WaveMAX

What WaveMAX does

WaveMAX Corporation is an Austin, Texas-based private technology company that develops and deploys shared WiFi infrastructure targeting two B2B customer segments: Mobile Virtual Network Operators (MVNOs) seeking to extend their service offerings with retail-footprint connectivity, and retailers (ranging from major chains to bodegas and small stores) seeking to provide free WiFi to shoppers as a customer engagement and differentiation tool. Its flagship offering is a WiFi6-5G shared network solution that the company describes as the world's first of its kind, protected by US Patent US8811363 and related international filings, and delivered under a "WiFintech Ecosystem" positioning.

The product portfolio centers on the SharedFi shared WiFi network, the WiFi6-5G shared network technology deployed in retail environments, and the SharedFi Mobile App on Google Play, which was relaunched in November 2023. In February 2024, the company incorporated SharedFi Inc. as a wholly-owned subsidiary to operate the consumer-facing brand separately from the corporate parent. The company monetizes through managed WiFi services sold to MVNOs and retailers; no public pricing is disclosed.

Go-to-market is channel-driven: the core implementation partner Execon offers WaveMAX-powered managed WiFi to over 20,000 retail locations (predominantly in Mexico), while direct enterprise sales have produced an anchor agreement with Soriana for 800 stores in Mexico. Additional distribution comes from TelcoDR's CloudCity MWC Barcelona selection and partnerships with Mexican development bank NAFIN (via the NAFIN-Acelera program). The company is backed by multiple financial investors including GAIN Investment Group, Innovateur Capital, Total Capital (formerly Shanghai VC), Technology Impact Partners, NAFIN-Acelera, and Execon. Headcount is 1-10 employees, and cumulative disclosed funding is approximately $1.37M, indicating a small, early-stage operating footprint despite a multi-year history and claims of 50 million WiFi accesses impacting 3.5 million users in 2019.

Name

WaveMAX

Legal name

WaveMAX Corporation

Website

https://wavemaxcorp.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2016

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

WaveMAX Corporation is an Austin-based private company that operates a patented WiFi6-5G shared network platform, branded SharedFi, serving MVNOs and retailers (including Soriana's 800 stores) with managed WiFi infrastructure and a consumer mobile app for free in-store connectivity.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Wireless Network Infrastructure

NAICS

Wired and Wireless Telecommunications Carriers (except Satellite) (51711), Telecommunications Resellers (517121)

SIC

Computer Communications Equipment (3576)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYHDAFACAC

Wi‑Fi Controllers & WLAN Gateways (On‑prem/Virtual)

Hardware, Technology & Telecom/Networking Equipment & Components/Wireless LAN (Wi‑Fi) Infrastructure

SECONDARYHDAIADAC

Wholesale ISPs & Bandwidth Resellers (Bulk Transit/Last-Mile)

Hardware, Technology & Telecom/Telecommunications & Network Services/Internet Service Providers (ISPs)

SECONDARYHDAIAAAE

Private LTE/5G Mobile Network Operators (Campus/Industrial)

Hardware, Technology & Telecom/Telecommunications & Network Services/Wireless/Mobile Network Operators (MNOs)

Keywords

• WiFi shared network
• MVNO connectivity solutions
• WiFi6 5G infrastructure
• Retail WiFi services
• WiFintech ecosystem

Headquarters

HQ city

Austin

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Software

Cost components

Technology or R&D, Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. WiFi Shared Network Services: Providing WiFi6-5G shared network infrastructure services to MVNOs and retailers, enabling free WiFi offerings to end consumers while monetizing through network access and data services

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

WaveMAX Corporation operates a proprietary WiFi6-5G shared network technology platform branded as the WiFintech Ecosystem, which it licenses to Mobile Virtual Network Operators (MVNOs) and retailers. The technology enables shared wireless infrastructure across thousands of retail locations, allowing partners to deliver free WiFi access to end consumers while monetizing through network access and data services. The company's flagship consumer-facing brand is SharedFi, supported by a mobile application available on Google Play.

