Sigfox operator UnaBiz has raised over $10 million in Series A funding to develop ‘internet-of-things’ (IoT) infrastructure and services in Singapore and Taiwan. The funding included investments from Japanese operator KDDI and French electric utility ENGIE.
Further investments came from angel investors in Singapore, as well as Taiwanese security management giant Shin Kong Security, a subsidiary of the Shin Kong Group.
UnaBiz said the new funds will deliver “scalable, cost-efficient and high-quality” solutions to address the digital challenges in key sectors, including aerospace, facilities management, food and beverage, logistics, security, supply chain, and smart cities.
UnaBiz has launched national networks in Singapore and Taiwan during the past two years. Henri Bong, the company’s chief and co-founder, said the new funding will see the business enter a new phase of growth.
“With our new international partners supporting us not only financially but also operationally, UnaBiz will now play a more prominent role in empowering massive IoT and in positioning Singapore as the global IoT innovation hub,” he said.
KDDI led the round through its IoT fund programme, managed by its subsidiary SORACOM, a cloud provider and IoT platform operating in over 100 territories.
Ken Tamagawa, chief executive and co-founder of SORACOM, said: “UnaBiz is at the forefront of IoT in Singapore and Taiwan, and collaborating with it will bring opportunities for further growth. Our joint efforts will accelerate the buildout of an even stronger international IoT ecosystem to develop new solutions for our customers.”
ENGIE’s funds came in a separate round via its venture capital arm, ENGIE New Ventures. ENGIE had already provided seed investment to UnaBiz.
Johann Boukhors, director of corporate venture capital at ENGIE, commented: “IoT, along with data science, artificial intelligence and machine learning are at the heart of our digital strategy, and UnaBiz shares that vision of a connected world with us. This new investment will contribute in consolidating ENGIE’s low-power wide-area (LPWA) network ecosystem.”
Csilla Kohalmi-Monfils, executive vice president of strategy and new business at ENGIE in the Asia Pacific region, added: “ENGIE Services Singapore has been working closely with UnaBiz to deploy smart cities solutions in the areas of facilities and energy management and operation maintenance. We look forward to taking this partnership to the next level.”
Ludovic Le Moan, chief executive and co-founder of Sigfox, added: “The UnaBiz team has established a strong foothold in the IoT field, in both Singapore and Taiwan. This funding round will enable them to enhance their contribution to the Sigfox ecosystem.”
UnaBiz claims 200 partners across Asia, connecting devices in over 25 countries and five continents.
