Best Telecom Companies in San Francisco, United States
The 96 best Telecom companies in San Francisco, United States in 2026, ranked by funding and momentum. Funding, investors, founders, valuation, tech stack and live signals. Top: Race Communications.
Our analysis of 50 Telecom companies
$56.1b in tracked funding; 87% of the stack-profiled cohort runs cloud-native; funding activity peaked in 2025.
Ranked: Best Telecom companies in San Francisco
| # | Company | Disclosed funding | Last round | Employees | Founded | Founder | Patents & IP focus | Recent signals |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Race Communications Fiber optic telecom and television services provider in California 76Growth top 21%Tech top 24%Funding top 26%Innovation top 39% All 8 signals ▾Growthtop 21% Techtop 24% Fundingtop 26% Innovationtop 39% Producttop 42% Markettop 48% Moatbottom 38% Globalbottom 37% Growth: Headcount 92 → 209 (+127%) across vintages · Fresh capital in last 24 mo Tech: 66 technologies across 5/8 capability areas · Cloud: Cloudflare, Google Cloud rank vs industry peers · Fliar Intelligence Index 76/100 | $375M | 21 mo ago | 209 209 → 210 (+0%) | 1994 | — | — | 2 expansions |
| 2 | Helium 🦄 Hardware mining solutions for cryptocurrency 69Tech top 11%News top 26%Moat top 26%Talent top 28% All 10 signals ▾Techtop 11% Newstop 26% Moattop 26% Talenttop 28% Producttop 30% Fundingtop 36% Growthtop 38% Markettop 49% Globalbottom 39% Customersbottom 39% Tech: 75 technologies across 7/8 capability areas · Cloud: Amazon Cloudfront, Amazon Web Services News: 6 BI events in 12 mo (of 19 tracked, 5 types) · +50% YoY rank vs industry peers · Fliar Intelligence Index 69/100 | $370M | 52 mo ago | 61 61 → 129 (+111%) | 2006 | — | — | 2 launchs · 2 partnerships · 1 expansion |
| 3 | FiberTower Small cell and Macro cell Backhaul | $225M | 250 mo ago | 138 | 2000 | — | 2 patents Passive antenna array designs for point‑to‑multipoint wireless communication systems | — |
| 4 | Nova Labs Network providing decentralized wireless connectivity solutions powered by blockchain technology | $200M | 50 mo ago | 100 | 2019 | — | — | — |
| 5 | Aria Cloud-based subscription billing and management solutions for businesses | $175M | 90 mo ago | 127 127 → 251 (+98%) | 2003 | Brendan OBrien Co-Founder & CIO | 59 patents Implantable vascular pressure‑reduction devices for pulmonary hypertension therapy | 1 launch |
| 6 | Movaz Networks Domain marketplace facilitating secure transactions with buyer protection and flexible payments | $171M | 244 mo ago | 250 | 2000 | — | — | — |
| 7 | Meter 🦄 Provider of enterprise internet infrastructure, including hardware, software, and network management tools | $145M | 12 mo ago | 65 | 2015 | Anil Varanasi CEO | 11 patents Patents concentrated in computing, sensing & instrumentation | 2 partnerships · 3 awards |
| 8 | Telespree Cloud-based service management platform for carriers, retailers, MVNOs, and wholesale providers | $103M | 179 mo ago | 17 | 1999 | — | — | — |
| 9 | HEAVY.AI Provider of telecommunication and network monitoring services | $90M | 92 mo ago | 2 | 2016 | Todd Mostak Co-Founder & CEO | 11 patents GPU‑accelerated analytics and AI‑driven media/player tracking and recommendation platforms | — |
| 10 | eero Developer of home and business mesh wifi network systems | $90M | 108 mo ago | 132 | 2014 | Nate Hardison Chief Product Officer and Co-Founder | 24 patents Consumer Wi‑Fi mesh networking hardware and dynamic router configuration systems | 1 partnership |
| 11 | Yipes Holdings Managed Ethernet provider | $86M | 240 mo ago | 33 | 1997 | Peter Kaminski Co-Founder | — | — |
| 12 | Solis Provider of internet services | $64M | 80 mo ago | 189 | 2008 | — | — | — |
| 13 | Riverbed Provider of a platform for enterprise WAN optimization and application performance monitoring | $57M | 243 mo ago | 833 833 → 1,588 (+91%) | 2002 | David Donatelli CEO | 227 patents Optimizing WAN traffic via application acceleration, deduplication, and dynamic bandwidth management. | 1 launch · 2 awards |
| 14 | Skyfire Mobile video optimization and browser extension solutions provider | $36M | 164 mo ago | 52 | 2007 | — | 22 patents Real-time video analytics and network monitoring for mobile device browsers and toolbars | — |
