customer to enter a store using a mobile app, pick up the items required, and exit the store to complete the purchase. The solution also generates statistics and insights on customer behavior. The company claims that its technology can track up to 500 customers while also tracking tens of thousands of items in a store. It also claims a 99% accuracy rate and can be used within a space of up to 10,000 square feet, without using facial recognition technology or storing biometric data.AiFi’s flagship platform, “Orchestrated Autonomous Store Infrastructure &amp; Services (OASIS)” is designed for stores ranging from 200 square feet to 10,000 square feet and allows users to select between a fully autonomous shopping experience or a hybrid model. The stores will have a turnstile, a kiosk or door locks at the entrance, which the customer can interact with to gain access to the store. It also can be integrated with existing payments, inventory management, and electronic shelf labeling systems. The stores operate on a subscription-based model, and the company guarantees 12 months to achieve a return on investment (ROI).AiFi leverages the OASIS platform to offer retail clients the option of deploying an AiFi NanoStore, a custom-designed, fully-automated, container-sized, unmanned, checkout-free store format that can be operated 24/7. The NanoStores come in sizes of 160, 300 and 370 square feet specifications. Company claims that its technology can save around USD 20 per hour of operation.Key customers and partnershipsAs of February 2023, AiFi’s technology was deployed at over 100 stores globally. In January 2022, AiFi launched its largest store, a 6,000 sq ft Aldi location in London. AiFi’s key partnerships include Carrefour (November 2018) in the UAE, Zabka (February 2019), Wundermart (February 2021), PostNL (May 2021), Morrisons (July 2021), Aldi (January 2022), Compass Group (December 2021), Kende Gastro (January 2022) in Europe, Loop Neighborhood (January 2020), Choice Market (April 2021), Verizon (May 2021) , Acrisure Arena ( <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/29120">May 2024 </a>), and Chicago White Sox (<a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/33472">September 2024</a>) in the US, and AiGo (December 2020) in China.AiFi also has a partnership with Microsoft (January 2023) to launch a cloud-based analytics service for cashier-less stores. In <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/9389">March 2022 </a>AiFi partnered with Sodexo, the French campus food service operator, to bring autonomous grocery stores to campuses across the US.Funding and financialsBy 2022, AiFi reportedly had revenue growth of 5–6x YoY. In March 2022, AiFi raised USD 65 million in a Series B funding round led by Canada-based investment management firm Khaira CapitalAiFi. It planned to leverage the new funding to scale partnerships, strengthen its deployment team for faster store rollouts, and invest in product development and feature enhancement.

New insurance models are disrupting a centuries-old industry with a focus on personalization and convenience

InsurTech: Personal Lines

VOOM Insurance is a digital insurance provider that focuses on offering digital usage-based solutions for mobility segments such drones, light planes, motorcycles, e-scooters, and modern fleets (yet to be launched as of January 2023). The company claims to have introduced the world’s first pay-per-mile motorcycle insurance product, VOOM &amp; RIDE.&nbsp; The company also provides<a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/24859"> VOOM &amp; Drive</a>, a usage-based insurance policy for rideshare and delivery drivers. This connects gig drivers' accounts from various platforms like Uber and Lyft, gathering detailed data about the vehicle, driver, and driving-related information using AI technology. The company claims this personalized approach enables policyholders potential savings of up to 60% compared to usual policies. VOOM &amp; Drive was available in Tennessee and Arizona as of January 2024.Voom Insurance’s cover is available in 19 states (Arizona, Indiana, Illinois, Ohio, Wisconsin, Oklahoma, Iowa, Texas, Missouri, Alabama, Colorado, Tennessee, Oregon, Minnesota, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Louisiana, Georgia, and Virginia) as of January 2024; however, it is licensed to operate in all 50 states in the US as well as in Canada. In addition to the US, the company has an office in Israel.Furthermore, VOOM Insurance has developed its own end-to-end platform (VOOM CORE) that supports writing its usage-based policies, and also to develop related insurance products for other insurers and reinsurers. Through its VOOM CORE offering, the company offers risk analytics that leverage telematics and other data, along with white-label tools to manage the value chain and distribute policies.&nbsp;Voom’s insurance policies are underwritten by <a href="https://www.markelinsurance.com/">Markel Insurance Company</a>.Funding and financialVOOM raised USD 15 million in funding in a round in October 2021, co-led by JAL Ventures and UP.Partners. The company plans to expand its usage-based offering suite to cover light aircraft, leisure vehicles, and gig economy workers.

Property owners and real estate companies are able to handle larger portfolios while offering faster and cheaper services.

Residential PropTech

Home365 operates an online platform that automates the process of rental management for property owners. The company uses AI to predict potential maintenance and repair issues before they arise. The platform also streamlines tenant management by automating the screening process and enabling tenants to raise and report issues directly, providing landlords with updates in real time. Additionally, the platform provides an analytical dashboard for property owners to provide insights on a property’s condition, history, and upcoming maintenance projects. As of June 2021, the company operated in six states and employed 85 individuals.As of March 2022, Home365 managed over USD 1.5 billion in investment assets covering 7,000 properties across seven states.Key customers and partnershipsIn April 2023, Home365 partnered with Lendai to streamline real estate investing for non-US investors in the US residential market. This collaboration combined Home365's property management tech with Lendai's AI-driven lending platform, offering foreign investors financing terms similar to those available to Americans, simplifying the process of acquiring, financing, and managing US properties.

Giving creators the power of content monetization and audience engagement.

Creator Economy

<div>
 
 Community offers a message-based service where celebrities, influencers, and musicians can directly engage with their fans via text messages, photos, videos, and voice messages. Initially launched as Shimmur in 2017, the business had raised roughly USD 7 million during 2015-2017. However, it did not succeed, leading to the relaunch of Shimmur as Community in 2018, with the support of Hollywood talent manager Guy Oseary and famous actor and venture capitalist Ashton Kutcher. 
 
 
 Community was launched in July 2019 and has multiple celebrities, politicians, and artists (&ldquo;community leaders&rdquo;), such as Jennifer Lopez, Barack Obama, Kerry Washington, the Jonas Brothers, and Jake Paul using the platform to communicate with fans privately. Community leaders will be given a phone number which they can use to communicate directly to one or many fans based in North America without advertisements or algorithms. The platform&rsquo;s pricing is based on audience size, where community leaders pay a monthly fee ranging from less than USD 100 to several thousand. Community leaders can monetize by using the platform to sell merchandise bundles, rally the fanbase, and leverage the direct communication tool to promote shows and projects.
 
 
 By January 2020, the company had amassed around 500 community leaders, of which 25% were prominent celebrities with large audiences, and the rest were creators, athletes, authors, entertainers, and public figures, with over 200 million Community texts sent. As of August 2020, the company claims that the number of community leaders has increased to 2,000, exchanging 2 million texts daily (celebrity and fans collectively), and as of September 2020, it has almost 20 million members on its platform. However, in 
 <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/11278">
 June 2022
 </a>
 , the company reportedly laid off ~40 employees due to adverse market conditions.
 
 
 Funding and financials
 
 
 In its last funding round (April 2021), the company raised USD 40 million from Salesforce Ventures. 
 
</div>

Tech solutions for achieving global anti-wastage targets

Food Waste

<div>
 
 Based in Israel, Wiliot provides self-powered sensor tags that look like stickers and can be attached to medicine, food, or agricultural products. These tags provide the manufacturer or retailer with product information such as location, humidity, and freshness. The information is stored on a cloud that users can access via the Wiliot platform and receive real time transparency updates. Wiliot claims that its sensing stickers can reduce food waste by 40%. 
 
