GoTenna Raises a $7.5M Series B To Expand Remote Communications

GoTenna, a Brooklyn-based startup developing communications devices and apps, announced it has raised $7.5 million in Series B funding. The financing is led by Union Square Ventures, with participation from existing investors including Walden Venture Capital, MentorTech Ventures, Bloomberg Beta, BBG Ventures, and Collaborative Fund.

Founded by siblings Jorge and Daniela Perdomo in 2012, GoTenna solves a common problem faced by outdoor lovers and jetsetters: not having Wi-Fi or cellular connections when they are outdoors or flying from one place to another. GoTenna’s solution pairs smartphones with a small device that looks just like a pocket flash drive. Using the GoTenna device’s app, users can send text messages, share GPS locations, or access maps wherever they are in the world. The end recipient also needs to be a GoTenna user, since all communications are transmitted via radio waves generated by GoTenna’s hardware device. Unlike traditional radio-wave dependent walkie-talkies, however, the GoTenna is as lightweight and portable as a pocket flash drive.

According to the company, GoTenna is already used by tens of thousands of people to stay connected during numerous life, adventure, and work situations. As GoTenna argues, phone connection can be crucially important in all types of emergencies, such as power outages or floods or earthquakes. Multiple enterprise technology companies, public safety departments, and disaster relief groups are adopting GoTenna’s products, along with adventure travelers making their way through rainforests or climbing Mt. Everest. To accommodate its growing contingent of professional users, GoTenna recently launched its newest line, GoTenna Pro, which is 12 times lighter, 10 times smaller, and up to 40 times cheaper than legacy communications devices. Unlike many emergency communications devices, GoTenna Pro enables smooth communication in obstructed environments such as tunnels, dense buildings, and forests — and it can even be deployed on airplanes and drones.

The company had previously raised $9.5 million from various sources, including grants from the U.S. Department of Defense. The new financing will support manufacturing, marketing, and delivery of GoTenna Pro’s products. The company is also planning on expanding into international and professional markets for the first time.