| 15 | neighborly Neighborly designs, finances, and constructs open access fiber-optic networks to connect communities across… | $35M | 109 mo ago | 26 | 2012 | — | — | — |
| 16 | NetFortris Cloud communications solutions provider simplifying IT for business growth | $34M | 111 mo ago | 250 | 1994 | — | — | — |
| 17 | Common Networks Fixed wireless internet service provider in California | $34M | 94 mo ago | 13 | 2016 | — | — | — |
| 18 | Blue Danube Systems Global leader driving digital transformation through open network technologies and solutions | $34M | 114 mo ago | 28 | 2006 | — | — | — |
| 19 | Mode SD-WAN, UC and Ultra Low Latency optimizing solution | $31M | 92 mo ago | 13 | 2013 | Paul Dawes CEO | 14 patents Software-defined high‑performance telecom core networking infrastructure | — |
| 20 | Bytemobile Mobile data optimization solutions provider | $29M | 292 mo ago | 300 | 2000 | — | 51 patents Optimizing mobile network traffic and video streaming via adaptive bitrate and caching | — |
| 21 | Expeto Cloud based platform offering NFV enabled EPC network | $26M | 42 mo ago | 38 | 2015 | Ryley MacKenzie Co-Founder & CEO | — | — |
| 22 | Farcast Developer of flat panel antennas for satellite communication user terminals 11Funding top 41%Talent bottom 49%Patents bottom 44%Global bottom 42% All 7 signals ▾Fundingtop 41% Talentbottom 49% Patentsbottom 44% Globalbottom 42% Innovationbottom 30% Marketbottom 25% Techbottom 24% Funding: Raised $22.6M across 3 rounds · 3 rounds over 4 yrs (0.8/yr) Talent: 1 named leader on record · 1 C-suite/founder profile curated rank vs industry peers · Fliar Intelligence Index 11/100 | $23M | 7 mo ago | — | 2019 | Siamak Ebadi Founder & CEO | 2 patents Patents concentrated in electrical & electronics | — |
| 23 | Volta Networks Provider of SDN based network management solutions provider | $22M | 74 mo ago | 57 | 2015 | — | — | — |
| 24 | Gigs Provider of platform for telecom services | $20M | 18 mo ago | 50 | 2020 | Victor De Maizière Founder's Associate | — | — |
| 25 | Somewear Provider of the satellite-powered system for defense | $16M | 45 mo ago | 19 | 2016 | Alan Besquin Co-Founder | 6 patents Off‑grid low‑latency mesh communication systems for unmanned devices | — |
| 26 | Dawn Internet Network enabling users to share Internet capacity and earn rewards 64Growth top 20%Talent top 38%Funding top 45%Tech top 46% All 6 signals ▾Growthtop 20% Talenttop 38% Fundingtop 45% Techtop 46% Markettop 47% Globalbottom 33% Growth: Web rank 5,000,000 → 500,000 YoY · Fresh capital in last 24 mo Talent: 2 named leaders on record · 2 C-suite/founder profiles curated rank vs industry peers · Fliar Intelligence Index 64/100 | $13M | 6 mo ago | — | 2020 | Neil Chatterjee Co-Founder & CEO | — | — |
| 27 | Roamless Mobile application offering mobile connectivity solutions for travelers | $8M | 6 mo ago | — | 2023 | Asim Alp Co-Founder & CTO | — | 2 launchs |
| 28 | OnRelay Mobile business phone system providing advanced features and simplified communications | $6M | 201 mo ago | 5 | 2000 | Ivar Plahte Co-Founder & CEO | — | — |
| 29 | Ananda Networks Provider of secured LAN services | $6M | 70 mo ago | 11 | 2019 | — | — | — |
| 30 | Backplane Manage services, applications, routing infrastructure and end users at one place | $5M | 104 mo ago | 9 | 2015 | — | — | — |
| 31 | 3jam 3jam: Free Your Phone Number | $5M | 226 mo ago | — | 2005 | Enlai Chu CEO & Founder | 4 patents Enables multi‑party real‑time voice/video conferencing over IP networks | — |
| 32 | Bound Social media strategies and tips for businesses and individuals | $4M | 141 mo ago | 26 | 2012 | — | 6 patents Asynchronous networked data retrieval and access for application-layer services | — |
| 33 | Inflect Internet infrastructure marketplace | $3M | 102 mo ago | 33 | 2016 | — | 4 patents Optimizing routing and pathfinding algorithms for communication network infrastructures. | — |
| 34 | Inveneo ICT solutions system integrator in rural & underserved areas | $2M | 174 mo ago | 9 | 2004 | Bob Marsh Executive Director & co-Founder | — | — |
| 35 | Akanda Open source network virtualization platform for cloud services providers | $2M | 127 mo ago | 11 | 2014 | Henrik Rosendahl CEO & Co-Founder | — | — |