 
 The company operates a Sensing-as-a-Service business targeting food brands and retailers. The first version of the sensor tag, called Wiliot V1.0, was launched in 2019. In 2020, the tags were further developed to integrate with bluetooth devices and improve the ability to access information from devices that have bluetooth connectivity. In November 2021, the V2.0 upgraded version of the tag was unveiled, which enhanced versatility and accuracy of the product. The company is planning to provide the tags at a cost of USD 500 per developer kit and is working with large retail companies to commercialize its product and is expecting to mass produce by the end of 2021. 
 &nbsp;In 
 <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/15615">
 January 2023
 </a>
 , Wiliot announced the launch of its Innovation Kit, which helps to track the location and temperature of a range of goods.
 
 
 In July 2021, the company raised USD 200 million in an oversubscribed Series C funding round led by Softbank&rsquo;s Vision Fund 2. Existing investors such as 83North, Amazon Web Services, Avery Dennison, and Verizon also joined the round. Following the funding round, the company is estimated to be valued at USD 1 billion. The new funds are expected to be used to expand its team at Caesarea, build a new R&amp;D facility in Tel Aviv, and scale distribution channels to launch its Version 2 self-powered tags. Wiliot also has plans to expand services to new markets such as Japan and Europe. 
 
</div>

Information to create a more efficient, cleaner and safer way to travel in the city of the future

Smart Mobility Information

Founded in Israel, Optibus offers a range of mobility planning and management platforms, providing solutions for public transit agencies, cities, and shuttle operators. The platform leverages AI and algorithms for route planning, vehicle and crew scheduling, rostering, and predicting vehicle running times. In June 2022, the firm launched ‘Operations’, the <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/11115">first real-time management platform</a> for bus depot operators. In August 2024, the company<a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/32398"> introduced “Optibus Shuttles” </a>to enhance shuttle operations through automated dispatching and routing. Optibus claims that its platform is the first cloud-native platform that has a drag-and-drop interface, where key metrics are displayed and updated in real time. A case in point is the Western Reserve Transit Authority (WRTA), where Optibus’s platform was applied to 30 bus routes in Youngstown, Ohio. The firm claimed it managed to reduce undesirable driver shifts by 17% while keeping up identical levels of service. The firm also claims that it has had “zero churn” and has been recognized by the World Economic Forum as a technology pioneer.In April 2022, Optibus<a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/9800"> acquired Trillium</a>, a developer of multimodal mobility solutions to expand its product offerings and grow its presence in North America. In February 2024, the company expanded its transit data management software,<a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/26960"> GTFS Manager,</a> developed by Trillium, to Spain, making it available to the European market for the first time.In August 2024, the company <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/33172">acquired Datik,</a> a provider of real-time visibility and operational efficiency for public transportation providers.Key customers and partnershipsAs of February 2023, Optibus has been deployed in 25+ countries across <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/26718">5,000 cities</a> including New York, Las Vegas, San Francisco, London, <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/15307?industryIds=66">Sao Paulo, </a>and Hong Kong. According to the firm, Optibus's platform helped run 30% of London’s public transportation and accounted for 25% of public transportation in the UK. Optibus has been expanding its presence globally, with a particular emphasis on Latin America, Asia Pacific region, and Europe. In March 2022, the company opened a new office in <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/9450">Santiago, Chile,</a> and by June 2022, it had expanded <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/11288">its leadership team</a> to support local teams in the APAC region. In September 2022, Optibus opened new regional offices in <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/13457">Rome, Italy,</a> and <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/13242">Stockholm, Sweden,</a> while also signing new clients. In March 2023, Optibus continued its expansion into Europe with the opening of its office in <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/17230">Lisbon, Portugal.</a>Optibus has strategically partnered with several organizations to enhance its service offerings and integrate advanced technologies into its operations. These include, 1) <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/13243">Ito World</a> to enhance data-driven insights (September 2022), <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/17455">Stratio</a> to optimize vehicle maintenance for transport operators (March 2023); 3) <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/20630">Kayseri Ulasim</a> to streamline its operational work and create an AI- powered bus business planning structure (August 2023); 4) <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/22487">CarMedialab</a> to introduce an end-to-end electric vehicle management solution (October 2023); 5) HADAG in Hamburg, Germany to include ferry operations (October 2023); 6) <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/30459">Swiftly,</a> to integrate Swiftly's run-time data into the Optibus platform (April 2024); 7) <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/29401">Snapper Services </a>to offer improved data analysis for public transit operators (May 2024); and 8) <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/31295">Volvo Buses</a> to provide Volvo’s customers access to Optibus’ connected services (July 2024).

Data Infrastructure & Analytics

TileDB is the modern database that integrates all data modalities, code and compute in a single product.. As a database system, TileDB adapts its internal structure to optimize advanced applications across life sciences, geospatial research, generative AI, and other data science domains. TileDB is architected around multi-dimensional arrays, a powerful structure that adapts to capture any data modality — from vectors, tables and images, to ML models, 3D point clouds and population genomics datasets. TileDB provides an ecosystem of open-source tools, whereas its commercial product, TIleDB Cloud, offers a secure platform for distributed computations, interactive analysis, collaboration and integrations with a range of TileDB vertical solutions. TileDB was spun out of MIT and Intel Labs in May 2017 and is backed by numerous world class investors.

Simplifying healthcare administration with intuitive tech tools

Hospital Management

NantHealth is a company that develops software and devices for healthcare providers and payers, operating at the intersection of precision medicine and value-based care. Their technology solutions aim to enable integrated healthcare delivery networks, promote efficiency, personalized treatment, and collaboration across the healthcare ecosystem. NantHealth's core offerings include software products that assist healthcare providers in assessing patients' conditions, matching them with evidence-based treatments, and ensuring the recommended protocols align with the patients' insurance coverage. Their business model revolves around providing innovative software solutions to streamline healthcare delivery and enhance patient outcomes.

Using AI to mimic and understand human language

Natural Language Processing Tools

SparkCognition is an artificial intelligence company founded in 2013 that develops AI-powered software solutions for various industries. The company's product portfolio includes machine learning, deep neural networks, natural language processing, and knowledge graph technologies aimed at predicting outcomes, prescribing actions, and enhancing safety across sectors like industrial, oil and gas, renewables, financial services, transportation, and government. SparkCognition's solutions address challenges such as preventing unexpected downtime, maximizing asset performance, optimizing resources, and proactively addressing safety and cybersecurity issues.
In March 2023, SparkCognition launched its Generative AI Platform, specifically designed for the industrial sector. This platform enables organizations to apply AI even with sparse datasets by autonomously augmenting data sets and generating high-quality synthetic content. The company is also developing industry-specific large language models to enhance its offerings. SparkCognition's Industrial AI Suite for Renewables provides asset performance management capabilities for renewable energy projects, helping operators detect underperformance, improve planning decisions, and streamline reporting processes.

Tools that streamline software development

DevOps Toolchain

CloudBees provides a software delivery platform for enterprises, enabling them to continuously innovate and deliver software at scale. Founded in 2010, CloudBees offers a suite of products that automate and streamline the entire software development lifecycle, from continuous integration and continuous delivery (CI/CD) to release orchestration and feature management. At the core of CloudBees' offerings is CloudBees CI, built on Jenkins, the widely-used open-source automation server. CloudBees CI provides flexible, governed CI/CD capabilities for enterprises.
The company's product portfolio also includes CloudBees CD for release orchestration and automation, CloudBees Feature Management for progressive delivery and feature flagging, and CloudBees Software Delivery Automation (SDA) which combines CI, CD, release orchestration and feature management into an integrated platform. CloudBees SDA aims to connect tools and functions across development, operations and shared services teams to optimize the software delivery process. In September 2022, CloudBees acquired ReleaseIQ to expand its DevSecOps capabilities with a low-code release orchestration and visibility solution.
CloudBees' platform is designed to address the needs of modern software development organizations adopting CI/CD and DevOps practices. It provides capabilities for unified governance, visibility, security compliance, and risk mitigation in software delivery. The platform can be deployed on-premise or in major public cloud environments, offering flexibility to support diverse software portfolios including classic, client-server, containerized, web, mobile, IoT and embedded applications.

