The market for enterprise connectivity technology is witnessing strong growth globally, driven by increasing digitalisation, international travel, the expansion of Internet of Things (IoT) devices and demand for seamless mobile internet services.
Braid, a global connectivity orchestration platform that enables enterprises to offer mobile connectivity under their own brands, has raised $38 million in Series A funding led by Octopus Ventures, with participation from KPN Ventures, the strategic investment arm of Dutch telecommunications operator KPN.
The investment represents the company’s first external funding round since its launch in 2023. Braid said it is currently profitable and cash-flow positive, serving close to 90 enterprise customers, including major global fintech and travel brands.
The newly raised capital will be used to accelerate international expansion, deepen the company’s carrier network and continue developing its embedded connectivity infrastructure.
Braid provides technology infrastructure that allows businesses to incorporate mobile connectivity into existing applications and digital products without establishing themselves as telecommunications operators.
The platform connects enterprises with more than 600 carriers across over 200 countries through a single application programming interface (API).
Businesses can embed SIM and eSIM connectivity directly into their products using APIs or software development kits (SDKs). They can also launch fully branded connectivity storefronts without requiring dedicated engineering development.
According to Braid, enterprises can initiate a live trial within three minutes, while a branded mobile connectivity service can be launched in as little as one week.
Traditionally, introducing connectivity services can involve procurement procedures, regulatory filings and carrier negotiations spanning three to six months. Braid’s platform is designed to reduce these complexities through a unified technology infrastructure.
The company’s enterprise-focused model allows businesses to incorporate mobile connectivity into services already used by their customers.
Travel companies can integrate connectivity into flight bookings, providing customers with access to mobile services during international journeys. Financial institutions can include connectivity in customer reward programmes, while sports organisations can offer similar services to supporters travelling abroad.
For enterprises, embedding connectivity within existing products may create additional revenue opportunities while supporting customer engagement, retention and longer-term relationships.
Jignesh Dave, Founder and CEO of Braid, said: “I spent 18 months and half a million euros just to sell my first SIM card, and that is why Braid exists. After seven years running a mobile virtual network, I realised we weren’t really selling SIM cards. We had built the infrastructure that makes connectivity accessible to everyone. Amazon built AWS to power its own business and found it could power everyone else’s, and it was the same for us. Today a business can start in three minutes. And when brands make connectivity part of their customer experience, they unlock something far more valuable: stronger relationships, greater loyalty and new revenue.”
Before establishing Braid, Dave worked in banking across the United Kingdom and South Africa, including at Lloyds. He subsequently founded and operated a mobile virtual network operator for seven years, gaining experience in the operational requirements of telecommunications services.
Reinout van Ierschot, Executive Vice President of Wholesale at KPN, said the platform enables enterprises to integrate connectivity through a single API, helping reduce complexity and accelerate time to market.
Formerly known as Next Communications, Braid is headquartered in The Hague. The company intends to use its latest investment to strengthen carrier relationships, expand internationally and further develop its enterprise connectivity capabilities.
