What Freevolt Technologies does

Freevolt Technologies Limited is a UK-based private technology company founded in 2013 by Paul and Elspeth Drayson, headquartered in London with a registered office in Milton Keynes. The company develops and commercializes a patented RF (Radio Frequency) energy harvesting technology, branded Freevolt, which captures ambient electromagnetic energy from existing wireless infrastructure including WiFi, cellular networks, NFC, RFID, and broadcast signals, and converts it into usable electrical power for low-energy devices. The company claims over 80% end-to-end harvesting efficiency and up to 3x more power than conventional solutions, with multi-protocol compatibility (NFC, WiFi, RFID) and a compact form factor using standard components and flexible PCB manufacturing.

The company's commercial product surface centers on S-Key, a batteryless biometric smart card launched in 2022 that harvests RF energy from battery-powered door card readers to power an integrated fingerprint sensor for access control applications. S-Key is sold via resellers in the UK and internationally. Historically, Freevolt also developed CleanSpace, a citizen-science air pollution monitoring IoT network using personal sensors and machine learning calibration, and Sensyne, a clinical AI platform (GDm-Health, SEND, EDGE) developed in collaboration with the University of Oxford and Oxford University Hospitals NHS Trust. Sensyne was spun off as Sensyne Health, listed on the London Stock Exchange in August 2018, delisted in 2022, and renamed Arcturis Data; since the spin-off, Freevolt has refocused on RF harvesting and biometric smart cards.

Freevolt operates a three-stream revenue model: (1) patent licensing royalties on its RF energy harvesting and batteryless biometric smartcard IP offered globally, (2) hardware sales of S-Key via reseller channels, and (3) engineering consultancy services leveraging its RF expertise. Pricing is not publicly disclosed and appears to be negotiated on a quote basis. The company is founder-owned, employs 11-50 staff, and has received industry recognition including the CleanEquity Monaco 2016 Innovation Award, R&E Tech Pioneer 2023, IDTechEx Sustainability Excellence Award, R&D 100 Awards finalist status, and Security & Fire Excellence Awards 2023 Silver for S-Key.

Name

Freevolt Technologies

Legal name

Freevolt Technologies Limited

Website

https://freevolt.tech

Company type

Private

Founded year

2013

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Freevolt Technologies is a UK-based private company that develops patented RF energy harvesting technology to power battery-free devices. It commercializes the S-Key batteryless biometric smart card via resellers, licenses its patent portfolio globally, and offers RF engineering consultancy services.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Smart Card Security & Access Control Hardware

NAICS

Electric Power Generation (22111), Current-Carrying Wiring Device Manufacturing (335931)

SIC

Electronic Coils, Transformers & Other Inductors (3677), Cogeneration Services & Small Power Producers (4991)

akta.pro primary industry

Passive Filters & RF Passives (LC Filters/Diplexers/Baluns/Attenuators) (HDAHANAG)

akta.pro secondary industry

Renewable Distributed Generation (Rooftop/Onsite Solar, Small Wind, Small Hydro) (EUACALAJ)

Keywords

• RF energy harvesting
• Batteryless biometric cards
• IoT power solutions
• Access control hardware
• RF patent licensing

Headquarters

HQ city

London

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Patent Licensing: Offering patents for sale or licensing in the field of radio frequency energy harvesting and batteryless biometric smartcard technology. The broad patent portfolio covers RF energy harvesting applications and batteryless biometric access control on smartcards.
2. S-Key Biometric Smart Card Sales: Commercializing the S-Key batteryless biometric smart card through resellers in the UK and abroad for access control applications.
3. Engineering Consultancy Services: Providing engineering consultancy projects for client companies seeking to use the company's RF expertise and IP.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels2 records

Core offering

Freevolt Technologies commercializes its proprietary RF energy harvesting technology through three channels: licensing of its patent portfolio covering RF energy harvesting and batteryless biometric smartcards, direct sales of its S-Key batteryless biometric smart card for access control via UK and international resellers, and engineering consultancy projects that apply its RF expertise to client problems. Underlying products include the Freevolt RF harvesting technology, the CleanSpace air pollution monitoring IoT network with personal sensor tags and app, and the S-Key batteryless biometric access control card.