Next-gen Displays

Light Field Lab is a Silicon Valley-based company founded in 2017 by Jon Karafin, Brendan Bevensee, and Ed Ibe, who previously worked at Lytro. The company has developed SolidLight, a groundbreaking holographic display technology that creates true 3D images visible without the need for special glasses or headgear. SolidLight uses modular panels containing billions of pixels to generate light fields that form holographic objects appearing to float in mid-air. These holograms are viewable from multiple angles and behave like real objects, responding to focus changes and occlusion.
The SolidLight system comprises three layers: a photonic array of light-emitting nanoparticles, a modulated-amplitude plane, and a static PhaseGuide modulation plane. Together, these components manipulate light to create holographic images with a density of 10 billion pixels per square meter. Light Field Lab's proprietary WaveTracing software enables real-time rendering of holographic content from standard 3D engines like Unity and Unreal. In February 2023, the company demonstrated its Defy interactive experiences, which allow users to engage with responsive holographic characters in real-time.

Taking commercial activities to new heights

Commercial Drone Tech

Iris Automation is a pioneer in developing collision avoidance technology for drones and aircraft. The company's flagship product, Casia, is a detect-and-avoid (DAA) system that enables uncrewed aerial vehicles (UAVs) to detect and avoid other aircraft, both cooperative (transmitting their location) and non-cooperative. Casia uses AI-based computer vision technology to provide real-time airspace awareness, allowing drones to safely navigate increasingly congested airspaces.
Iris Automation offers Casia in two configurations - an onboard system that runs on the aircraft and a ground-based system called Casia G. The onboard Casia provides a 360-degree radial field of view, while Casia G establishes a zone of monitored airspace ideal for operations from fixed or temporary locations. Both versions integrate with autopilot systems to enable automated avoidance maneuvers.
In March 2022, Iris Automation received an FAA waiver allowing autonomous beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) drone flights using only Casia for air risk mitigation, without requiring visual observers. This marked a significant milestone in advancing BVLOS drone operations.
In October 2023, Iris Automation was acquired by uAvionix, a leading provider of communications, navigation, and surveillance solutions for crewed and uncrewed aircraft. The acquisition combined Iris's optical DAA capabilities with uAvionix's expertise in cooperative aircraft tracking, creating a multi-layered safety architecture for UAS integration into the National Airspace System.

Next-gen packaging solutions for enhanced product tracking, inspection solutions and freshness monitoring

Smart Packaging Tech

Based in Israel, Wiliot is a company specializing in ambient IoT solutions for package traceability and analytics. Utilizing innovative IoT Pixel technology, Wiliot enables real-time monitoring and data collection from products, offering insights into their location, condition, and authenticity. Its IoT Pixels, which are small tags powered by harvested radio frequency energy or thin-printed batteries, securely transmit encrypted data to existing Bluetooth devices. This data is then analyzed on Wiliot's cloud-based platform, which employs machine-learning algorithms to provide valuable insights throughout the product lifecycle, from manufacturing to recycling. Wiliot's solutions have vast applications across various industries, including CPG and grocery, apparel and soft goods, post and parcel, and quick-service food restaurants.In <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/32717">August 2024</a>, Wiliot launched WiliBot, a GenAI chatbot that interacts with IoT-connected products. It’s part of Wiliot’s ambient data platform, which uses small, self-powered IoT pixels to track items in the supply chain. Key customers and partnershipsIn February 2022, the company partnered with Identiv, a global provider of IoT digital security and identification solutions, to deliver Bluetooth IoT pixels for the mass IoT market and create an ecosystem of digital products in healthcare and smart packaging. In May 2022, the company partnered with Avery Dennison, a provider of innovative packaging material solutions, to design and manufacture second-generation Wiliot tags. In addition, the companies have integrated Wiliot's sensing services with Avery's connected product cloud, enabling the tag's sensing information to be added to a connected product's item-level data.Funding and financialsIn July 2021, the company raised USD 200 million in a Series C funding round led by SoftBank Vision Fund 2 to support further platform development.

Empowering efficiency, visibility and collaboration throughout supply networks

Supply Chain Tech

Headquartered in Caesarea, Israel, Wiliot opeates in the Internet-of-Things (IoT) sector, focusing on bringing connectivity and intelligence to everyday products. The company has developed a platform called the ambient IoT Visibility Platform, which connects the digital and physical worlds through its IoT Pixels. These IoT Pixels are stamp-sized, self-powered compute devices that cost only pennies. They can attach to any product or packaging and transmit real-time item- and case-level information about location, temperature, humidity, and even carbon footprint. The platform allows companies to gain unprecedented visibility into their supply chains, enabling them to improve efficiency, reduce waste, ensure product safety, and optimize operations.Wiliot's IoT Pixels harvest radio frequency energy from surrounding sources like Bluetooth devices and Wi-Fi routers, eliminating the need for batteries. They communicate using Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) and connect to the internet through existing infrastructure like smartphones, tablets, or bridge devices. The collected data is then processed in Wiliot's Cloud, where advanced algorithms and analytics generate actionable insights.In addition to location and environmental sensing, Wiliot's platform can also detect events like fill levels, dilution, and tampering, making it valuable for industries like pharmaceuticals, food, and retail. The company has successfully deployed its technology for applications such as vaccine vial monitoring, produce freshness tracking, and retail inventory management.In August 2024, the company <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/32817">introduced</a> WiliBot, a GenAI chatbot that enables natural language conversations with ambient IoT-connected products in supply chains. The solution allows businesses to interact with their products and supply chains by asking questions about shelf life, product journey, stocking recommendations, safety, and carbon footprint. The company is currently piloting WiliBot with key enterprise customers, with a broader rollout planned for late 2024 and into 2025.Key customers and partnershipsWiliot serves a diverse range of industries including consumer packaged goods (CPG), retail, and healthcare. The company works closely with companies like Avery Dennison and Identiv, along with infrastructure providers and system integrators to deliver end-to-end solutions.Wiliot also collaborates with software companies like iFoodDS and Trustwell to integrate its ambient IoT data into their food safety and compliance platforms, enabling automated traceability and adherence to regulations like the FDA's Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) Rule 204.

