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§ Private Profile · 81 Willoughby St Ste 302, Brooklyn, New York, 11201, United States
mobile mesh networking devices for off-grid text messaging and location sharing without cellular or satellite networks.
goTenna has raised $35.0M across 4 funding rounds.
Key people at goTenna.
goTenna has raised $35.0M in total across 4 funding rounds.
goTenna, based in Brooklyn, New York, develops mobile mesh networking devices and protocols enabling off-grid text messaging and location sharing without traditional cellular, WiFi, or satellite networks. Their solutions, including the goTenna Pro X series and Aspen Grove protocol, provide long-range, peer-to-peer connectivity for mission-critical communications, serving public safety, military, and enterprise sectors. The company is set to be acquired by Forterra in October 2025 to advance autonomous mission systems. Founded in 2012 by Daniela Perdomo and Elan Frantz, goTenna initially rolled out its first consumer product in 2014. They also offer goTenna + EVERYWHERE, combining mesh networks with satellite technology, and have raised funding from the National Science Foundation and over 20 other investors. The company employs approximately 55 individuals.
Key people at goTenna.
goTenna has raised $35.0M across 4 funding rounds. Most recently, it raised $17.0M Series C in June 2019.
goTenna has raised $35.0M in total across 4 funding rounds.
goTenna's investors include Founders Fund, Access Venture Partners, Andreessen Horowitz, Ankona Capital, Blackbird Ventures Australia, Bloomberg Beta, Building The Machine, Cota Capital, DFJ, Felicis Ventures, FirstMark Capital, GFT Ventures.
goTenna builds mobile mesh networking devices and protocols that enable off-grid, long-range communications in austere, denied, or contested environments without relying on cellular, Wi-Fi, or satellite infrastructure.[1][2][5] It primarily serves military, law enforcement, public safety agencies, and enterprises—supporting over 350 government and institutional customers worldwide with products like the Pro-X series for tactical messaging, GPS tracking, and collaborative mapping.[1][3][5] The company solves critical connectivity gaps in mission-critical operations, such as during natural disasters, border security, or combat, by providing low-cost, low-power, secure networks that augment traditional systems and integrate with platforms like Team Awareness Kit (TAK).[2][3][6] Following a 2018 pivot from consumer sales (150,000 devices) to B2G markets, goTenna achieved strong growth, including U.S. Air Force contracts and SBIR awards, before its acquisition by Forterra in October 2025, which enhances autonomous mission systems.[1][7]
goTenna was founded in 2012 in New York amid the communications blackouts caused by Hurricane Sandy, when a third of cell towers and power stations failed, inspiring founders—including CEO Ari Schuler—to create resilient off-grid solutions initially for hikers, preppers, and adventurers.[1][5][7] Early consumer products gained traction with 150,000 devices sold, but the market proved niche ("a vitamin" rather than essential), prompting a 2018 pivot to business-to-government (B2G) focusing on military and public safety.[1] Pivotal moments included securing Strategic Financing Increase (STRATFI) via AFWERX for R&D scaling, outreach to special operations, and deployments across U.S. Department of Defense, Customs and Border Protection, and 300+ global agencies, culminating in the 2025 Forterra acquisition to integrate mesh tech with autonomous systems.[1][3][7]
goTenna rides the surge in decentralized, resilient communications amid rising geopolitical tensions, natural disasters, and the shift to edge autonomy in defense—where traditional high-bandwidth systems fail in denied environments.[2][7][8] Timing aligns with U.S. military priorities like Agile Combat Employment (ACE) and demands for low-cost alternatives to pricey satcom, amplified by events like Hurricane Sandy and modern conflicts exposing infrastructure vulnerabilities.[1][5][6] Market forces favoring it include exploding needs for interoperable tactical edge tech in border security, public safety (e.g., fentanyl ops), and unmanned systems, plus investor backing from Union Square Ventures, Founders Fund, and Lockheed Martin Ventures.[3] It influences the ecosystem by pioneering mobile mesh standards, enabling Forterra's autonomous platforms post-acquisition, and decentralizing "last-mile" connectivity to turn everyday devices into programmable infrastructure.[2][4][7]
Post-2025 Forterra acquisition, goTenna will deepen integration into autonomous mission systems, rolling out solutions like goTenna + EVERYWHERE (mesh + satellite) and Pro X2m for seamless drone/vehicle comms in global ops.[2][3][7] Trends like AI-driven edge autonomy, contested spectrum warfare, and climate-driven disasters will propel demand for its low-SWaP-C mesh, potentially expanding to more commercial resilience apps while dominating B2G. Its influence may evolve from standalone pioneer to core enabler of "fully integrated" tactical ecosystems, ensuring operators maintain connectivity "across the full spectrum" as networks decentralize further—tying back to its Hurricane Sandy roots in building trusted, ownable networks for the world's toughest environments.[1][2][7]