Product overview

WaveMAX operates as a WiFintech ecosystem provider serving MVNOs and retailers. The company's core product portfolio centers on SharedFi, a shared WiFi network solution that enables free WiFi access for consumers through retail partnerships. This is complemented by a WiFi6-5G shared network technology (deployed in Bodegas, small stores, and major retailers like Soriana) and the SharedFi Mobile App. WaveMAX's intellectual property is protected by US Patents (US8811363) and related international laws.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• SharedFi: WiFi connectivity solution and mobile app for shared network access

Products and services

• SharedFi A shared WiFi network solution that enables free WiFi access for consumers through partnerships with MVNOs and retailers. It is the consumer-facing product brand for WaveMAX's WiFi6-5G shared network technology, operated via SharedFi Inc.
• WiFi6-5G Shared Network A next-generation shared wireless network solution combining WiFi6 and 5G technologies, designed for deployment in retail locations, bodegas, and small stores to provide connectivity to end users and shared infrastructure for MVNOs and retailers.
• SharedFi Mobile App A mobile application available on the Google Play Store that enables users to access the SharedFi WiFi network at participating retail locations.

Quantifiable outcome

• 50 million WiFi accesses in one year
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• SharedFi Inc.coreOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing Partner · 1 February 2024SharedFi Inc. was incorporated as a subsidiary in February 2024, serving as the consumer-facing brand for WaveMAX's SharedFi mobile application and WiFi services.
• Cuentas Inc.minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 23 July 2021Joint venture signed with Cuentas Inc. in July 2021 for strategic partnership.
• TelcoDRminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 21 May 2021Selected by TelcoDR to participate in CloudCity MWC Barcelona, gaining visibility in the telecommunications ecosystem.
• ExeconcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 30 July 2020System integrator offering WiFi managed service provider to more than 20,000 retail locations. Received investment from Execon and operates as a key implementation partner deploying WaveMAX solutions.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Boingo Wireless: Boingo operates large-scale WiFi and 5G networks across venues including retail, transit, airports, and stadiums, and provides carrier WiFi offload for MNOs and MVNOs. It is a broader incumbent with overlapping shared-network and MVNO-offload capabilities versus WaveMAX's retail-focused WiFi6-5G model.
• Cisco (Meraki): Cisco Meraki is the dominant cloud-managed WiFi platform used by retailers globally, offering WiFi6 access points, switching, and analytics. It represents the entrenched incumbent against which WaveMAX positions its shared-network, MVNO-enabled alternative.
• HPE Aruba Networking: Aruba (HPE) provides enterprise-grade WiFi and indoor cellular solutions widely deployed in retail. Like Cisco Meraki, it is the kind of incumbent whose installed base WaveMAX must displace or coexist with for retail WiFi deals.
• Devicescape (Comcast): Devicescape operated a curated WiFi offload network for mobile carriers before being absorbed by Comcast; it pioneered the WiFi-as-MNO-offload concept. WaveMAX's MVNO WiFi offload positioning places it in the same conceptual lineage.

Direct peers

• Purple WiFi: Purple provides guest WiFi, analytics, and marketing tools for retail and venue customers, with a cloud-managed platform similar in spirit to WaveMAX's SharedFi ecosystem. Both monetize free WiFi access at retailers and compete for the same SMB and enterprise retail customer base.
• Cloud4Wi: Cloud4Wi offers a cloud WiFi platform for retail chains that delivers guest WiFi, location analytics, and marketing engagement—directly competing with WaveMAX's retailer-facing value proposition of free WiFi plus foot-traffic analytics.
• Zenreach: Zenreach provides guest WiFi, customer data platform, and marketing automation for physical retailers and restaurants. It is a direct competitor in the retail-guest-WiFi-plus-analytics category where WaveMAX plays.
• Linkyfi: Linkyfi delivers guest WiFi marketing, analytics, and captive portal solutions for retailers, venues, and SMBs. Comparable to WaveMAX's SharedFi in serving retailers seeking to monetize free WiFi through analytics and engagement.
• Single Digits (Ubiquitous): Single Digits (now part of Ubiquitous) provides managed WiFi, guest access, and carrier offload solutions for hotels, MDUs, and retail venues. Comparable managed-services model and customer base to WaveMAX's retail WiFi deployments.

Emerging players

• Aptilo Networks: Aptilo provides carrier-grade WiFi offload and policy control for mobile operators and MVNOs, a closely adjacent solution to WaveMAX's shared WiFi infrastructure for MVNOs and retailers.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/sharedfi
• Facebookfacebook.com/Sharedfi
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/wavemax-corporation

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds2 records

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about WaveMAX