Helium
CEO: Amir Haleem
Helium is looking to shake up the Internet of Things wireless connectivity market with a peer-to-peer network that encourages consumers to build out the network in exchange for cryptocurrency.
The San Francisco-based startup recently launched its "LongFi" wireless network that the company said has 200X the range of Wi-Fi at 1/1,000th of the cost of a cellular modem. That coincided with the company raising a $15 million Series C round, bringing total funding to $51 million.
The company is supporting the buildout of its network with the sale of Helium Hotspots, which are $495 gateways that consumers can buy and connect to Wi-Fi in exchange for the possibility of receiving the company's cryptocurrency. Early customers include Nestle, Lime and InvisiLeash.