The toolkit to build machine learning applications at scale

Machine Learning Infrastructure

Iguazio provides a serverless platform based on its open-source Nuclio framework that helps users to develop, deploy, and manage real-time AI applications without requiring them to manually manage underlying infrastructures such as servers and storage. The platform creates real-time intelligence for applications located at the edge, public cloud, and on-premise data centers and reduces bandwidth constraints by consolidating data into a repository and making it available for applications as required. The platform can ingest and transform data from any source, which is then used to train, evaluate, deploy, and monitor models in production.The company leverages Big Data and ML software such as Apache Spark, TensorFlow, and Kubernetes to manage software containers that enable applications to run across different computing environments.Key customers and partnershipsIguazio serves customers in the financial services, telecommunications, smart mobility, manufacturing, retail, AdTech, gaming, healthcare, energy, and utilities sectors. Notable customers include Samsung, Microsoft, NVIDIA, AWS, Google, and Intel.Funding and financialsIn January 2020, the company raised USD 24 million in a funding round led by INCapital Ventures. The funds were utilized to accelerate its growth, expand its reach into new global markets, grow sales, and facilitate new sales channels that include companies such as Dell Technologies

A new generation of building blocks for emerging tech

Next-gen Semiconductors

Pivotal Commware is a global leader in 5G millimeter wave (mmWave) infrastructure products, specializing in holographic beamforming technology. The company's product ecosystem is designed to extend the coverage area of radio access networks (RANs) and improve fixed wireless access (FWA) deployment. Pivotal's key offerings include WaveScape, a network planning tool that optimizes the placement of network elements, Pivot 5G network repeaters for navigating signals around obstacles outdoors, and Echo 5G subscriber repeaters for penetrating signals indoors through window glass. These products utilize Pivotal's patented Holographic Beam Forming (HBF) antenna technology, which aims to increase network speed, capacity, and spectral efficiency while minimizing cost, size, weight, and power consumption.
The company's holographic beamforming technology passively breaks down and reshapes RF signals into desired shapes, allowing for rapid adjustment of individual, narrow beams to provide service to devices as they move. This approach is designed to be more cost-effective and energy-efficient compared to traditional beamforming and MIMO systems. Pivotal's Echo 5G repeaters have been tested at speeds of up to 1.3 Gbit/s at distances of 1,640 feet from the basestation using 28GHz channels.
In September 2022, Pivotal launched its Pivotal Turnkey Services to accelerate the deployment of FWA networks using mmWave. This end-to-end solution includes network planning, optimization, and deployment services for mobile network operators. In January 2023, the company introduced new features to its WaveScape tool, including MDU (Multi Dwelling Unit) FWA optimization and 3D visualization, to enhance network design processes in high-density urban environments.

Empowering the modern soldier with cutting-edge technology

Military Tech

SparkCognition is a global leader in artificial intelligence (AI) software solutions, founded in 2013 by Amir Husain. The company develops AI technologies to predict outcomes, prescribe next best actions, and automate workflows across various industries. SparkCognition's product portfolio includes machine learning, deep neural networks, natural language processing, and computer vision technologies. The company's solutions are designed to minimize downtime, maximize asset performance, optimize resources, and proactively address safety concerns.
SparkCognition's flagship offering is the Industrial AI Suite, which provides asset performance management (APM) solutions for industries such as energy, manufacturing, and defense. In March 2023, the company launched its Generative AI Platform, specifically tailored for the industrial sector. This platform enables organizations to apply AI even with sparse data sets, enhancing and accelerating outcomes. The technology can autonomously augment data sets by generating synthetic text, images, audio, and other signals, allowing customers to reduce the amount of foundational information needed for decision-making by up to 20 times.
The company has expanded its reach through acquisitions and strategic partnerships. In 2021, SparkCognition completed three acquisitions to break into new markets, including the purchase of Ensemble Energy to expand its offerings in the energy sector. SparkCognition also operates two subsidiaries: SparkCognition Government Systems (SGS), which focuses on AI solutions for government and national defense, and SkyGrid, a joint venture with Boeing that develops AI and blockchain solutions for airspace management of drones and unmanned aircraft.
Key customers and partnerships
SparkCognition serves clients across various industries, including defense, finance, manufacturing, automotive, telecommunications, and energy. Notable customers include Boeing, Hitachi High-Technologies, and Aker BP. In June 2024, National Grid Renewables selected SparkCognition's Industrial AI Suite for Renewables to optimize the performance and efficiency of its solar, onshore wind, battery energy storage systems, and hybrid projects.
The company has also formed partnerships to expand its reach in different sectors. In May 2024, SparkCognition Government Systems partnered with Carahsoft to enhance public safety with visual AI-driven security solutions. This collaboration aims to bring SparkCognition's AI technologies to government agencies and national security leaders, focusing on mission readiness and asset performance optimization.

Ensuring the right people access the right resources at the right time

Identity & Access Management

Prove is the modern way for businesses to enable their customers to prove their identities with just a phone. Prove offers phone-centric solutions that enable its customers to acquire new consumers and engage with their existing consumers by removing friction while bolstering security, and enhancing consumer privacy and consumer choice.Prove's solutions are used by more than 1,000 businesses across diversified industries, including banks, financial services, healthcare, insurance, and e-commerce. Prove has two main solutions + MFA: • Prove Pre-fill™ for Onboarding &amp; Digital Acquisition, which helps companies increase signups and mitigate account opening fraud by authenticating consumer identities, and auto-filling verified data in any channel. • Fonebook™ for Digital Servicing, which helps companies: - Access a single identity authentication platform that reduces complexity and total cost of ownership to create a holistic view of your customer across their entire channels - Manage, add, and update customer phone numbers to ensure you always have the right number for your customer Multi-factor Authentication: - Standard SMS &amp; Voice OTPs - Instant Link™ (authenticate through SMS link without needing OTP) - Mobile Auth™ (authentication via cellular networks; passive method for passwordless login) - Voice Biometrics – Match against a consumer’s voice for authentication - Push Authentication – App-based method to prove Possession, can also pull in behavioral biometrics, device (PKI), and environmental (Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, network) signals - Secure transactions across multiple digital servicing use cases, including login, high-risk transactions, call center, and passwordless login.

Revolutionizing efficiency by redefining human interactions

Humanoid Robots

Sanctuary AI is focused on creating human-like artificial intelligence in general-purpose robots. Their flagship product is Phoenix, a humanoid robot designed to perform a wide range of tasks across various industries. Phoenix is powered by Carbon, an innovative AI control system that gives the robot human-like intelligence and the ability to learn and execute complex tasks.
Sanctuary AI's robots are designed to closely mimic the human form and function, standing at 5'7" and weighing 155 lbs. Phoenix boasts industry-leading robotic hands with 20 degrees of freedom, rivaling human dexterity and featuring proprietary haptic technology for a sense of touch. The robots can lift payloads up to 55 lbs and move at a maximum speed of three miles per hour.
Carbon, the AI control system, integrates modern AI technologies to translate natural language into real-world actions, allowing Phoenix to think and act like a human. It enables explainable and auditable reasoning, task planning, and motion execution. The system uses deep learning, reinforcement learning, and photo-realistic simulations to train the robots. As of April 2024, the seventh generation of Phoenix can automate new tasks in less than 24 hours, a significant milestone in task automation speed and autonomous system capability.
Sanctuary AI's robots have been successfully deployed in commercial settings, completing hundreds of tasks across various industries, including retail, logistics, healthcare, and manufacturing. In March 2023, the company announced its first commercial deployment with a major Canadian retailer, where the robots performed front-of-store and logistics tasks.
Key customers and partnerships
Sanctuary AI has formed strategic partnerships with several industry leaders to advance the development and deployment of its general-purpose robots. In April 2024, the company announced a collaboration with Magna International, a global mobility technology company. This partnership includes the deployment of Sanctuary AI's robots in Magna's manufacturing operations, as well as a joint effort to improve the cost and scalability of the robots using Magna's automotive expertise and engineering capabilities.
Additionally, Sanctuary AI has partnered with Microsoft to leverage the tech giant's Azure cloud resources for AI workloads. This collaboration aims to accelerate the development of AI models for humanoid robots, enabling Sanctuary AI to explore the future of general-purpose robots across various use cases and industries.

