Ambatipudi Sastry raises $10-M second round
By siliconindia staff writer   |   Tuesday, 24 August 2004, 19:30 IST
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BELMONT: Dr. Ambatipudi R. Sastry co-founded PacketHop, a provider of mobile mesh networking software, has raised a $10 million second round led by ComVentures. Existing investors U.S. Venture Partners (USVP) and Mayfield also participated. PacketHop had raised a $5 million first round in November 2003 from USVP, Mayfield and independent R&D firm SRI International. Yogel Dalal of Mayfield has joined PacketHop's board. Dr. Ambatipudi Sastry, PacketHop's CTO, has earlier worked at SRI International, Rockwell International Science Center and the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO). Dr. Sastry received his bachelor of science degree from Andhra University, India, and holds a bachelor's, master's and doctorate in electrical communications engineering from the Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore (IISc). The complete PacketHop software solution is quickly and easily loaded onto virtually any standard IP radio-equipped device such as commercial off-the-shelf laptops, tablets and PDAs. Devices enabled with PacketHop software can work together seamlessly and instantly to form a secure, scaleable and robust mobile broadband network. PacketHop’s mobile mesh network does not require fixed network infrastructure such as base stations or access points to provide communications between devices. When fixed infrastructure is available, it is an additional resource utilized by the mobile mesh network to connect to a network backbone when necessary. “PacketHop has established itself as a frontrunner in the mobile mesh networking market, having successfully addressed the most difficult technical challenges required to deliver instant, mobile broadband communications,” stated Michael Howse, president and CEO of PacketHop. “With the closing of our Series B funding, and the completion of a highly successful trial deployment with the Golden Gate Safety Network, PacketHop is in an ideal position to widely deploy its technology and scale the company to satisfy the growing demand for its products in public safety, enterprise and consumer markets.” Roland Van der Meer, ComVentures partner, who today joins PacketHop’s board of directors, added, “PacketHop is taking advantage of several significant developments in mobile communications. The company is leveraging the proliferation and tremendous innovation that is occurring in 802.11, as well as meeting all of the criteria for mission-critical communications as outlined by the Department of Homeland Security. We believe PacketHop’s timing, accomplished management team, market strategy and technology are right on target for immediate and long term success.” “PacketHop technology offers tangible benefits to its initial target market of public safety agencies, first responders and homeland security personnel,” noted Philip Marshall, research director of Wireless/Mobile Technology at the Yankee Group. “PacketHop’s mobile mesh system offers a viable alternative to the expensive and proprietary legacy systems currently in place.”

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