Helium
Helium (Nova Labs, Inc.) operates a decentralized wireless network of 950,000+ community-deployed hotspots, providing cellular offload for Tier-1 carriers and LoRaWAN IoT connectivity, powered by the HNT token on Solana.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2019
- HeadquartersSan Francisco, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingSoftware
What Helium does
Nova Labs, Inc. (dba Helium) operates a decentralized wireless network platform that combines community-deployed hotspots with blockchain-based token economics to deliver cellular offload and IoT connectivity. The platform has two core networks: the Helium Mobile Network, providing 5G/cellular offload to Tier-1 carriers and direct mobile connectivity to subscribers, and the Helium IoT Network, described as the world's largest contiguous LoRaWAN network connecting sensors, devices, and machines. The system runs on the Solana blockchain and is powered by the HNT token via a burn-and-mint equilibrium — HNT is earned by hotspot operators providing coverage and burned as Data Credits when users transfer data. Proprietary components include the LongFi protocol (LoRa combined with Helium's incentive layer), the Helium World deployer management platform, and Helium Plus, a software upgrade that converts existing Passpoint-capable Wi-Fi networks (Aruba, Cisco Meraki, Extreme, Fortinet, Ruckus, Ubiquiti) into Helium Network nodes.
Helium monetizes through hardware sales of purpose-built Mobile Hotspots ($249 indoor, $499 outdoor), Data Credit / HNT token economics, enterprise carrier offload fees, and (historically) Helium Mobile consumer subscription plans. The company reports 950,000+ globally active hotspots, 3 million+ daily active users, 110+ TB of daily data transferred, and 450,000+ mobile subscribers — though the consumer mobile carrier business was divested to Andrew Yang's Noble Mobile in June 2026, leaving Helium focused on network infrastructure. Strategic carrier partnerships include AT&T (April 2025, 93,000+ hotspot offload), T-Mobile, and Telefónica's Movistar Mexico (February 2025, 2M subscribers), with international expansion into Brazil via Mambo WiFi (December 2025) and the UK. Helium has raised approximately $365M+ in cumulative funding including a $200M Series D in February 2022 led by Tiger Global and Andreessen Horowitz at a $1.2B valuation. Following the 2026 divestiture, founder Amir Haleem transitioned to Chairman and Mario Di Dio, an enterprise telecom veteran, became CEO. The SEC dismissed its enforcement action against Helium in May 2025, providing regulatory clarity that HNT tokens are not securities.
Helium firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Helium
- Legal name
- Nova Labs, Inc.
- Website
- https://helium.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2019
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Helium (Nova Labs, Inc.) operates a decentralized wireless network of 950,000+ community-deployed hotspots, providing cellular offload for Tier-1 carriers and LoRaWAN IoT connectivity, powered by the HNT token on Solana.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Helium industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Decentralized Wireless Network Infrastructure
- NAICS
- Wireless Telecommunications Carriers (except Satellite) (517112), Wired and Wireless Telecommunications Carriers (except Satellite) (51711)
- SIC
- Computer Communications Equipment (3576)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Decentralized Wireless & IoT Networks (LoRaWAN/5G/WiFi hotspots, sensor networks) (FSAPALAE)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- DePIN Hardware, Devices & Supply Chain (miners/routers/hotspots, firmware, device management) (FSAPALAJ), Site Security, Monitoring & Remote Operations (NOC/IoT) (HDAIAKAH)
Keywords
Where Helium is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- San Francisco
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Helium business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Software
- Cost components
- Technology or R&D, Supply Chain, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- HNT Token Economics: Primary revenue mechanism through HNT token. Hotspot operators earn HNT for providing coverage and validating transactions. The token's market value and trading activity on cryptocurrency exchanges constitute the core economic engine of the Helium ecosystem.
- Data Credits: Users burn Data Credits (purchased with HNT) to transfer data on the network. Provides stable revenue stream tied to actual network usage.
- Hardware Sales: Sale of Helium Hotspot devices (Indoor at $249, Outdoor at $499) to community deployers. One-time hardware revenue from the hotspot operator community.
