Wi-Charge

Wi-Charge is an Israeli technology company founded in 2012 in Rehovot, Israel, by Victor Vaisleib (founder of Passave, acquired by PMCS-Sierra), Ori Mor (former Israeli Defense Forces elite research unit R&D officer), and Ortal Alpert (optical storage and algorithm development specialist). The company develops and commercializes AirCord™, a patented infrared wireless power transmission platform that delivers multiple watts of electrical power over room-scale distances (up to 30 feet/10 meters) using safe, directed infrared beams. The core innovation addresses a foundational infrastructure problem: the ubiquitous reliance on wires and batteries for powering and charging distributed IoT devices, smart devices, and sensors. Wi-Charge's solution eliminates the need for physical electrical connections, battery swaps, and charging cables for powered devices, enabling new product categories and deployment scenarios where traditional wired power or battery-dependent operation is impractical, expensive, or impossible.

Wi-Charge's technology operates by converting electrical power into focused infrared light beams transmitted from a ceiling-mounted or wall-mounted AirCord transmitter to small receiver modules embedded in or attached to target devices. Real-time dynamic beam-steering algorithms track moving devices and continuously adjust beam direction to maintain optimal power delivery. The infrared wavelength is in the safe range for human exposure (certified across North America, Europe, and Asia), and the technology is designed to operate safely in homes, offices, and commercial spaces alongside human occupants and employees. The platform is modular: OEM partners license the transmitter platform and integrate compact receiver modules into their products, enabling rapid commercialization of wirelessly powered devices. As of 2026, the company has commercialized consumer products (Encode Wireless Power Kit with Schlage smart locks, Alfred smart locks, WI-SPOT retail displays, motorized smart shades) and continues expanding into additional product categories.

Strategic positioning and market traction: Wi-Charge's journey from 14 years of deep R&D to commercial deployment in 2025-2026 reflects successful maturation of a hardware-intensive deep-tech venture. The company raised $20 million in Series C funding in May 2025, led by Standard Investments (investment platform of Standard Industries) with participation from the European Innovation Council Fund (EIC Fund) and existing investors. This funding round follows years of earlier raises and reflects confidence from both growth-focused and strategically-aligned investors in the scalability and market demand for wireless power technology. The Series C capital is being deployed toward accelerating manufacturing scale, OEM integrations, and global distribution expansion, particularly in smart home, commercial, retail, and IoT verticals. The company has deployed commercial systems in multiple U.S. markets (Plano TX, Boston MA, Dallas TX, among others) and reports shipment of products to customers across the United States, Europe, and Asia.

Founder quality and team: The founding team combines deep technical expertise, relevant operational experience, and proven track records of successful exits. Ori Mor's background in the Israeli Defense Forces elite research and development unit signals familiarity with high-assurance systems, operational resilience requirements, and the intersection of advanced technology with defense-sector constraints. Vaisleib's previous startup exit demonstrates ability to build and scale hardware-software companies. Alpert's specialization in optical technologies and algorithms is directly applicable to the core beam-steering and power-transmission challenges underlying AirCord. The team's composition reflects typical characteristics of Israeli deep-tech founders: technical depth, defense-sector exposure, and proven ability to navigate scaling challenges in hardware-intensive domains. This background provides credibility and technical grounding for addressing the operational and regulatory challenges inherent in commercializing wireless power systems.

Commercial traction and validation: Wi-Charge's achievement of five consecutive CES Innovation Awards (2022-2026) demonstrates sustained industry recognition and technical advancement. The transition from R&D to real-world commercial deployment is evidenced by shipping consumer products (Encode kit, smart locks, displays, shades) and announced OEM partnerships with leading smart home and IoT brands. Customer reviews in the company's marketing materials indicate high user satisfaction (always-charged locks, simple setup, plug-and-play operation, convenience). The company's presence across three continents (US, Europe, Asia) with deployed systems reflects successful commercialization and market expansion. These signals are meaningful for deep-tech hardware ventures, where validation typically takes years and involves long integration cycles with partners and customers.