InsurTech: Infrastructure

VOOM Insurance is a digital insurance provider that focuses on offering digital usage-based solutions for mobility segments such as drones, light planes, motorcycles, e-scooters, and modern fleets (set to be launched in January 2023). The company claims to have introduced the world’s first pay-per-mile motorcycle insurance product, VOOM &amp; RIDE. Its insurance cover is available in <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/15763">10 states </a>(Arizona, Oklahoma, Iowa, Illinois, Wisconsin, Indiana, Ohio, Missouri, Texas, and Tennessee) as of January 2023, however, it is licensed to operate in all 50 states in the US, as well as in Canada. In addition to the US, the company has an office in Israel.VOOM Insurance has developed its own end-to-end platform (VOOM CORE) that supports writing its usage-based policies and also developing related insurance products for other insurers and reinsurers. Through its VOOM CORE offering, the company offers risk analytics that leverages telematics and other data, along with white-label tools to manage the value chain and distribute policies.Funding and financialVOOM raised USD 15 million in funding in a round in October 2021, co-led by JAL Ventures and UP.Partners. The company plans to expand its usage-based offering suite to cover light aircraft, leisure vehicles, and gig economy workers.

Origin AI revolutionizes WiFi usage by transforming signals into WiFi Sensing technology. Harnessing AI, we analyze signal disruptions caused by daily activities to provide valuable insights for ISP, security, and IoT applications. Key features include Motion, Presence, Falls, and Breathing AI engines, each offering industry-leading accuracy. Our competitive advantages include non-line of sight sensing, high accuracy, elimination of wearable devices, and simple plug-and-play deployment. Origin WiFi Sensing runs 100% on the edge, ensuring superior security through end-to-end encryption and efficient software requiring minimal CPU resources. Easily embeddable into most WiFi devices, our solution adheres to industry-leading security protocols. Experience the transformative power of Origin AI and enhance your business with smart, secure WiFi Sensing solutions. WiFi can do more.

TileDB is the modern database that integrates all data modalities, code and compute in a single product.. As a database system, TileDB adapts its internal structure to optimize advanced applications across life sciences, geospatial research, generative AI, and other data science domains. TileDB is architected around multi-dimensional arrays, a powerful structure that adapts to capture any data modality — from vectors, tables and images, to ML models, 3D point clouds and population genomics datasets. TileDB provides an ecosystem of open-source tools, whereas its commercial product, TIleDB Cloud, offers a secure platform for distributed computations, interactive analysis, collaboration and integrations with a range of TileDB vertical solutions. TileDB was spun out of MIT and Intel Labs in May 2017 and is backed by numerous world class investors.

Pivotal Commware develops software-defined antennas and radios that use holographic beamforming to increase network speed and capacity. It also offers wireless communication that utilizes holographic beamforming technology for multiple concurrent transmissions using the same frequency without interference by creating broadband wireless networks.

Community is a new social engagement platform that makes two-way communication between influencers and their followers simple, effective, and scalable. It connects businesses, brands, governmental and public personalities, creators, singers, celebrities, and others to their consumers at scale via a unique 10-digit phone number.

nami's ambition is to elevate smart devices and systems to bring intelligence to homes and commercial buildings through adaptive automation linked to human presence, air sensing and machine learning. We build and run a platform that helps to monitor places and care for you, your loved ones and your colleagues. It also makes the planet greener and a better place to be. Our hardware and software world-class architecture promises high granularity for sensing with smooth onboarding and reliable calibration for scalable deployments. It’s the foundation for a growing array of subscription services to end consumers: security and safety alerts, energy optimization, better breathing, deeper sleep and emergency health notifications.

Verana Networks develops an innovative 5G Radio Access Network solution for service providers that have licensed millimeter wave (mmWave) spectrum. The company focuses on enabling 5G in mmWave spectrum because that is where the largest amount of new spectrum is. For 5G to succeed, it must deliver a 10X-50X increase in speed and capacity. Blazing fast speed and an increase in capacity enable new applications, these new applications create incremental revenue, and incremental revenue is essential to support the business case for 5G.

Dreamscape Learn is an edtech company focusing on cinematic story-telling, cutting-edge immersive technologies, and advanced pedagogy. They believe that the best educational designs combine multiple pedagogical modalities. Students study; they apply knowledge and concepts; they learn by doing and do in order to learn; they learn through text, lecture, visual and audio media, hands-on experience, and from one another. They create programs and products that connect all of these modes of engagement.

HaptX® makes technology that simulates touch sensation with unprecedented realism. HaptX Gloves enable natural interaction and realistic haptic feedback in virtual reality for the first time. Built with patented microfluidic technology, HaptX Gloves feature 130 points of touch feedback, apply 4 lbs. of resistive force feedback per finger, and track hand motions with sub-millimeter precision. Founded by Jake Rubin and Dr. Bob Crockett, HaptX has 35 employees, with offices in Seattle, WA and San Luis Obispo, CA.

Caban systems designs and manufactures software enabled modular lithium ion energy storage solutions for off-grid and weak grid telecom sites.

Optibus leverages the power of machine learning and optimization algorithms to redefine the way mass-transportation is planned and operated. Optibus’ disruptive technology drive some of the most complex transportation operations worldwide, helping to improve the quality of service, increase efficiencies, save money, and streamline operations.

Home365 makes owning and renting out real estate easy, predictable, and more profitable than ever before. As the first and only company to introduce an all-inclusive, property-specific Management as a Service (PMaaS) model, Home365 is disrupting the market as a new breed of property management. By leveraging data analysis, Home365 is able to predict maintenance incidents for single family rentals (SFRs) and offer flat monthly rates for individual properties that are up to 50% more affordable. This rate includes all management, maintenance (labor and materials), vacancy insurance, innovative financial products, and more. The management and maintenance services operate on a web & mobile platform and are executed by network of reliable, constantly monitored vendors with strong relationships to the company. This system dramatically improves managerial efficiency, reduces overall handling times, and significantly increases profit margins. Home365 offers property owners full predictability of their investment’s performance, peace of mind, and a “passive investment” experience while lowering the costs of ownership and providing a superior user experience for tenants and landlords alike.

AiFi provides a flexible AI platform that enables retailers to affordably deploy and scale autonomous shopping solutions across their businesses. Leveraging computer vision, AiFi adapts to existing store formats without the need for shelf sensors and provides advanced tracking algorithms that can scale up to 10,000 square feet to support various shopper journeys such as an app, credit card, gated, or hybrid entry.  AiFi works with retailers worldwide such as ALDI South Group, Carrefour, Compass Group, Morrisons, Żabka Group, REWE, and Verizon. AiFi has the highest number of computer vision-powered autonomous stores across the globe. The company has raised a total of $80 million from investors including Verizon Ventures, Qualcomm Ventures, HP Tech Ventures, Mithril Capital, Cervin Ventures, TransLink Capital, Plum Alley, Duke Angel Network, Reaction, GS Future, Drive Catalyst, and Evolution. For more information, please visit aifi.com.

Sanctuary Cognitive Systems Corporation (aka ''Sanctuary AI'') is a mission-driven company focused on developing human-like intelligence in general-purpose robots. The company was founded in 2018 and is headquartered in Vancouver, British Columbia. Sanctuary AI has built a humanoid general-purpose robot powered by Carbon™, a pioneering AI control system, and designed for work.

Securonix is working to radically transform all areas of data security with actionable security intelligence. The company's purpose-built, advanced security analytics technology mines, enriches, analyzes, scores and visualizes customer data into actionable intelligence on the highest risk threats from within and outside their environment. Using signature-less anomaly detection techniques that track users, account and system behavior, Securonix is able to detect the most advanced insider threats, data security and fraud attacks automatically and accurately. Globally, customers are using Securonix to address the most basic and complex needs around advanced persistent threat detection and monitoring, high privileged activity monitoring, enterprise and web fraud detection, application risk monitoring and access risk management.

