Dabba

What Dabba does

Dabba (legally WIFIDABBA INDIA PRIVATE LIMITED, also operating as Wifi Dabba and Dabba Network) is a Web3-powered decentralised physical infrastructure network (DePIN) building WiFi connectivity for underserved markets, with India as its primary and explicitly described "greenfield" market. The company designs and sells WiFi hotspot hardware — Dabba Lite at $199 (with a 7-year initial ownership period), plus Dabba Pro and Dabba Laser variants — running its proprietary Dabba OS on an MT762A processor supporting IEEE standards a/b/g/n/ac/ax. A native utility token, DBT, is used to reward network stakeholders and is burned from supply as data is consumed, creating deflationary token mechanics tied to real network usage.

The company serves three constituencies simultaneously: individual "telecom entrepreneurs" who purchase hotspot hardware online via dabba.com and have it deployed on their behalf; over 100,000 Local Cable Operators (LCOs) aggregated into a managed deployment channel who handle site selection, installation, and maintenance; and end-user WiFi subscribers across India. Distribution runs through direct self-serve e-commerce plus the LCO channel, with the Dabba Explorer dashboard providing real-time visibility into hotspots, bandwidth consumed (3,000 TB cumulative on capture), and simulated token-burn economics. Revenue is generated from one-time hardware sales, the DBT activation fee, and recurring subscription revenue from Indian end-users.

Dabba is backed by Y Combinator, Multicoin Capital, and Borderless, operates with a 1-10 person team, and is led by CEO Andrew Mercy. Note that one firmographic metadata field labels the company as an "Indian inspired fast-casual brand serving farm fresh ingredients with a global twist," which contradicts the body of evidence (legal entity name, product line, technology stack, press coverage, and office address in Koramangala, Bengaluru) and is treated as erroneous data; all other sources confirm Dabba is a telecom/DePIN business, not a restaurant.

Name

Dabba

Legal name

WIFIDABBA INDIA PRIVATE LIMITED

Website

https://dabba.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2015

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Dabba (Wifi Dabba) is a Web3-powered DePIN telecom operator that sells WiFi hotspot hardware and operates a token-incentivised network in India through a managed deployment model leveraging 100,000+ local cable operators, serving unserved subscribers and individual hotspot owners.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Decentralized Wireless Infrastructure

NAICS

Wireless Telecommunications Carriers (except Satellite) (517112), Computing Infrastructure Providers, Data Processing, Web Hosting, and Related Services (518)

SIC

Computer Communications Equipment (3576), Telephone Communications (No Radiotelephone) (4813)

akta.pro primary industry

Wireless ISPs (WISPs) & Fixed Wireless Access Providers (HDAIADAD)

akta.pro secondary industry

Fixed Wireless Access (FWA) CPE (LTE/5G/mmWave) (HDAFAIAE)

Keywords

• Decentralized wifi networks
• Wireless hotspot hardware
• Depin infrastructure
• Broadband deployment services
• Tokenized telecom networks

Headquarters

HQ city

San Francisco

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Technology or R&D, Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Hardware Sales: Sale of Dabba Lite hotspots at $199 per unit, with additional $100 equivalent DBT required for hotspot activation. Hardware sales are one-time revenue with 7-year ownership period and optional renewal.
2. Token Economics (DBT): The Dabba Token (DBT) serves as the network utility token. As data consumption increases, tokens are burnt out of supply, creating deflationary mechanics. Token rewards are distributed to stakeholders managing and maintaining the network.
3. Network Services: Providing WiFi connectivity to paying customers in India, driven by demand from subscribers hungry for data in underserved areas.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Dabba manufactures and sells WiFi-6 hotspot hardware (Dabba Lite, Dabba Pro, Dabba Laser) running its proprietary Dabba OS, deployed across India through a network of 100,000+ Local Cable Operators under exclusive Geographic Zone licenses. The hardware is paired with the DBT utility token, which uses deflationary burn-on-usage mechanics to reward subscribers, operators, and the network operator based on real data consumption. Subscribers access the network through the Dabba WiFi app for a pay-as-you-go experience.

Product overview

Dabba operates as a Web3-powered WiFi Network platform for emerging markets, offering a unified portfolio of hardware hotspots and a blockchain-based token ecosystem. The core product lineup includes Dabba Lite ($199 hardware hotspot), Dabba Pro, and Dabba Laser devices, all running on Dabba OS and connecting to the Dabba Network. The platform integrates the Dabba Token (DBT), a utility token that incentivizes network participants through burn-on-usage mechanics and rewards for stakeholders. Dabba Explorer provides network monitoring and management capabilities. The company targets India's cable operator ecosystem, enabling deployment through a managed LCO (Local Cable Operator) model aggregating over 100,000 cable operators.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Dabba Lite: Entry-level wifi hotspot hardware priced at $199, featuring Dabba OS, MT762A processor, supporting IEEE standards a, b, g, n, ac & ax, with 7-year initial ownership period.
• Dabba Pro
• Dabba Laser

