Pivotal Commware Lands $17M Series A From The Thermo Companies - DIG Investments - Bill Gates and Others
Company Spun Out From Intellectual Ventures To Bring Holographic Beam Forming To Market
BELLEVUE, Washington, June 16, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Pivotal Commware announced today its initial round of funding of $17M with lead investments from The Thermo Companies and DIG Investment, along with those from Bill Gates, Lux Capital, the family office of Barry Sternlicht, and others. The fourth spin-out from Intellectual Ventures (IV) based on metamaterials, Pivotal will bring to market communications products that use Holographic Beam Forming (HBF).
Jay Monroe, CEO of The Thermo Companies and majority shareholder of satellite company Globalstar, added, "I'm very excited to be investing in Brian Deutsch and his talented team. Thermo's capital is currently focused on telecom infrastructure via spectrum and satellite with Globalstar and fiber through FiberLight, LLC and holdings in Level 3 Communications, Inc. We see what Brian and the Pivotal team are doing as a significant component to future networks and look forward to the potential of this standalone investment as well as the integrated benefits with our other telecom investments."
Pivotal spun out of IV in 2016 as the exclusive licensee of its metamaterials technology for terrestrial communications markets such as cellular, Access-in-Motion (e,g., planes, cars, ships, trains and drones) and defense. "The promise of metamaterials is to completely change nearly every aspect of electronic communications, and Pivotal has taken another step toward making that promise a reality. HBF is the ultimate software-defined antenna able to improve communications products across a wide range of applications," said Nathan Myhrvold, CEO of Intellectual Ventures. Pivotal's HBF technology combines microsecond switching performance with low Cost, Size, Weight and Power (C-SWaP), and rapid fabrication cycles using simple, inexpensive components. Pivotal has been generating revenues for over a year as prime contractor to an air-to-ground, in-flight communications service provider.
"We think that travel – whether by plane, train or ship -- shouldn't be a broadband dead zone," says Deutsch. He adds, "In this market, broadband connectivity worthy of the name means continuous tracking by high gain beams with electronic-speed beam switching. And the best solution for that is Pivotal."
The larger opportunity, however, is radio access networks; that is, mobile operators. Pivotal has generated significant 4G and 5G interest from and field-tested with Tier 1 operators. Additionally, Globalstar, a mobile satellite service provider with terrestrial spectrum holdings, is working closely with Pivotal to be best positioned to leverage the Pivotal technology into future service offerings over its spectrum.
About Pivotal Commware, Inc.
Pivotal Commware (www.pivotalcommware.com) is bringing to market communications products based on Holographic Beam forming technology. The company is privately held and headquartered in Bellevue, WA.
About The Thermo Companies
Thermo, founded by Jay Monroe in 1984, focuses on acquiring and actively operating asset-heavy companies across industries – specific focus is on developing the asset potential of the investments and successfully monetizing the potential of the assets. This model has provided for a diverse set of successful holdings in real estate, energy, industrials, and telecom. Thermo is currently the controlling shareholder of Globalstar, Inc. (NYSE: GSAT).
About Intellectual Ventures
Founded in 2000, Intellectual Ventures (IV) is the global leader in the business of invention. IV collaborates with leading inventors, partners with pioneering companies and invests both expertise and capital in the process of invention. IV's mission is to energize and streamline an invention economy that will drive innovation around the world. For more on IV's other spin-outs, please visit www.intellectualventures.com/inventions-patents/spinouts-programs/.
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