A renewable energy tech company, Fermata Energy unlocks the value of EV batteries by leveraging them to provide flexible and affordable energy storage for the electricity grid.  Because EVs remain parked and unused much of the time, they are an underutilized asset. EV fleet owners can earn revenue from their local utility or save on their electricity bill by sending some of the energy stored in EV batteries to the grid (V2G) or to a building (V2B).  By leveraging existing batteries they avoid much of the cost competing for storage technology requires while providing vehicle customers a lower cost of ownership through shared grid storage revenue. Fermata Energy is the first company in the US to earn OEM approval for battery warranted. The company based in Charlottesville, Virginia.

Fan Controlled Football is the first fan-run professional sports league. From selecting the team logos, colors and head coaches to calling plays, the fans are calling the shots.

VOOM is an InsurTech pioneer, crafting cutting-edge, usage-based insurance solutions for the future of mobility. Our expertise lies in various mobility segments across all categories, from drones and light aircraft to motorcycles, e-bikes, rideshare, delivery, and modern fleets.  Using technology we empower customers in “underserved” niches with better and fairer insurance solutions. At the heart of our company is the VOOM CORE, an end-to-end platform that provides superior, telematics-based risk analytics, a modern, born-in-the-cloud policy admin system, and a suite of effective distribution tools for direct distribution, brokers, and APIs for embedded insurance.  The VOOM CORE allows for the creation of new, data-driven, insurance products in a rapid manner - a crucial factor in emerging mobility segments. VOOM has partnered with numerous insurance carriers across the US, Canada, and Europe and has served tens of thousands of policyholders. Among our products are SkyWatch - the leading digital drone insurance product in North America, VOOM & RIDE - the world's first pay-per-mile motorcycle insurance product, and VOOM & Drive - auto insurance tailored to the unique needs of rideshare and delivery drivers.

Civis Analytics helps organizations use data to gain a competitive advantage in how they identify, attract, and engage their audiences. With a combination of data, cutting-edge software solutions, and an interdisciplinary team of data scientists, developers, and survey science experts, Civis works with leading public and private sector organizations to make data-driven decision-making essential to how they do business. The company was founded in 2013 and is headquartered in Chicago, Illinois.

StatusPro is a sports technology company that combines data with augmented and virtual reality to provide a suite of training and gaming products.

Wiliot is bringing connectivity and intelligence to everyday products and packaging; things previously disconnect from the Internet of Things. The Wiliot Platform combines cloud services and IoT stickers, computing elements that can power themselves by harvesting radiofrequency energy. This revolutionary mixture of cloud and semiconductor technology is being used by some of the world’s largest brands, food, and pharmaceutical companies to change how we make, distribute, sell, use and recycle products.

CoreTigo enables faster and more flexible manufacturing by providing high-performance machine digitalization, wireless connectivity and edge solutions for machine builders, system integrators and industrial equipment manufacturers. CoreTigo’s products enable the design and retrofit of machines and production lines that were not possible before. These solutions increase flexibility, adaptivity and modularity, resulting in cost effectiveness, increased productivity and downtime reduction. Embraced by industrial leaders, CoreTigo’s solutions are based on the IO-Link Wireless global standard, which is fit for harsh factory environments and motion control applications, providing the most reliable wireless connectivity for millions of sensors, actuators and industrial devices worldwide.

SAM protects the connected home by securing threats right at the source. With a software-only solution, SAM uses the network gateway to protect all connected devices in the home. Securing communication between smart devices and the network, means ISPs can ensure their customers are using their connected home in the safest way.

Phenix is the go-to provider for real-time video streaming solutions and the only company that can stream synchronous real-time video to broadcast-sized audiences. The company offers an end-to-end solution that delivers video with less than ½ second of latency. Phenix's technology, which was built from the ground up, enables rights holders and content creators to create next-generation interactive media experiences.  Real-time is the next frontier for companies to drive interactivity, enabling them to acquire, engage and retain viewers in areas such as sports, esports, microwaving, and entertainment.  Phenix's customers include content owners in sports, eSports, gaming/gambling, social media, and auction verticals well as network owners/operators such as CDNs, cloud service providers, carriers, and MVPDs. It was founded in 2013 and is headquartered in Chicago, Illinois.

Edgybees’ pioneering platform delivers real-time, high-speed augmented reality experiences to anything that moves. Using sensors and streaming data, AR application developers can now deliver overlays that keep up with a three-dimensional human experience of high-speed motion. The Edgybees platform contains a set of unique, patent-pending capabilities packaged in the form of a developer SDK coupled with its back-end SaaS services. This ability opens the door to exciting new consumer and commercial applications of high-speed AR on a wide range of devices. Edgybees was co-founded in 2016 by Menashe Haskin, former manager of the Amazon Prime Air Israeli development office, the company’s Chief Technology Officer, together with CEO Adam Kaplan and Vice President for Research and Development Nitay Megides.

YBVR(www.ybvr.com) creates video-centric immersive experience. YBVR technology provides top quality of immersive experiences to the sport industry across multiple device platforms: mobile, web or XR devices. YBVR has a solid track record in Immersive Sports since 2017. Among others, Real Madrid, Australian Open tennis, Winter X Games, Euroleague Basketball, Fan Controlled Football League, Verizon, Singtel and Telefonica, already trust YBVR as immersive technology partner.  In 2022, in partnership with Meta, YBVR launched  Xtadium, the home for sports in the Metaverse, featuring content from NBA, UFC, NASCAR, WNBA, NBA2K, among others.

ShotTracker makes sensor-based technology that automatically captures basketball statistics in real-time during practices and games. At ShotTracker, they improve the performance of competitive athletes by bringing elite-level analytics to the masses. Their latest innovation, ShotTracker TEAM, captures real-time practice and game stats for basketball teams, and it's affordable for teams at every level of play.

Vdoo primarily engages in the complex and increasingly critical product security space. With Vdoo, organizations can identify, prioritize, and mitigate a vast range of security issues. Its automated platform provides end-to-end product security to help development and security teams reduce time and effort while ensuring optimal product security.  The company was founded in 2017 by a team of seasoned cybersecurity entrepreneurs and product security experts. Vdoo is now a global company with offices in Israel, the US, Germany, Singapore, Japan, and dozens of Fortune 500 customers representing the most security-diligent companies from various industries.

Iris Automation is a safety avionics technology company pioneering on- and off-board perception systems and aviation policy services that enable customers to build scalable flight operations for commercial crewed and uncrewed aircraft; unlocking the potential of countless industries.  Iris’ Casia system runs either onboard the aircraft or in a ground-based configuration, allowing them to fly safely with minimal human intervention. The company works closely with civil aviation authorities globally as they implement regulatory frameworks ensuring uncrewed aircraft flight beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) is conducted safely, partnering on multiple FAA UAS Integration Pilot Programs, NASA's Unmanned Traffic Management program, and Transport Canada's BVLOS Technology Demonstration Program. Iris is recognized by AUVSI as the number one Technology and Innovation Leader for 2020.

Esports One is an esports data and analytics company that wants to change the way fans watch and engage with esports.  We built a computer vision and machine learning-powered platform capable of capturing and analyzing thousands of data points in real-time.  This enabled us to generate one of the most comprehensive databases of League of Legends esports stats on the planet, going all the way back to the first professional game played in 2011 and being updated with new match data in real-time.  In 2020, we are bringing our database of stats to the masses with Esports One Fantasy. Users will research teams and players, set their lineup, and compete with friends in the first all-in-one fantasy platform built specifically for esports. It’s like a Bloomberg Terminal for esports.

