Mesh++: Why we invested

We are excited to be backing Mesh++, a telecommunication company providing infrastructure for last mile internet delivery.

The internet is likely the most important tool of the 21st century and plays an essential role in equitable access to information and therefore opportunity. While connectivity around the world stands at an impressive 60%, that infers that over 3.1 BN are still without access to internet. Whereas Africa accounts for 27% of this population we were surprised to learn as part of our diligence that even parts of the rural US still remain without reliable connectivity. The Federal Communications Commission estimates that more than 21MN people in the US don’t have a broadband connection with download speeds of at least 25 megabits per second. That includes nearly 3 in 10 people, or about 27%, who live in rural areas where broadband infrastructure simply isn’t available.

Current technological solutions for last-mile internet delivery include fiber-optic cables which deliver high-speed internet but are expensive due to cabling and trenching which accounts for approximately 90% of the costs. This is where Mesh++ comes in, as highlighted by this article, the Mesh++ wireless solutions eliminates almost all wiring for last-mile connectivity making it dramatically cheaper than its wired analogue solutions. The Mesh++ self-powered mesh nodes feature modular antennas, a…