- Mobile Plans: Helium Mobile subscription plans for consumers providing cellular-style connectivity through the Helium network. Recurring subscription revenue from mobile subscribers.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Indoor Hotspot - Entry-level coverage device for home and small business deployment |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Outdoor Hotspot - Ruggedized, weather-resistant coverage device for outdoor and wide-area deployment |
| Subscription | Monthly | Helium Mobile Plan - Consumer mobile data subscription |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels5 records
Helium product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Helium operates a decentralized wireless network platform that combines two core networks: the Helium IoT Network (the world's largest contiguous LoRaWAN network for sensors and machines) and the Helium Mobile Network (a 5G/cellular network providing carrier offload and direct mobile connectivity). The company sells purpose-built Indoor and Outdoor Hotspot hardware, offers Helium Plus software that converts existing third-party Wi-Fi infrastructure into Helium coverage, and powers its economy through the HNT token running on the Solana blockchain. Hotspot operators earn HNT for providing coverage while users burn Data Credits to transfer data on the network.
Product overview
Helium is a decentralized wireless network platform with two core networks: the Helium Mobile Network (cellular offload for carriers and mobile subscribers) and the Helium IoT Network (LoRaWAN for sensors and devices). The platform is powered by HNT token running on Solana blockchain. Consumer offerings include Helium Mobile phone plans (acquired by Noble Mobile in 2026), while business offerings include Helium Plus (software upgrade for existing Wi-Fi infrastructure), Carrier Offload services, and purpose-built Mobile Hotspots (indoor at $249, outdoor at $499). Hotspot deployment is managed through Helium World platform. The economic model rewards network builders with HNT while carriers and users burn HNT for data usage.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Helium Mobile: Consumer wireless carrier service offering mobile phone plans on the Helium Network, partnered with T-Mobile for coverage.
- Helium IoT
- HNT
- Helium Plus
Products and services
- Helium Mobile Network A decentralized wireless network built from community-deployed 5G/cellular Hotspots that provides cellular offload services to major carriers (AT&T, T-Mobile, Movistar) and direct connectivity to mobile subscribers, using a burn-and-mint economic model where hotspot operators earn HNT for providing coverage.
- Helium IoT Network The world's largest contiguous LoRaWAN network connecting hundreds of thousands of sensors, devices, and machines; provides long-range, low-power connectivity for IoT applications including asset tracking, smart agriculture, smart cities, and industrial monitoring.
- HNT (Helium Network Token) The native cryptocurrency token running on the Solana blockchain that powers the Helium connectivity economy. HNT is burned when the network is used (creating Data Credits) and earned by Hotspot operators who provide coverage; serves as the economic engine of the network.
- Helium Plus Software upgrade that converts existing Passpoint-capable Wi-Fi infrastructure (from Aruba, Cisco Meraki, Extreme, Fortinet, Ruckus, Ubiquiti) into part of the Helium Network; enables venues to monetize unused bandwidth by providing carrier offload services without deploying new hardware, earning HNT or USD.
- Helium Mobile Hotspot (Indoor)
- Helium Mobile Hotspot (Outdoor)
- Helium World Web-based platform for exploring Helium Network coverage and managing hotspot deployments; features network visualization, hotspot management, reward tracking, and deployment analytics.
- Carrier Offload with Helium
Quantifiable outcome
- 110+ TB daily data transferred across the network
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Helium
Customer profileNamed customers8 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Helium technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature5 records
Helium partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.
- AT&TflagshipAT&T partnered with Helium for Wi-Fi offload services, enabling AT&T subscribers to connect through Helium's decentralized Wi-Fi network. This partnership provides AT&T with cost-effective coverage extension and traffic offload capabilities.
- T-MobileflagshipT-Mobile serves as a carrier partner for Helium Mobile, enabling the network to provide nationwide coverage through T-Mobile's infrastructure in combination with Helium's distributed hotspot network.
- Telefónica/Movistar MexicocoreTelefónica's Mexican brand Movistar partnered with Helium for regional coverage expansion in Mexico. The partnership enables Helium to extend its network footprint into Latin American markets through an established carrier relationship.
- Talus CommunicationscoreTalus Communications is a deployment partner that operates and manages large-scale Helium hotspot deployments. As a channel partner, Talus acquires, deploys, and operates hotspots to expand network coverage in targeted areas.
- LongFicoreLongFi is a network deployer focused on IoT and LoRaWAN connectivity services, deploying and operating Helium hotspots to provide Internet of Things connectivity solutions.
- Ace TomatocoreAce Tomato is a managed wireless deployment partner that operates Helium hotspots at scale, providing network coverage and connectivity services through the Helium infrastructure.