Cellwize is all about enabling the networks of the future today. With Chime, their cloudified and AI-driven RAN automation and orchestration platform, they enable mobile network operators (MNOs) to accelerate 5G network deployment and go-to-market, as well as the ROI on their network investments. Even in the most complex and dynamic of network environments, Chime enables operators to connect to any application and any vendor, as well as co-create on top of the platform, delivering unprecedented ease, speed, and agility. With the future of 5G already here, Chime is helping leading MNOs all over the world to launch and leverage their next-generation networks and face the future with confidence. It was founded in 2013 and is headquartered in Israel

Cooler Screens is a developer of interactive digital displays to replace glass doors in store aisles. The platform enables consumers to enjoy simplified access to relevant information to make decisions that best fit their budgets, taste, and health preferences. Retailers can increase sales by offering shoppers a better, personalized experience at the advertising. For consumer product companies, Cooler Screens is providing a new platform to build brand awareness, market their products at the point-of-sale, and improve visibility with real-time analytics. Arsen Avakian, Glen Tullman, and Jamie Koval co-founded the company in Chicago, Illinois in 2017.

PICadvanced is specialized in solving complex problems through optics, namely through optical chip design, development and packaging.

Swiftmile builts smart parking and charging systems for light electric vehicles such as escooters, ebikes, trikes, etc. These can be for either shared or private-owned vehicles. Swiftmile place stations on public or private property.  Swiftmile also has an outdoor digital display that can stream revenue-producing ads along with transit schedules and PSA’s.

Iguazio is a data science platform that enables enterprises to develop, deploy and manage AI applications at scale. It can run AI models in real-time, deploy them anywhere, multi-cloud, on-prem, or edge, and bring to life their most ambitious data-driven strategies.

Crunchbase is a prospecting platform that helps dealmakers in sales, marketing, finance, recruiting, and executive leadership roles to find and engage with qualified accounts. With features including personalized account recommendations, lists, territory preferences, intent signals, news notifications, and advanced search, Crunchbase makes it easy to target the right opportunities at the right time. In addition, the company's private company data offers insight into target companies' teams, funding status, growth trends, tech stack, web traffic, investments, and more, to personalize the outreach and increase engagement.

Light Field Lab is a breakthrough technology startup that builds an innovative holographic ecosystem. It re-creates what optical physics calls a real image for off-screen projected objects by generating a massive number of viewing angles that correctly change with the point of view and location just like in the real world. They enable entirely new business opportunities across consumer and enterprise markets. The company was founded in 2017 by Jon Karafin, Brendan Bevensee, and Ed Ibe, with the single mission to enable a holographic future by building upon the founders’ collective expertise of light field technology innovation. Based in San Jose, CA, Light Field Lab is backed by top-tier venture firms including Khosla Ventures.

Airlinq powers the next generation enterprise-grade cloud and edge platform to handle complex AI and IoT use cases around smart mobility and ecosystem monetization for automakers, mobile network operators, and consumers around the world. This highly scalable, globally available platform is ready to support millions of connected assets and vehicles with mission-critical latency, security, and reliability.

mitú connect brands, content buyers, and creators to Latino youth in America. It is a home away from home for Latinos in the U.S. They are young, edgy, smart, loud, funny, relevant, proud, and united.They are what it means to be Latino.

YourMechanic is an online marketplace that enables vehicle owners to find local mechanics for home or office car repair services. Its aim is to make car repair and maintenance affordable and convenient.

HEAVY.AI provides analytics that empower businesses and the government to visualize high-value opportunities and risks hidden in their big location and time data. Organizations in government, telecommunications, energy, utilities, and higher education use HEAVY.AI to support high-impact decision-making in previously timelines by harnessing the massive parallelism of modern GPU and CPU hardware.

CloudBees develops an end-to-end automated software delivery system that allows companies to balance governance and developer freedom. The company provides companies with smarter solutions for accelerating software development and the fastest path from great ideas to impactful software. Its continuous delivery solutions offer developers and enterprises many choices, from on-premise to cloud-native, from self-managed to self-service, from guided best practices to flexible choice. By making the software delivery process more productive, manageable, and hassle-free, CloudBees puts companies on the fastest path to transforming great ideas into great software and returning value to the business more quickly.   Backed by Matrix Partners, Lightspeed Venture Partners, Verizon Ventures, Delta-v Capital, Golub Capital’s Late Stage Lending, and Unusual Ventures, CloudBees was founded in 2010 by former JBoss CTO Sacha Labourey and an elite team of continuous integration, continuous delivery, and DevOps professionals.

Airship helps brands master mobile-first customer experiences to build lasting relationships and accelerate business growth. Since 2009, Airship has enabled thousands of the world’s leading brands to be at the forefront of the customer experience revolution with industry-first support for push notifications, in-app messages and mobile wallet boarding passes — all now the norm in elevating experiences everywhere.  Today, the Airship Experience Platform provides an end-to-end solution for unifying experiences across apps, websites and all channels, including email, SMS, mobile wallet and more. Its no-code Experience Editor and Journeys AI solutions enable marketers and product managers to get work done in minutes instead of months, capturing more value across the entire customer lifecycle without ongoing developer support.  With the Airship Experience Platform and App Store Optimization technology and expertise, brands now have a complete set of solutions to optimize the entire customer lifecycle – from the point of discovery to loyalty – driving greater value for everyone involved.

Lumina Networks believes the future is open software networks where service providers are in control of their development. The company is the catalyst that brings open software networking out of the lab and into the live network. They develop SDN products on open source platforms such as OpenDaylight and provide NetDev Services to jointly deliver production systems and to transfer know-how in Agile Software Development methods. Lumina Networks is transforming the way communication service providers deploy open-source platforms to regain control of their networks. It provides a more customer-centric approach to building and delivering on-demand, customizable services. The company also offers an SDN controller, open log stack, data center, network visibility, software-defined, and internet-based service automation solutions.

The Fabric is a startup co-creation foundry with a focus on cloud/IoT infrastructure space. The Fabric has a team of proven company creators who under one roof deeply collaborate with founders to help them grow from concept to company in the cloud and infrastructure space. The Fabric co-creates, funds, and launches companies in the cloud/IoT infrastructure space.

From paid search and web analytics, to social media and emerging new tech, AdStage unleashes the power of data to help marketers make decisions that drive business growth. Today, paid marketers at leading agencies and companies in almost every industry depend on our platform as their trusted source of truth.

SparkCognition is an artificial intelligence technology startup that builds AI technology solutions for industrial applications. A highly awarded company recognized for cutting-edge technology, SparkCognition develops AI-Powered cyber-physical software for the safety, security, and reliability of IT, OT, and the IoT.  The company's technology is capable of harnessing real-time sensor data and learning from it continuously, allowing for more accurate risk mitigation and prevention policies to intervene and avert disasters. SparkCognition’s cognitive software, DeepArmor, is utilized to prevent and detect malware with a high level of accuracy and efficacy by using advanced machine learning and artificial intelligence. They help customers analyze complex data, empower decision making, and transform human and industrial productivity with award-winning machine learning technology and expert teams focused on defense, IIoT, and finance.

PrecisionHawk is an information delivery company that combines unmanned aerial systems, remote sensing technologies, and advanced data analytics to improve business operations and day-to-day decision making. PrecisionHawk brings value to an emerging market by offering an end-to-end solution for aerial data gathering, processing, and analysis to provide actionable information across a wide range of data-intensive civilian industries.  Founded in 2010, the company provides a holistic platform using Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) for data collection and analysis software tools to deliver better business intelligence to clients across a wide range of civilian industries. PrecisionHawk also owns aerial data software, DataMapper, satellite imagery provider, Terraserver, and the Low Altitude Traffic and Airspace Safety platform for drones, LATAS. PrecisionHawk is headquartered in Raleigh, North Carolina.