| 36 | InterfereX Small cell radio optimization software provider | $1M | 133 mo ago | 7 | 2011 | Mark Reed Founder & CEO | — | — |
| 37 | EveryLayer Provides cost effective broadband deployment solutions in emerging countries | $650K | 142 mo ago | 6 | 2013 | — | — | — |
| 38 | Ready Cloud-based operation support system for ISPs | $150K | 69 mo ago | 46 | 2020 | Mike Faloon Founder & COO | 8 patents Rotary metal bending/forming machinery for construction and structural component manufacturing | 2 launchs |
| 39 | Necto Fast, affordable internet provider with local support and hassle-free installation | $125K | 96 mo ago | — | 2017 | Benjamin Huang Founder | — | — |
| 40 | Dabba Web3 powered WiFi networks for emerging markets, connecting the next billion | $125K | 111 mo ago | — | 2015 | Karam Lakshman Co-Founder | — | — |
Top 12 Telecom companies in San Francisco
#1
Meter 🦄Series C · San Francisco, California · founded 2015 · 65 employees$145.1Mraised▾
Provider of enterprise internet infrastructure, including hardware, software, and network management tools. It designs, manufactures, and installs network hardware, including security appliances, switches, access points, and power distribution units. The company offers software for network management, security, visibility, and control. It provides installation, support, and lifecycle management services through its team and partner network. The company's solutions cater to companies of various sizes, offering scalability for multi-site management and numerous devices.
- Jun 2025Series C$170M
- Feb 2024Series B$35M
- May 2022Series B$38M
- Sep 2021Series B$72.1M
#2
Series A · San Francisco, California · founded 2019$22.6Mraised▾
Developer of flat panel antennas for satellite communication user terminals. The company builds active electronically scanned antennas designed to reduce size, weight, power, and cost. The technology supports fixed satellite and moving satellite applications. The antennas compensate for movement of satellites and users through electronic beamscanning.
- Nov 2025Series A$5M
- Apr 2025Series A$2M
- Dec 2022Series A$15.6M
#3
Series B · San Francisco, California · founded 2020$13Mraised▾
Network enabling users to share Internet capacity and earn rewards. It combines protocol and hardware to build a system for user-owned connectivity. The network provides a validator extension and deployer network. It also offers a device that powers decentralized projects.
- Dec 2025Series B$13M
#4
Series A · San Francisco, California · founded 2023$7.6Mraised▾
Mobile application offering mobile connectivity solutions for travelers. It provides local SIM cards and offers prices mobile internet data for global travelers & digital nomads. Available on both Android and iOS devices.
#5
Late Stage · San Francisco, California · founded 1994 · 209 employees$375Mraised▾
Race Communications is a telecommunication service provider which provides broadband internet, phone, video, data services and solutions to residential, SMEs and large enterprise users in the US state of California. The company offers fiber optic broadband internet services, local and long-distance landline telephone service, digital television service with DVR, on-demand and mobile streaming services, business phone systems, managed WiFi services and cost-effective bundle services. Some of its major business clients are Bank Of America, Electronic Arts, Yahoo, etc.
- Sep 2024Unattributed$375M
- Sep 2024Conventional Debt$125M
- Aug 2024Unattributed—
#6
Series B · San Francisco, California · founded 2020 · 50 employees$20.1Mraised▾
Provider of platform for telecom services. It has an API and white-label product that allows businesses and brands to offer fully-fledged phone plans on any network globally. It offers a suite of products such as payments and analytics.
- Dec 2024Series B$73M
- Sep 2022Series A$20M
- Sep 2022Conventional Debt$4M
- 2021Seed$125K
#7
Helium 🦄Series D · San Francisco, California · founded 2006 · 61 employees$369.8Mraised▾
Hardware mining solutions for cryptocurrency. It connects low-powered machines to a single gateway and sends encrypted data through to the internet. It also provides rewards for users to connect time machines and gateways. It also raised equity funding from some of the most prominent venture capital firms.
