Velmenni, an innovator in light-based wireless communication, has raised ₹30 crore in a Pre-Series A funding round led by pi Ventures, with additional participation from MountTech Growth Fund-Kavachh and Apekso. The funding will support the commercialization and global scaling of Velmenni’s patented Free Space Optics (FSO) and Light Fidelity (Li-Fi) solutions for telecom service providers (CSPs), defence applications, and enterprise networks.
The company’s unique offering bypasses the need for traditional fiber or radio frequencies (RF) for last-mile connectivity, providing secure, high-speed wireless solutions for industries where fiber deployments are slow or infeasible.
Redefining Wireless Connectivity for Telecom, Defence, and Enterprises
Velmenni’s FSO and Li-Fi solutions address the “connectivity gap” where fiber and RF technologies struggle to provide reliable, high-speed links. These solutions are particularly valuable in regions with dense urban telecom networks, rural areas with slow fiber rollout, and in defense settings where secure, interference-free communications are critical.
The company’s solutions are designed to operate over distances ranging from 1 to 25 km with 10Gbps+ connectivity speeds. The technology is especially beneficial for telecom operators in India, where traditional infrastructure development is slow, and defense agencies looking to enhance secure communications in extreme environments, such as submarines and remote military locations.
Securing Strategic Contracts in Telecom and Defense
Velmenni has made significant strides in both the telecom and defense sectors. The company has deployed India’s first commercial carrier-grade FSO backhaul link to enable a private 5G network at a GMR thermal power plant in Odisha. This setup has maintained 99.999% availability for over 18 months, even in tropical conditions, marking a critical success for FSO in real-world telecom applications.
The startup has also secured a multi-million-dollar contract from the Indian defense sector to deploy its specialized FSO solution across Indian submarines, ensuring reliable communications in harbor environments.
Scalable and Cost-Effective Solutions
FSO and Li-Fi provide key advantages over traditional radio and fiber technologies:
- No expensive spectrum licensing: Unlike RF, FSO and Li-Fi operate on optical frequencies, bypassing the need for costly spectrum licenses.
- Cost-effective last-mile connectivity: These technologies enable faster rollouts and lower total cost of ownership compared to fiber or millimeter-wave solutions.
- Secure, interference-proof communication: Light-based optical links are immune to RF interference, providing more reliable communications in environments prone to signal disruption.
“We aim to capture a sweet spot where fiber is too slow to deploy, RF is too interference-prone to trust, and licensed-band communication is too expensive for shorter distances,” said Deepak Solanki, Founder and CEO of Velmenni.
Technological Advancements and Environmental Resilience
Velmenni’s technology leverages adaptive optics and multicarrier modulation for FSO, ensuring stability even in challenging environmental conditions like rain and fog. This innovation significantly reduces the cost of deployment and increases reliability, addressing a major barrier to scaling light-based solutions.
The company has developed 100% Made in India designs, which have been rigorously tested for all-weather performance, making them a viable alternative in regions with variable climates and heavy environmental challenges.
A Growing Market and Global Expansion
The global wireless communication market is increasingly leaning towards optical technologies to meet the demand for higher bandwidth, particularly as the adoption of 5G and other high-speed networks accelerates. Velmenni’s solutions are positioned to meet this demand, as the company looks to scale its presence internationally, particularly in Southeast Asia, the Middle East, and beyond.
The additional funding will enable the company to focus on expanding its operations, strengthening its defense and enterprise portfolios, and scaling its presence in international markets.
Industry Backing and Future Outlook
“Velmenni is addressing a hard problem at the intersection of communications and infrastructure,” said Shubham Sandeep, Partner at pi Ventures. “We believe Velmenni is well-positioned to scale optical wireless communication globally and meet growing demand for secure, high-capacity connectivity.”
With a solid track record in technology innovation and commercialization, Velmenni’s future looks promising as it continues to push the boundaries of light-based wireless communication.
Conclusion
Velmenni’s ₹30 crore funding round reinforces its position as a leader in the light-based wireless connectivity space, with strong traction in telecom, defense, and enterprise markets. With increasing adoption of optical technologies and significant backing from investors, Velmenni is set to scale rapidly, providing secure, high-capacity, and cost-effective communication solutions worldwide.