- Decentralized LLCcoreDecentralized LLC is a Helium network deployer operating hotspots for network coverage and earning HNT tokens through network participation.
- Mile-High Wi-FiminorMile-High Wi-Fi is a Denver-based IT firm and Helium hotspot operator providing coverage in the Denver metropolitan area through the Helium network.
- Hudson HouseminorHudson House is a deployment company operating Helium hotspots as part of its network infrastructure business.
- Rooftop Digital Income (RDI)minorRooftop Digital Income (RDI) is a deployment partner focused on rooftop hotspot deployments to maximize coverage and network density in urban environments.
- DAWN InternetminorDAWN Internet partnered with Helium for decentralized internet initiatives, exploring non-traditional connectivity solutions through the Helium network infrastructure.
Scale indicators7 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Helium competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Boingo Wireless: Wi-Fi offload and carrier services provider enabling mobile operators to offload traffic to venues, comparable to Helium's carrier offload business model and customer base.
- Pollen Mobile: DePIN mobile network where individuals operate hotspots to earn tokens for providing 4G/5G coverage — a direct competitor to Helium Mobile with the same tokenized, community-built model.
- The Things Network: Community-built LoRaWAN IoT network using crowd-deployed gateways, directly comparable to Helium's IoT Network in protocol, target customers, and deployment model.
- Wayru: Decentralized WiFi hotspot network rewarding deployers with tokens for providing connectivity, similar in architecture to Helium's hotspot network and target use cases.
- World Mobile Token: Decentralized wireless network using community-deployed nodes and a token-incentive model to provide mobile connectivity in underserved regions, directly comparable to Helium's DePIN wireless approach.
Broad incumbents
- American Tower: Large-scale tower and passive communications infrastructure owner-operator, comparable as a competing model for building out wireless coverage that Helium aims to disrupt with decentralized infrastructure.
- Sigfox: Low-power wide-area network operator for IoT devices, addressing the same IoT connectivity market as Helium's LoRaWAN network with a proprietary rather than decentralized model.
- Senet: Managed LoRaWAN network operator providing IoT connectivity for enterprise customers, comparable to Helium's IoT network but with traditional operator economics rather than token incentives.
- Republic Wireless: Hybrid Wi-Fi/cellular MVNO offering mobile plans that leverage Wi-Fi offload, comparable in consumer mobile strategy to Helium Mobile's pre-Noble-Mobile approach.
Others
- ChirpStack: Open-source LoRaWAN network server stack used to deploy and manage LoRaWAN networks, comparable as enabling infrastructure for community-built IoT networks like Helium's.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks1 record
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Helium social profiles
Digital presenceHelium financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Helium leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles5 records
Helium subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries1 record
Helium funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds10 records
Investors31 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Helium M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Helium
What does Helium do?
Helium operates a decentralized wireless network platform that combines two core networks: the Helium IoT Network (the world's largest contiguous LoRaWAN network for sensors and machines) and the Helium Mobile Network (a 5G/cellular network providing carrier offload and direct mobile connectivity). The company sells purpose-built Indoor and Outdoor Hotspot hardware, offers Helium Plus software that converts existing third-party Wi-Fi infrastructure into Helium coverage, and powers its economy through the HNT token running on the Solana blockchain. Hotspot operators earn HNT for providing coverage while users burn Data Credits to transfer data on the network.
Is Helium a public or private company?
Helium is a private company. It is classified as venture growth investor backed and is currently operating.
When was Helium founded?
Helium was founded in 2019. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Helium based?
Helium is headquartered in San Francisco, United States, in the North America region.
How does Helium make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. HNT Token Economics are the primary driver. The others are data Credits, hardware Sales and mobile Plans.
Who are Helium's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Boingo Wireless, Pollen Mobile, The Things Network, Wayru and World Mobile Token. Broad incumbents are American Tower, Sigfox, Senet and Republic Wireless. ChirpStack is listed as an others.
Does Helium have an API?
No public API is recorded for Helium.
What industry is Helium in?
Helium's product category is Decentralized Wireless Network Infrastructure. Its primary akta.pro industry code is FSAPALAE, Decentralized Wireless & IoT Networks (LoRaWAN/5G/WiFi hotspots, sensor networks), with a secondary code of FSAPALAJ, DePIN Hardware, Devices & Supply Chain (miners/routers/hotspots, firmware, device management). Its NAICS code is 517112 and its SIC code is 3576.