US-based internet of things technology developer Helium Systems has raised $16m in a series A round led by Khosla Ventures that also included diversified internet company Digital Garage.
The round also featured FirstMark Capital, SV Angel, Marc Benioff, the founder of cloud computing company Salesforce.com, and a range of other undisclosed investors.
Helium has been working on a way to connect devices with each other without relying on traditional wifi, bluetooth or mobile phone networks, instead using low-powered wireless connectivity and a smart distribution network.
The company has not disclosed how it will invest the funds, but it has recently expanded its engineering, product and management teams and has hired Rob Chandhok, previously president of telecommunications equipment producer Qualcomm’s interactive platforms division, as its new president and chief operating officer.
Helium was set up in July 2013 by Shawn Fanning, founder of music download service Napster, and Amir Haleem. It operated in stealth for its first year.