Products and services

• Dabba Lite Entry-tier WiFi-6 hotspot hardware unit priced at $199 (with $100 of DBT bundled in), carrying a 7-year ownership period and built on MediaTek MT762A silicon running Dabba OS. Aimed at individual retail buyers and SMB Local Cable Operators who deploy it for end-user WiFi access and earn DBT rewards on subscriber data consumption.
• Dabba Pro Mid-tier WiFi-6 hotspot hardware SKU in the Dabba lineup, intended for hotspot operators and LCOs needing higher throughput or coverage than the Lite model. Runs Dabba OS on MediaTek MT762A silicon and integrates with the DBT token reward system.
• Dabba Laser Flagship / top-tier WiFi-6 hotspot hardware SKU in the Dabba lineup, designed for maximum-capacity LCO and operator deployments. Built around the same MediaTek MT762A-based architecture running Dabba OS and tied to DBT utility-token rewards.
• Dabba Token (DBT) The DBT utility token is the Solana-based digital asset that aligns subscribers, hotspot operators, LCOs, and the network operator through tokenized rewards, bundled hardware pricing (e.g., $100 of DBT included with each Dabba Lite), data quota management, and deflationary burn-on-usage mechanics.
• Dabba Explorer A real-time network monitoring dashboard that tracks every hotspot deployment, status, and subscription event across the Dabba network, providing transparent operational visibility into the WiFi-6 infrastructure for operators, LCOs, and token holders.
• Dabba WiFi (consumer access app) Pay-as-you-go WiFi access product for end subscribers in India, delivered through a dedicated app that lets consumers authenticate against any Dabba hotspot, purchase data, and participate in DBT subscriber-side rewards under the burn-on-usage token model.

Quantifiable outcome

• 100,000 DePIN devices to be deployed
• +1 more outcomes

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Local Cable Operators (LCOs)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorOver 100,000 Local Cable Operators aggregated in Dabba's network. These LCOs handle deployment, maintenance, and management of hotspots. The managed deployment model enables hotspot owners to participate without technical expertise.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Ubiquiti Inc. Ubiquiti designs and sells wireless networking hardware (airMAX, UniFi) widely used by WISPs, ISPs, and enterprises. Comparable as a WiFi/fixed wireless equipment vendor whose products could serve as alternative infrastructure for India WISP deployments.
• Reliance Jio: Jio is India's largest telecom operator with deep rural and urban broadband reach via JioFiber and JioAirFiber. As the dominant Indian ISP/telco, Jio represents the primary competitive incumbent whose pricing and coverage decisions materially shape Dabba's addressable market.
• Cambium Networks: Cambium Networks manufactures fixed wireless broadband equipment (ePMP, PMP, cnPilot) used by WISPs and telecom operators globally. Comparable as wireless networking infrastructure hardware provider serving emerging market operators similar to Dabba's LCO deployment partners.
• Google Station: Google Station was a free public WiFi service provider focused on India and other emerging markets through partnerships with rail operators and ISPs. While discontinued, it represents a prior incumbent attempt at India WiFi infrastructure that Dabba's decentralized model aims to disrupt.

Emerging players

• MXC (MatchX): MXC/DataHighway operates a DePIN network for IoT and wireless data transmission using LPWAN hotspots with token rewards. Comparable in combining hardware hotspots with Web3 incentive structures, though focused on IoT/sensor data rather than consumer WiFi.
• WiFi Map: WiFi Map is a global WiFi hotspot locator and community that provides free WiFi access in exchange for ads and rewards. Comparable in addressing connectivity gaps for travelers and underserved users, though lacking DePIN token mechanics.
• Instabridge: Instabridge operates a community-driven WiFi sharing app with tokenized incentives, allowing users to share WiFi credentials and earn rewards. Comparable to Dabba's model of monetizing WiFi access through community participation, though Instabridge is app-based rather than hardware-based.
• IoTeX: IoTeX is a blockchain platform focused on IoT and DePIN applications, including the Pebble Tracker hardware for environmental/sensor data. Comparable as a DePIN infrastructure provider combining tokenized incentives with hardware-based real-world data services.
• Nodle Network: Nodle is a DePIN network leveraging Bluetooth-enabled smartphones for IoT connectivity, rewarded via NODL tokens. Comparable as a DePIN protocol using community-deployed hardware with token incentives, though on Bluetooth/IoT rather than WiFi infrastructure.

Direct peers

• Helium: Helium is the most direct peer, operating a decentralized wireless network using hotspot hardware and token incentives (HNT) to reward participants. Both companies combine telecom infrastructure with Web3 tokenomics, though Helium focuses more on LoRaWAN/5G while Dabba focuses on WiFi in India.

Market position

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/eatdabba
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@Dabbanetwork
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/dabba
• Facebookfacebook.com/eatdabba

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

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 Dabba