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GainSpan is a technology company.
GainSpan develops wireless connectivity solutions for the Internet of Things (IoT), specializing in ultra-low power Wi-Fi chips and modules. Their technology enables everyday devices to communicate intelligently, focusing on Internet Protocol (IP) based solutions like Wi-Fi and Thread/6LoWPAN. A key offering is the GS2000 System on Chip, designed for efficient and integrated connectivity, featuring a dual-core ARM architecture that offloads Wi-Fi services and networking functionalities.
Founded in 2006 by Lewis Adams and Vijay Parmar, GainSpan emerged as a spin-off from Intel. The co-founders recognized early that the burgeoning IoT market would fundamentally rely on IP-based technologies, particularly Wi-Fi, to connect devices to the internet. This insight drove their focus on developing low-power Wi-Fi solutions while many competitors pursued non-IP alternatives, proving critical as IP-based devices gained market traction.
GainSpan’s products serve a broad array of markets, including smart homes, health and fitness devices, industrial applications, commercial systems, and smart cities. The company's overarching vision is to advance the Internet of Things by providing robust, efficient wireless connectivity, transforming ordinary products into intelligent, communicating entities and ensuring seamless integration into the internet ecosystem.
GainSpan has raised $83.0M across 5 funding rounds.
GainSpan has raised $83.0M in total across 5 funding rounds.
GainSpan has raised $83.0M in total across 5 funding rounds.
GainSpan's investors include Shasta Ventures, CampVentures, Hatteras Funds, Intel Capital, New Venture Partners, Joe Liu, Opus Capital, Sigma Partners, Phil Gerskovich, In-Q-Tel, Mobile Internet Capital.
GainSpan is a semiconductor company that develops ultra-low power Wi-Fi chips, modules, and software for embedding wireless connectivity into battery-powered IoT devices.[1][2][3] It serves markets like healthcare, smart energy, home automation, industrial monitoring, and consumer products such as thermostats, door locks, security cameras, and heart rate monitors, solving the challenge of enabling long battery life in Wi-Fi connected devices through optimized power management and integrated networking stacks.[1][2][4][5] With over 1,000 customer projects and millions of units deployed globally, GainSpan accelerated IoT adoption by simplifying development with certified modules like the GS2000 SoC, which supports Wi-Fi (802.11b/g/n) and 802.15.4 standards, until its acquisition by Telit in 2017 for $8 million.[2][3][5]
GainSpan was founded in September 2006 in San Jose, California, as a spin-off from Intel Corporation by engineers aiming to drastically reduce Wi-Fi power consumption for battery-operated applications.[2][3][4] The idea emerged from Intel's research into power-efficient wireless tech, positioning GainSpan as the first to optimize Wi-Fi chips with advanced management techniques for extended battery life.[2] Early milestones included the 2010 launch of the GS1011M Wi-Fi module under CEO Greg Winner, the 2013 GS2000 chip combining Wi-Fi and ZigBee IP, partnerships like Solem Electronique's irrigation systems in 2014, and integration into Ring's video doorbells in 2015.[2] Backed by investors including Intel Capital, Opus Capital, and Trinity Capital, it grew to over 90 employees across San Jose and Bangalore R&D centers before Telit acquired it in 2017 to bolster its IoT portfolio.[2][3][5]
GainSpan rode the early IoT wave, addressing the critical need for power-efficient wireless connectivity as billions of sensors and devices required internet access without frequent recharging.[1][3][4] Its timing was ideal amid the 2010s explosion of smart homes, healthcare wearables, and industrial IoT, where traditional Wi-Fi's high power drain limited adoption—GainSpan's innovations enabled battery-powered viability, influencing trends like sensor-to-cloud architectures.[2][5] Market forces favoring it included growing demand for standards-based Wi-Fi over proprietary protocols, plus investor interest from Intel Capital in corporate spinouts; post-acquisition, its IP strengthened Telit's end-to-end IoT offerings in building management, logistics, and beyond, contributing to the ecosystem by lowering barriers for developers and expanding low-power Wi-Fi in harsh environments.[2][5]
Under Telit Cinterion (now part of a broader IoT group), GainSpan's technology continues powering next-gen battery devices amid surging demand for edge AI, 5G-IoT hybrids, and sustainable connectivity.[5] Trends like Matter protocol standardization and ultra-low-power needs for massive IoT deployments (e.g., smart cities, precision agriculture) will amplify its legacy IP, potentially evolving through integrations with cellular and satellite tech. As IoT scales to 50 billion devices, GainSpan's focus on simplicity and efficiency positions Telit to influence reliable, long-life connectivity, circling back to its roots in transforming everyday objects into intelligent, wirelessly linked systems.[3][4]
GainSpan has raised $83.0M across 5 funding rounds. Most recently, it raised $19.0M Series D in June 2013.
| Date | Round | Lead Investors | Other Investors |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 1, 2013 | $19.0M Series D | Shasta Ventures, CampVentures, Hatteras Funds, Intel Capital, New Venture Partners, Joe Liu, Opus Capital, Sigma Partners, Phil Gerskovich | |
| Sep 1, 2012 | $7.0M Venture Round | Shasta Ventures | |
| Jun 1, 2012 | $19.0M Venture Round | Shasta Ventures | |
| Dec 1, 2011 | $18.0M Series C | Shasta Ventures, CampVentures, Hatteras Funds, In-Q-Tel, Intel Capital, Mobile Internet Capital, New Venture Partners, Opus Capital, Sigma Partners | |
| Dec 1, 2007 | $20.0M Series B | Shasta Ventures |