Dual-use and critical-infrastructure relevance: Wi-Charge's technology has inherent dual-use characteristics spanning commercial and critical-infrastructure/defense contexts. On the civilian commercial axis, wireless power eliminates battery maintenance burden, enables new smart home and IoT use cases, and provides convenience and aesthetic benefits (fewer wires, always-on devices). On the critical-infrastructure and defense axis, wireless power delivery creates novel resilience advantages: IoT sensors and monitoring systems (cameras, access controls, environmental sensors) can remain powered indefinitely without physical battery-replacement logistics, creating resilience against battery failure, supply-chain disruption, or deliberate sabotage targeting battery-replacement operations. In harsh, contested, or hard-to-access environments (military installations, utilities, airports, remote monitoring stations), wireless power can keep critical systems operational without requiring personnel to physically service batteries in dangerous or exposed locations. Additionally, wireless power systems can support temporary deployments or surge operations where rapid installation of power infrastructure would otherwise be infeasible. The technology is relevant to NATO modernization contexts emphasizing resilience, distributed operations, and technological autonomy. However, Wi-Charge's primary market positioning and commercial focus is on civilian consumer and enterprise IoT applications; defense applications remain latent rather than actively commercialized, and the company markets itself as a consumer-facing and enterprise-facing technology rather than explicitly as a defense vendor.

Market differentiation and competitive dynamics: Wi-Charge competes in the emerging wireless power market against alternative approaches including RF-based wireless charging (Energous, Ossia), resonant induction-based systems (WiPower), and proprietary solutions from major consumer electronics firms (Apple, others). Wi-Charge's differentiation includes: (1) **infrared methodology**—safe, efficient, directed power transmission without the health and interference concerns associated with RF-based approaches; (2) **room-scale range**—30+ feet exceeds most competing technologies, enabling flexible device placement and charging from distance; (3) **multi-device support**—real-time beam steering allows multiple devices to be charged simultaneously from a single transmitter; (4) **commercialization maturity**—Wi-Charge has achieved real-world product deployment and customer usage, whereas many competing approaches remain in development or limited pilot stages; (5) **safety certifications**—worldwide regulatory approvals across North America, Europe, and Asia provide credibility and reduce customer adoption friction; (6) **CES awards**—five consecutive CES Innovation Awards provide third-party validation of technical advancement and commercial viability. These factors create competitive moat against point-solution competitors and provide access to OEM partners and enterprise customers. Risk from larger tech incumbents (Apple, Amazon, Google) entering the market remains: incumbents have capital, distribution, and OEM relationships to scale rapidly if they choose to prioritize wireless power; however, Wi-Charge's early mover status, patent portfolio, and established partnerships provide defensibility.

Growth stage and trajectory: Wi-Charge is in growth stage (mid to late-stage venture, post-Series C). Founded 2012 and commercialized 2025-2026, the company spent ~13 years on deep R&D before achieving commercial product launch and customer deployment. This timeline is typical for hardware-intensive deep-tech ventures with fundamental innovation (wireless power transmission) and stringent regulatory requirements (safety certifications across jurisdictions). Series C funding in May 2025 positions Wi-Charge for scaling manufacturing, expanding OEM partnerships, and penetrating additional market verticals. Typical progression includes Series D or growth equity funding to support international expansion, manufacturing scale, and market penetration across smart home, commercial IoT, and wearables. Longer-term trajectory could include: (1) public offering via IPO or SPAC to access capital for sustained growth; (2) acquisition by larger consumer electronics, IoT, or infrastructure firms seeking wireless power capabilities; (3) transition to profitable, cash-generative business supporting organic growth and shareholder returns; or (4) establishment as independent market leader in wireless power infrastructure.

Diligence considerations and risks: Key diligence considerations for Wi-Charge include: (1) **hardware supply-chain complexity**—manufacturing wireless power transmitters requires precision optical components, electronics, and integration; supply-chain disruption or manufacturing quality issues could impact commercialization velocity; (2) **regulatory complexity**—infrared wireless power must maintain safety compliance across evolving regulatory regimes in North America, Europe, Asia; regulatory change or misalignment could impact market access; (3) **market adoption risk**—consumer and enterprise adoption of wireless power depends on education, value articulation, and OEM integration; slower-than-expected adoption would impact revenue and growth trajectory; (4) **competitive incumbent risk**—large tech companies with capital and OEM relationships could develop competing wireless power solutions or acquire Wi-Charge if strategic; this could commoditize or displace Wi-Charge's market position; (5) **intellectual property risk**—wireless power is active patent landscape; IP disputes with competitors or non-practicing entities could distract from commercialization; (6) **capital intensity**—deep-tech hardware ventures typically require sustained capital investment for manufacturing, supply-chain development, and go-to-market; Wi-Charge must achieve profitability or secure additional funding to sustain scaling; (7) **OEM dependency**—growth depends on OEM partners integrating Wi-Charge receivers into their products; slowing OEM adoption or shifting partner priorities could dampen growth. Despite these risks, Wi-Charge's early commercialization success, regulatory approvals, and market traction suggest readiness for scaling and long-term viability.