Pharrowtech Secures €7.5m Funding for WiFi 8 mmWave Chip

Belgian startup Pharrowtech has secured a significant investment of €7.5 million from the European Innovation Council (EIC) Accelerator programme to further develop its innovative 60Ghz chip, poised to revolutionize the next generation of WiFi technology.

The EIC Accelerator Grant has provided Pharrowtech, a spinout of the renowned imec research lab, with €2.5 million in non-dilutive funding and an additional €5 million in equity investment specifically for its millimetre-wave (mmWave) phased array chip technology.

Anticipated to be designated as IEEE 802.11bq, the mmWave technology offers a substantial 14 GHz of unlicensed spectrum, along with a wide array of non-overlapping channels accessible within the 60 GHz band, promising a significant leap forward in wireless communication capabilities.

"Receiving this recognition and support from the EIC Accelerator is a tremendous honor for us," expressed Wim Van Thillo, co-founder and CEO of Pharrowtech. "With global Wi-Fi semiconductor sales projected to surpass $20 billion by 2026, this additional funding will enable us to better serve this rapidly expanding market. We are deeply grateful to the EIC for their support and to Zaz Ventures for their invaluable assistance in securing this investment."

Commenting on the recent developments, Micky Mehta, VP of Digital Systems and Software Engineering at Pharrowtech, highlighted the significance of the IEEE 802.11 Working Group's decision during a meeting in Montreal on July 17, 2024. The group passed a motion to establish a new Task Group, IEEE 802.11bq, aimed at integrating 60 GHz band support into mainstream Wi-Fi protocols. This strategic move aligns perfectly with the timing of the EIC grant award, positioning Pharrowtech to establish itself as a global leader in next-generation Wi-Fi technology.