Dutch startup Waving has raised €2.6m (US$3m) in funding to support trials of its AI-based wi-fi sensing technology at Amsterdam Airport Schiphol and with the Dutch Ministry of Justice and Security.
The Amsterdam-based company is developing a system that uses wi-fi signals and artificial intelligence to detect human presence and movement through walls and obstacles. The technology is being tested in complex security environments as part of efforts to strengthen protection of critical infrastructure.
The funding round included venture capital firms Caesar, SI Ventures, Lightfield Equity and I-Lab Angels, along with additional investors. Waving is also working with Schiphol and the Ministry of Justice through its Startup in Residence program.
Gal Cohen, CEO and co-founder of Waving, said, “This investment round, the tests at Schiphol, and our rapidly growing involvement in both the public and private sectors demonstrate the potential of our technology and the urgent need for better security of critical infrastructure.”
The company said increasing geopolitical tensions and recent incidents involving infrastructure disruption have highlighted gaps in existing security systems. Traditional technologies such as cameras, infrared sensors and radar can be limited by line-of-sight requirements, weather conditions and false alarms, while also raising privacy concerns.
Waving’s system is designed to operate without direct visibility, using wi-fi signals to detect people in areas that are difficult to monitor with conventional tools. The technology runs on a small edge-based chip, enabling it to be deployed in concealed locations and used in both indoor and outdoor environments.
At Schiphol airport, several trials are underway to assess how the system performs in areas where existing security measures are less effective.
Jasper Mutsaers, program manager for security at Royal Schiphol Group, said, “The security priority at a major international hub like Schiphol is to address constantly changing security challenges across thousands of hectares without compromising privacy or creating alert fatigue for our teams.
“Waving’s wi-fi sensing technology has successfully demonstrated its capability to detect human presence through walls and in complex areas where traditional systems fail. Securing three new proof-of-concepts with Waving is a strategic step forward in our mission to adopt innovative, privacy-first solutions for perimeter security and indoor presence detection across the airport.”
The Dutch Ministry of Justice and Security is also preparing a pilot of the technology. Arthur Admiraal, startup officer at the ministry, said, “If this works, it could benefit the safety of our people in the field.”
Waving said the funding will be used to further develop the technology and expand its team, with additional pilots under discussion in the USA and Asia.
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