Product overview

Freevolt Technologies is a technology company offering a portfolio of products centered on its proprietary RF energy harvesting technology called Freevolt. The core Freevolt technology enables devices to harvest ambient radio frequency energy from existing infrastructure (mobile phones, payment terminals, WiFi routers, access control readers) to power low-energy devices without batteries. Product applications include CleanSpace (air pollution monitoring IoT network with personal sensors), S-Key (batteryless biometric smart card for access control), and technology licensing of their patent portfolio for IoT and wearable applications. A previous clinical AI product line (Sensyne) was spun off in 2018.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• CleanSpace: Air pollution monitoring IoT network for comprehensive environmental sensing, featuring personal air pollution sensors and smartphone app
• S-Key
• Sensyne

Products and services

• Freevolt Patented RF energy harvesting technology that captures ambient radio frequency energy from existing wireless and broadcast networks (WiFi, cellular, NFC, RFID, broadcast signals) to power low-energy electronic devices. Delivers over 80% end-to-end harvesting efficiency and up to 3x more power than conventional methods, and supports multiple RF protocols without infrastructure changes.
• CleanSpace Air pollution monitoring IoT network featuring personal CleanSpace Tag sensors that connect via Bluetooth to smartphones, using Sensyne machine learning software for real-time remote calibration to create hyperlocal air pollution maps via the CleanSpace app.
• S-Key Biometric Smart Card Batteryless biometric smart card using Freevolt RF energy harvesting technology to power an integrated fingerprint sensor for secure access control applications. Compatible with battery-powered door card readers including mobile phones, payment terminals, and access control readers.
• Patent Portfolio Licensing Technology licensing program offering patents for sale or licensing in RF energy harvesting applications and batteryless biometric smart card technology. Provides a self-contained toolkit for creating high-efficiency RF-powered products including IoT sensors and wearables.

Quantifiable outcome

• Up to 3x more energy harvesting efficiency compared to conventional methods
• +1 more outcomes

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability2 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• University of OxfordcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2016Strategic research collaboration with University of Oxford and Oxford University Hospitals NHS Trust in 2016 to develop clinical AI applications combining machine learning with anonymised patient data analysis for remote patient monitoring and discovery of new therapeutics.
• Oxford University Hospitals NHS TrustcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2016Ground-breaking Strategic Research Agreement (SRA) signed with OUH NHS Trust in 2016 leading to development of clinical AI products including GDm-Health for managing diabetes in pregnancy and SEND for patient monitoring.
• Imperial College LondoncoreTechnology or Integration · 1 January 2014In 2014, the Company acquired a portfolio of technologies in inductive power transfer and RF energy harvesting from Imperial College, London. This technology acquisition formed the foundation for the company's proprietary Freevolt RF energy harvesting technology and subsequent product development.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Powercast Corporation: Powercast is a direct peer in RF energy harvesting, producing wireless power products that harvest ambient RF energy to power low-energy IoT sensors and devices — overlapping directly with Freevolt's core harvesting technology and target applications.
• Atmosic Technologies: Atmosic develops energy-harvesting Bluetooth Low Energy SoCs for IoT devices, directly comparable to Freevolt's RF harvesting approach for powering batteryless connected devices in IoT and wearables.
• EnOcean: EnOcean is a pioneer in energy harvesting wireless sensor technology for building automation, addressing the same batteryless IoT market as Freevolt and serving smart buildings, smart cities, and industrial IoT use cases.
• Zwipe: Zwipe makes biometric payment and access cards, directly comparable to Freevolt's S-Key product in the batteryless/biometric smart card category, though Zwipe has historically used different power architectures.
• SmartMetric: SmartMetric manufactures biometric fingerprint-activated credit and identity cards, directly competing in the biometric smart card space alongside Freevolt's S-Key.

Emerging players

• Ossia: Ossia develops long-range wireless power technology (Cota) that delivers energy over distance, related to Freevolt's RF harvesting approach but focused on actively beamed power rather than ambient harvesting.

Broad incumbents

• IDEMIA: IDEMIA is a global leader in biometric and identity solutions, including smart cards for access control and payments. It competes broadly with Freevolt's S-Key but serves a much wider portfolio across government, financial, and telecom.
• HID Global (ASSA ABLOY): HID Global, part of ASSA ABLOY, is the dominant player in physical access control smart cards and readers, directly competing with S-Key but with a much broader portfolio and entrenched enterprise/government relationships.
• Identiv: Identiv provides smart card, RFID, and security solutions including access control credentials, operating in the same physical access control market as Freevolt's S-Key but with established distribution and a broader product set.
• NXP Semiconductors: NXP is a leading supplier of NFC, RFID, and secure connectivity chips that power smart cards and IoT devices. As a potential Freevolt licensee or integrator, NXP represents both a competitor in adjacent silicon and a channel partner for harvesting technology adoption.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/freevolttechnologies

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

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 Freevolt Technologies