ScoreStream is a communication platform that allows fans to share information around sporting events with their family and friends.  ScoreStream platform includes an IOS application, an android Application, and a website. ScoreStream was founded in 2012 and headquartered in San Diego, California.

Vidrovr develops multimodal computer vision and machine learning systems to index, tag, and understand video. It processes videos with specific domain constraints, such as in sports, government, and media verticals. Its technology enables its users to search an indexed video corpus and retrieve content inside videos and link it to other media like photos and text. The company Integrates social media to enable direct interactions between multimedia content. Vidrovr was founded in 2016 and is headquartered in New York.

Urgently is a digital roadside assistance platform that features a roadside assistance industry to the benefit of global brands, roadside assistance professionals, and consumers. Its solution delivers the quickest, safest, and most innovative roadside assistance service, products and technology by combining location-based services, real-time data, AI, and machine-to-machine communication.

Streamroot is a market leader in innovative OTT video optimisation technologies for content publishers, network service providers and enterprise customers. At Streamroot, we’re working to overcome one of the biggest challenges facing the internet today: the explosion of video traffic. Our goal is to revolutionise the way we deliver video online, to create more robust, cost-effective infrastructures, and to touch millions of internet users by bringing quality video to every corner of the world.  Our core technology - Streamroot DNA™ -  is a crucial foundation for building profitable over-the-top video strategies. An Infrastructure as a Service solution, Streamroot DNA™ harnesses the power of distributed delivery networks to heighten QoE and drastically cut delivery cost.   This ground-breaking technology works by creating a secure mesh network to dynamically and intelligently deliver video streams from the quickest source available, whether it be a user device or a traditional CDN. By multi-sourcing content delivery, Streamroot DNA™ offers viewers lightening-quick streams of higher quality, while providing infinite scale-up potential for the content provider. Priced under a fixed-subscription model, Streamroot DNA™ cuts delivery expenses by between 55 and 85%, helping publishers scale their platforms profitably.  No plug-ins, less buffering, lower cost but higher quality - Streamroot’s seamless streaming solutions revolutionise the experience for viewer and provider alike.  Streamroot serves high-profile media groups including DailyMotion, Canal+ and Eurosport, enhancing the quality of experience for over 5 million viewers every day. Founded in 2013, the French-American start-up took part in the TechStars Boston accelerator and today benefits from European and US-based VC funding, with offices in both New York and Paris.  For access to our services, request a trial through our website www.streamroot.io.  For more information, please visit www.streamroot.io or drop us a line at contact@streamroot.io.

Founded in January of 2015, Gankstars is a multi-platform competitive esports organization and media company.  A 3-time world champion, Gankstars managed to dominate in every title they entered. 8 out of 9 teams they fielded have performed in the top 1 to top 4 worldwide. Having started in mobile games, the company now fields some of the better Fortnite PC players and is looking to become a household name in Fortnite. Gankstars' mission is not to just to win, however - it is to inspire young adults all over the world with the message that anything is possible, no matter how timid your beginnings or how big your dreams are. Weaving positive storylines is at the core of the organization. Recently, Gankstars began organizing charity drives to give back to the community.

PlaySight is connecting the next generation of athletes through immersive sports video and analytics technology. They are bringing advanced sports video and analytics technology to every court in the world, creating a global and connected community of athletes, coaches, and fans. Technology has changed how sports are coached, played, and consumed at the elite levels, and they are focused on delivering the same cutting-edge experience to all levels of sport, all over the world. They are becoming the new standard in sports with our cloud-based Smart Court sports video and analytics platform, integrating what happens on-court with an interactive and social online community.

Brit + Co is a media company that inspires, educates, and entertains real women with a creative spirit. Founded in late 2011 by Brit Morin, Brit + Co has become one of the largest digital media companies for women. Brit + Co now reaches an engaged community of over 125 million online and across platforms. They have garnered tens of millions of video views and produce over 100 pieces of content every day to keep up with everything their audience is up to. As a digital-first company, they have an innate understanding of how the online connection to offline. That’s why, in addition to their website, brit.co, their free app, and their presence across social channels, they extend their reach to experiences.

Filament builds blockchain hardware and& software solutions for enterprise and IoT. Filament’s distributed blockchain capabilities leverage open protocols so that devices are able to independently process and record transactions, ensuring digital trust. Its new trusted application software and Blocklet Chip, currently in beta, are designed to communicate and interact with multiple blockchain technologies natively. The software, implemented on existing hardware, will deliver a secure distributed ledger technology solution. The Blocklet Chip will allow industrial corporations and enterprises to seamlessly extract the value of recording and monetizing data assets, at the edge of the network, on the sensors themselves.

8i their solution includes enterprise-grade hologram capture stages in camera arrays, a cutting-edge software stack to transform (fuse, edit, and compress) holograms using proprietary computer vision and machine learning models, and a publishing suite to integrate. Their photoreal holograms are turned into digital experiences that can be viewed.

Prove is a smartphone-based identity verification startup that specializes in providing phone-centric and API marketplace solutions. Its phone-centric solutions enable its customers to acquire new consumers and engage with their existing consumers by removing friction while bolstering security and enhancing consumer privacy and consumer choice.

Versa is a networking and cybersecurity firm that secures and simplifies modern networks for enterprise power branches. The company is specializing in SASE and combines extensive security, advanced networking, full-featured SD-WAN, genuine multitenancy, and sophisticated analytics via the cloud, on-premises, or as a blended combination of both to meet SASE requirements for small to extremely large enterprises and Service Providers. Versa SASE is available on-premises, hosted through Versa-powered Service Providers, cloud-delivered, and via the simplified Versa Titan cloud service designed for Lean IT. Thousands of customers globally with hundreds of thousands of sites trust Versa with their networks, security, and clouds.

Beamr  is an innovative private company comprised of the world's leading imaging scientists, veterans of the Israeli technology industry who are also successful entrepreneurs. Headquartered in Tel-Aviv, Beamr is focused on improving the quality, speed, and user experience of photo and video sharing.

Verdigris enables building intelligent buildings through AI and real-time energy monitoring. In addition, Verdigris delivers insight into the power usage per device when in critical condition. Verdigris Building.AI is cloud analytics software for enterprise facilities managers and large commercial buildings. It allows them to optimize operations, increase facility uptime, and save on energy costs. Building.AI is a sophisticated machine learning analytics SAAS platform and embedded wireless sensor that enables real-time identification, disaggregation, and analysis of the loads in buildings, providing unprecedented insights about behavior and usage.

Kiip is a rewards network and mobile application that offers rewards from brands and companies for virtual achievements.   It has received $15.4 million in total funding to date from Relay Ventures, Interpublic Group, Hummer Winblad, American Express Ventures, Digital Garage, True Ventures, Verizon Ventures, CrossLink Capital, and others.   Kiip was Brian Wong, Courtney Guertin, and Amadeus Demarzi in 2010.

<div>
 
 Verizon Ventures is Verizon Communication’s venture capital and investment platform, catering to start-ups in the network solutions, media, consumer and business sectors. With its investment, the company offers solutions across the product journey, from concept development to commercial launch - network solutions, software as a service (SaaS), AI solutions- for new products, technologies, applications and services. Founders of start-ups can access Verizon’s technology and resources and collaborate with Verizon’s teams of investors and professionals for support in business strategy, business development, finance and technical solutions for their platforms.
 
</div>

Verizon Ventures

Funding

Investors

Portfolio

About EDGE

Contact Us

Resources

Area of Focus

Technology Research Made Effortless