- Feb 2022Series D$200M
- Aug 2021Series D$111M
- Jun 2019Series C$15M
- Apr 2016Series B$20M
#8
Series D · San Francisco, California · founded 2019 · 100 employees$200Mraised▾
Network providing decentralized wireless connectivity solutions powered by blockchain technology. It offers affordable connectivity and expands coverage through small devices. Individuals and businesses can host these devices and earn cryptocurrency for providing network coverage. The network aims to empower individuals to own a piece of the future of connectivity. It provides mobile network services and solutions for the Internet of Things.
- Mar 2022Series D$200M
#9
Series F · San Francisco, California · founded 2003 · 127 employees$175Mraised▾
Cloud-based subscription billing and management solutions for businesses. It provides software for automating account management, recurring revenue stream, billing, invoicing, dunning, collections, product management, billables of pending accounts, and among others. It operates in the media, communication, industrial, technology, automotive, and other sectors.
- Dec 2018Series F$30M
- Sep 2017Series E$18M
- Feb 2016Series E$50M
- Nov 2013Series D$40M
#10
Series B · San Francisco, California · founded 2015 · 38 employees$25.9Mraised▾
Cloud based platform offering NFV enabled EPC network. The platform provides an NFV enabled EPC network to wireless operators, MVNOs, IoT operators, and enterprise customers. Its flagship product is a PaaS platform based on NFV or SDN which enables customers to deploy new, revenue generating services in a cost effective and time saving manner. Its solution consists of traditional evolved packet core services, additional NFV functions, and an automation and orchestration engine for control and configuration.
- Dec 2022Conventional Debt$5M
- Dec 2022Series B$12M
- Apr 2021Series A$10M
- Sep 2018Series A$3.9M
#11
Acqui-Hired · San Francisco, California · founded 2000 · 250 employees$171.5Mraised▾
Domain marketplace facilitating secure transactions with buyer protection and flexible payments. This platform offers a streamlined process for buying and selling domain names. It provides transaction support, ensuring secure payments and a fast, easy transfer of ownership. The platform offers a buyer protection program and flexible payment methods. It acts as an intermediary, connecting buyers and sellers in a reliable and trustworthy environment. The service simplifies domain acquisition, offering a user-friendly experience and peace of mind.
- Jan 2006Venture Debt$12M
- Jan 2006Series E$20M
- Mar 2005Series D$28.2M
- Sep 2004Venture Debt$10M
#12
Acquired · San Francisco, California · founded 2000 · 138 employees$225Mraised▾
FiberTower Corporation is a privately held provider of spectrum and fixed wireless services;The services include Small Cell and Macro cell Backhaul and Transport solutions. It claims to have 24GHz and 39GHz spectrum and technology, which can offer over 200 high capacity links per square kilometer.First Avenue Networks merged with FiberTower Corporation in August 2009.
- Jul 2005PE$150M
Funding & investor landscape
Notable founders
Market landscape — 10 sub-themes by coverage
Share of Telecom coverage by sub-theme.
Regulatory-risk over time rising
Funding & growth over time
funding rising · growth rising
How research on 5G / 6G Networks is moving in the United States
A read on the academic research around 5G / 6G Networks — which themes are gaining ground, the institutions and researchers driving them, and how the tone is shifting. Based on 7,631 United States-affiliated papers.
- The University of Texas at Austin253
- Princeton University249
- Georgia Institute of Technology223
- Concordia University182
- Northeastern University163
- Beamforming519→1075
- Telecommunications14→150
- Electronic engineering150→265
- MIMO324→419
- Wireless42→125
- Telecommunications37→139
- Beamforming897→971
- Electronic engineering191→249
- Wireless63→114
- Antenna (radio)96→132
- Telecommunications6→11
- Physical layer1→5
- Phased array7→10
- Transmission (telecommunications)5→6
- Channel (broadcasting)6→7
Where 5g 6g is researched across United States
Location clusters by institution affiliation — each city's volume, stance tone, and a quick read on its hot topic, what's advancing, the opening opportunity, and the main concern.
Who's filing 5g 6g patents in the United States
United States 5g 6g patent filing is accelerating — 285,042 filings from 8,000 assignees (2016–2025), led by Qualcomm, Intel, Apple; annual filings 26402→26594.
- Qualcomm103021
- Intel19233
- Apple18481
- Microsoft10603
- IBM8826
- Google8653
- Interdigital Patent Holdings8515
- Interdigital TECH8058
Common questions
Rohit lives in the feed. He covers what's moving right now — the funding rounds, launches and shifts breaking across the trade press — and ties them back to where the sector is heading.