Wiliot, a fabless semiconductor company that develops passive system-on-chip platforms for the Internet of Things market, has raised $30 million in Series B funding bringing the company’s total funding to $50 million. Amazon Web Services (AWS) Investment Arm, Samsung Venture Investment Corp, and Avery Dennison invested in this round. Previous investors Norwest Venture Partners, 83North, Grove Venture Partners, Qualcomm Ventures, and M Ventures also participated. According to TechCrunch, this round of funding was at a $120 million valuation post-money.
This news comes on the heels of the company demonstrating the first-ever sticker-sized Bluetooth sensor tag incorporating an ARM processor powered by scavenging energy from ambient radio frequencies at the National Retail Federation (NRF) 2019 event in New York City:
How does it work? A Wiliot tag that is glued to a simple antenna printed on plastic or paper can be used to authenticate the proximity of a product by transmitting encrypted serial numbers along with the temperature and weight data from a device that is the size of a postage stamp. By eliminating most of the components associated with traditional Bluetooth, the tags lower sale and maintenance costs substantially.
Here is a video demo:
These tags use Wiliot’s nanowatt computing technology to communicate with any device enabled by Bluetooth Low Energy like smartphones, Wi-Fi access points, and Internet of Things (IoT) devices that can connect to digital displays and Wi-Fi and LTE networks.
“We believe that disposable electronics based on battery-free, low-cost systems are the foundation for future IoT systems. We are on the edge of dramatically changing the way products are made, how they are distributed, where and when they are sold, and how they are used and recycled,” said Wiliot CEO and co-founder Tal Tamir in a statement. “Re-cycling the radiation around us to power sticker-size sensors can enable new ways for consumers to interact with products that were previously not feasible. Products can share when they are picked up, their temperature, or when they need to be replenished. Without batteries or other high-cost components, tags have unlimited power and lifespan, so can be embedded inside of products that were previously unconnected to the Internet of Things.”
Some of the real-life applications for Wiliot’s tags include Bluetooth tags embedded in the production phase of consumer goods in order to provide real-time tracking through the manufacturing process. And the Wiliot transponder can overcome the limits of human-readable product information on tags or packaging so it can unlock interactive engagement through a consumer’s phone. And consumers can communicate with products to get instructions and reminders while at home. And valuable products can be tracked in case they are lost or stolen.
“Wiliot’s strategy for battery-free Bluetooth transponders, which sense and communicate without needing specific action by consumers, is very relevant to Avery Dennison’s intelligent label strategy,” added Avery Dennison’s VP & GM, of Global RFID Francisco Melo. “We believe in a future where every item will have a unique digital identity and a digital life, benefiting both consumers and brands, with relevant and contextual information. We see this as an extension to our world-leading RFID solutions, enabling consumers to connect with products through multiple smartphone and IoT devices from end to end.”
