Velmenni Secures INR 30 Cr Funding Led by pi Ventures
The startup plans to use the fresh capital to accelerate the commercialisation of its Free Space Optics (FSO) and Light Fidelity (Li-Fi) technologies, while expanding into global markets and building customised solutions for defence and enterprise applications.
Deepak Solanki, Founder and CEO of Velmenni
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Delhi-based deep-tech startup Velmenni has raised INR 30 crore (around USD 3.3 million) in a pre-Series A funding round led by pi Ventures, with participation from MountTech Growth Fund-Kavachh and Apekso.
The latest funding comes after Velmenni raised an equal amount in its seed round and secured INR 7 crore in grants from the Department of Telecommunications and the Ministry of Defence’s iDEX programme.
The startup plans to use the fresh capital to accelerate the commercialisation of its Free Space Optics (FSO) and Light Fidelity (Li-Fi) technologies, while expanding into global markets and building customised solutions for defence and enterprise applications.
Founded in 2014 by Deepak Solanki, Velmenni focuses on light-based wireless communication systems that aim to offer high-speed and secure connectivity. Its technology uses light and laser-based optical links as an alternative to traditional radio frequency-based systems, addressing spectrum limitations and reducing the need for costly infrastructure.
“As surging data demand puts pressure on limited spectrum, we are building a new class of wireless communication using light,” Solanki said. “With an all-weather-tested, 100% Made in India design, we offer over 10Gbps seamless connectivity across ranges of 1-25 km.”
The company highlighted that its solutions are designed to provide interference-free and secure communication for telecom networks, enterprise users, and defence operations. “Whether for a tactical defence setup or a dense urban telecom network, we are providing a reliable, secure, and scalable alternative,” Solanki added.
Velmenni said it has already deployed India’s first commercial carrier-grade FSO backhaul links for a private 5G network at a thermal power plant in Odisha, achieving “99.999% availability for over 18 months in tropical weather conditions.”
The startup has also secured a multi-million-dollar defence contract to deploy its FSO systems across Indian submarines. It claims over 50 live deployments across India, Southeast Asia, and the US, and is working towards further regulatory clearances.
Delhi-based deep-tech startup Velmenni has raised INR 30 crore (around USD 3.3 million) in a pre-Series A funding round led by pi Ventures, with participation from MountTech Growth Fund-Kavachh and Apekso.
The latest funding comes after Velmenni raised an equal amount in its seed round and secured INR 7 crore in grants from the Department of Telecommunications and the Ministry of Defence’s iDEX programme.
The startup plans to use the fresh capital to accelerate the commercialisation of its Free Space Optics (FSO) and Light Fidelity (Li-Fi) technologies, while expanding into global markets and building customised solutions for defence and enterprise applications.
