Venture-backed startup Movandi secures $27M Series C funding to accelerate 5G network deployments

Movandi, an Irvine, California-based wireless startup and a leader in new 5G Millimeter Wave (mmWave) networks, announced today a $27 million Series C funding round to further accelerate and extend the range of real world 5G mmWave deployments. WRVI Capital led this current round of financing along with Cota Capital and DNX Ventures.

Founded in 2016 by Maryam Rofougaran and Reza Rofougaran, Movandi is a venture-backed startup, formed by some of today’s top leaders in wireless communications. Having pioneered the integration of RF and digital in standard bulk CMOS for numerous wireless standards – their focus now is to reinvent multi-gigabit, millimeter wave networks. Their innovative RF front-end technology provides the foundation for unlocking the potential of high frequency wireless communications — opening numerous new market opportunities and applications.

Movandi’s 5G mmWave solutions include 5G BeamXR active routers/repeaters and BeamX RF front-end for fixed wireless CPE, mobile devices, small cells, and Open Radio Access Networks (ORAN) radio units (RU). These products accelerate deployments across the complete 5G ecosystem from consumer and enterprise market segments, and applications from IoT, mobile, artificial Intelligence (AI), software defined networks and automotive. Not only enabling 5G infrastructure, but Movandi’s 5G mmWave system is to ensure that 5G mmWave technology can be broadly deployed in real-world scenarios by operators building the “interface of the internet.”

“We’re at an exciting inflection point in 5G mmWave operator deployments, we’re both scaling our active router platform and RF front-end deployments,” said Maryam Rofougaran, CEO and co-founder, Movandi. “We are working closely with 5G operators and system OEMs solving these 5G coverage challenges, by unlocking the true benefits of 5G that are only achieved with mmWave – that makes Movandi truly unique.”

The funding will enable Movandi to ramp and expand their active router/repeater platform, RF front-end, and ORAN radio units. Movandi will also grow its teams in Irvine, California and Australia to continue developing its innovative integrated circuits, antennas, systems, and algorithms, while delivering 5G routers that expand 5G coverage and act as repeaters for a wide range of 5G applications. These repeaters provide compelling cost savings and drive down the CAPEX and OPEX for 5G operators.

“Today’s commercial 5G mmWave deployments face a myriad of technical challenges. We are seeing a continued, significant operator investment in commercial deployments and high frequency mmWave that represents a major opportunity for Movandi’s 5G deployments,” said Sriram Viswanathan, a founding Managing Partner, WRVI Capital. “By investing in Movandi, we are enabling the leaders and innovators in 5G mmWave. The stellar management team’s vision and accomplishments have had a major impact on the wireless industry so far, and we expect much more from them in the future as they unleash the full potential of 5G.”

Movandi has already attracted the attention of the wireless industry, including recognition from the Global Semiconductor Alliance (GSA), CNBC and Fast Company, as one of the most disruptive technologies in 5G mmWave. Movandi technology deployments are planned across the world’s top wireless operators this year.