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Based in San Jose, California, Crossbow Technologies designs and manufactures acceleration sensors that are integrated into complex inertial navigation and precision guidance systems. The organization supplies these specialized hardware components primarily for demanding commercial and government applications across the global aerospace, defense, and transportation sectors. Prior to its strategic exit, the enterprise raised $24.2 million in total venture funding to scale its engineering capabilities and expand its manufacturing operations. During its independent growth phase, the hardware manufacturer secured financial backing from several prominent corporate and institutional investors, including Intel Capital, Cisco Investments, Paladin Capital Group, and Morgenthaler Ventures. In June 2011, the sensor business was officially acquired by the aerospace and defense contractor Moog at a final transaction valuation of $32 million. To address the growing market demand for robust navigation technologies, Crossbow Technologies was originally founded in 1995.
Crossbow Technologies has raised $12.0M across 1 funding round.
Key people at Crossbow Technologies.
Crossbow Technologies was founded in 1995 by Mike Horton (President/CEO and Co-Founder) and Lou Geyer (Co-Founder) and Art Moog (Co-Founder) and William C. Moog (Co-Founder).
Crossbow Technologies has raised $12.0M in total across 1 funding round.
Crossbow Technologies was founded in 1995 by Mike Horton (President/CEO and Co-Founder) and Lou Geyer (Co-Founder) and Art Moog (Co-Founder) and William C. Moog (Co-Founder).
Crossbow Technologies has raised $12.0M in total across 1 funding round.
Crossbow Technologies's investors include National Grid Partners.
Crossbow Technologies has raised $12.0M across 1 funding round. Most recently, it raised $12.0M Series C in June 2005.
| Date | Round | Lead Investors | Other Investors | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 1, 2005 | $12M Series C | — | National Grid Partners | Announced |
Crossbow Technology, Inc. was a California-based technology company founded in 1995 that designed and manufactured high-precision sensors, including inertial measurement units (IMUs), attitude heading reference systems (AHRS), gyroscopes, and wireless sensor networks like Smart Dust motes[1][2][3][5]. It served military, aerospace, defense, transportation, and environmental monitoring sectors, solving challenges in navigation, guidance, asset tracking, and data collection in harsh environments such as UAVs, targeting systems, and disaster scenarios[1][2][4][5]. The company shipped over half a million sensors to major clients like Raytheon, Lockheed Martin, and Israel Aerospace Industries, achieving $13 million in 2010 revenue before its $32 million acquisition by Moog Inc. in June 2011[1][3][4].
Crossbow Technology was founded in 1995 by Mike A. Horton in Milpitas, California (later associated with San Jose), building on sensor technology developed at the University of California, Berkeley under A. Richard Newton[1][3][5]. The idea emerged from early wireless sensor network innovations, including Berkeley-style MICA motes running TinyOS, positioning Crossbow as a pioneer in "Smart Dust" self-organizing networks for resilient data capture[2][5]. Early traction came from defense contracts and awards like the Best of Sensors Expo Gold 2006 and BP Helios Award; investments from Cisco, Intel, and Paladin Capital Group in 2005 fueled growth in inertial and wireless products, culminating in the 2011 Moog acquisition[2][4][5].
Crossbow rode the 1990s-2000s boom in MEMS and wireless sensor networks (WSNs), enabling the shift from fixed infrastructure to resilient, self-organizing IoT precursors amid rising defense needs post-9/11 and UAV proliferation[2][5]. Timing aligned with military demands for affordable precision navigation (e.g., Hunter RQ-5 UAV, ITAS targeting) and commercial expansions like FAA's Capstone Program, capitalizing on Moore's Law-driven sensor miniaturization[1][4][5]. It influenced the ecosystem by popularizing TinyOS motes, accelerating WSN adoption in defense, agriculture, and disaster response, and bridging academia (Berkeley) to industry via investments from Intel and Cisco[2][5].
Post-2011 acquisition, Crossbow's tech integrated into Moog's precision controls, enhancing offerings for aircraft, space, and defense amid ongoing MEMS advancements[4]. Legacy endures in modern inertial systems and WSNs shaping drones, autonomous vehicles, and edge AI; revived interest in low-SWaP (size, weight, power) sensors could spur similar innovations. As defense budgets prioritize affordable autonomy, Crossbow's playbook—academic roots, scalable manufacturing, defense validation—remains a blueprint for sensor startups navigating geopolitical tensions and IoT growth.
Key people at Crossbow Technologies.
