Veniam

Veniam is a technology startup focused on building large WiFi mesh networks using moving vehicles. Veniam turns vehicles into Wi-Fi hotspots and builds vehicular networks that expand wireless coverage and collect terabytes of actionable data. In controlled spaces such as ports and container terminals, Veniam’s game-changing solutions ensure that all mobile workers and assets are securely connected, no matter where they are or at what speed they are moving. Its hardware, software and cloud components are delivering managed services to intelligent transportation systems in New York City and Singapore, as well as in the world's largest network of connected vehicles, which includes taxis, waste collection trucks and the entire public bus fleet in Porto, Portugal, offering free Wi-Fi to more than 480,000 active customers. The company is headquartered in Mountain View, California with offices in Porto (Portugal), and Singapore, and was founded in 2012.^[1] Venbiam announced a $25 million Series B round led by Verizon Ventures with new investors Cisco Investments, Orange Digital Ventures, Liberty Global and Yamaha Motor Ventures joining the round. Existing investors True Ventures, Union Square Ventures, and Cane Investments also participated. To date, Veniam has raised $30 million.^[2] The company technology is being used in Porto's city buses with about 230,000 users with routers installed on over 600 buses, taxis and garbage trucks.^[3] That's the 73% of the bus riders with mobile devices.^[4] They aim to equip many moving things with wireless hotspots creating a mesh that could be used to build sensors to turn the city smarter.Each vehicle is equipped with a NetRider, a multi network unit with Wi-Fi (802.11p), DSRC, GPS and cellular connectivity.^[5]

Veniam is planning to expand its service to cities in the US, like San Francisco, New York City and Austin.^[6] The company was founded by João Barros, the CTO is Roy Russell, former Zipcar^[7] CTO,^[8] other founder and chairman is Robin Chase, who is the co-founder and former CEO of Zipcar and Buzzcar and Susana Sargento.

The Company has received awards for its vision of the internet of things. Veniam has been awarded in 2015 by Gartner a "Cool Vendor" in Smart Cities.^[9] In 2015 it was also winner of the Building Global Innovators by MIT Portugal^[10] and winner of CableLabs innovation.^[11] Institutional partners for Veniam include: Universidade do Porto, Universidade de Aveiro, MIT Portugal and UPTEC among others.^[12]

Awards

• Winner of TU Automotive Best Auto Mobility Product/Service ^[13]
• Winner of the “Best New Venture” at the WBA 2015 Wi-Fi Industry Awards ^[14]
• Winner of the 2015 Red Herring Top 100 Award ^[15]
• Winner of the NOS Innovation Award
• Winner of the Portuguese Venture Competition “Building Global Innovators” (ISCTE–IUL; MIT Portugal) ^[16]
• Most Likely to Succeed Idea within the Cable Industry at CableLabs’ Innovation Showcase ^[17]
• Named 2015 Gartner “Cool Vendor” in Smart Cities ^[18]
• Named FierceWireless “Fierce 15” Top Wireless Company List of 2015 ^[19]

Investors

• True Ventures ^[20]
• USV ^[21]
• Verizon Ventures ^[22]
• Cisco Investments ^[23]
• Orange Digital Ventures ^[24]
• Yamaha Motor Ventures And Laboratory Silicon Valley ^[25]
• Liberty Global ^[26]
• Cane Investments ^[27]

Institutional Partners

• Carnegie Mellon Portugal^[28]
• European Union^[29]
• Incubadora de Empreasas - Universidade de Aveiro^[30]
• Instituto de Telecomunicações^[31]
• Instituto Unversitário de Lisboa
• MIT Portugal^[32]
• O NOVO NORTE
• Quadro de Referência Estratégico Nacional
• Universidade de Aveiro^[33]
• University Technology Entreprise Network Portugal
• U.PORTO^[34]
• UPTEC ^[35]

References

External links

• Official website