Velmenni, a deep-tech startup focused on light-based wireless communication, has raised Rs 30 crore (approximately $3.3 million) in a pre-Series A funding round led by pi Ventures, with participation from MountTech Growth Fund-Kavachh and Apekso. The Delhi-based company had earlier raised a similar amount in seed funding and secured Rs 7 crore in grants from the Department of Telecommunications and the Ministry of Defence’s iDEX programme. The fresh capital will be used to accelerate commercialisation of its technologies and expand into global markets.
Building next-generation wireless communication using light
Founded in 2014 by Deepak Solanki, Velmenni develops Free Space Optics (FSO) and Light Fidelity (Li-Fi) solutions to enable high-speed, secure wireless communication. The company’s technology uses light and laser-based optical links instead of traditional radio frequency spectrum, offering an alternative that avoids spectrum licensing and reduces infrastructure costs. Its solutions are designed for telecom, defence, and enterprise networks where reliability and security are critical.
Technology enabling high-speed, secure connectivity
Velmenni claims its systems can deliver over 10 Gbps connectivity across distances ranging from 1 to 25 kilometres with high reliability. Its solutions are designed to be interference-proof and secure, making them suitable for sensitive use cases such as defence and mission-critical communication networks. The company has deployed India’s first commercial carrier-grade FSO backhaul links for a private 5G network at a GMR thermal power plant, achieving 99.999% uptime over extended periods.
Strong traction across defence and global markets
Velmenni has secured a multi-million-dollar defence contract to deploy its FSO technology across Indian submarines, addressing connectivity challenges in harbour environments. The company reports over 50 live deployments across India, Southeast Asia, and with Tier-1 telecom operators in the US. With CE certification already secured and FCC approval expected soon, Velmenni is positioning itself as a global player in next-generation wireless communication.
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