The proliferation of hybrid and multi-cloud IT environments, coupled with the shift to remote work, is driving demand for more robust corporate networks and expanded unified communications and collaboration capabilities. As part of CRN’s Stellar Startups for 2025, here are seven startups developing next-generation networking and UCC technology that solution providers should be aware of.
IT environments continue to expand beyond the data center to cloud platforms, internal and external applications, edge computing systems, and a growing number of devices used by an increasingly dispersed workforce.
All this is putting a strain on traditional IT networks to support and secure surging network traffic amid increasing network complexity. And these trends are generating demand for network and communications products.
The global enterprise networking market is expected to reach $124.6 billion this year, according to a MarketsandMarkets report, and grow at a CAGR of 9.2 percent to reach $193.8 billion in 2030. That forecast incorporates a broad range of technologies including hardware (routers, switches and access points), network systems (data center, campus, branch and remote), network security (SASE, firewalls), SDN, SD-WAN, wired and wireless connectivity, and more.
Industry giants such as Cisco Systems, HPE Aruba (and the company’s Juniper Networks acquisition) and Extreme Networks provide much of the network technology and unified communications software in use today. But the channel should take notice of a new generation of startups that are building innovative products in this space.
As part of CRN’s Stellar Startups for 2025, here’s a look at seven startups in the networking and unified communications arena, founded in 2019 or later, that solution providers should know. The following slides include product descriptions provided by the startups.
Celona
Founded: 2019
Top Executive: Rajeev Shah, Co-Founder, CEO
Celona is a pioneer and innovator of enterprise private wireless offerings and a channel-first company. Celona developed what it describes as the industry’s first 5G LAN system, a turnkey private 5G offering that enables enterprises to meet growing demands for secure and reliable wireless connectivity for critical business applications.
Celona 5G LAN is the company’s flagship offering, designed to bring the power of private 5G wireless to enterprise environments. It delivers a cloud-native platform that integrates seamlessly with existing IT infrastructure.
Website: https://www.celona.io
Cloudbrink
Founded: 2019
Top Executive: Prakash Mana, CEO
Cloudbrink delivers a high-performance secure connectivity system that significantly enhances productivity for the work-from-anywhere generation. Its Personal SASE service (which includes high-performance ZTNA) delivers robust secure remote access while typically boosting application performance between 20 percent and 400 percent and file transfers by up to 30X (verified by independent tests) and reducing support costs.
Cloudbrink Personal SASE combines ZTNA, personal SD-WAN and Automated Moving Target Defense security in a software-only system, ensuring fast application performance, security and simplicity. The company describes its offerings as key for SMBs and enterprises seeking higher productivity, resilience, reduced support overhead and user satisfaction.
Website: https://cloudbrink.com/
EdgeQ
Founded: 2019
Top Executive: Vinay Ravuri, Founder, CEO
EdgeQ has developed a software-defined “5G Base Station-on-a-Chip,” giving customers the ability to build and deploy cellular networks on a single chip the size of a coin. By providing a more modernized communications infrastructure, EdgeQ is connecting the next “trillion of devices” with billions of people.
The EdgeQ “5G Base Station-on-a-Chip” allows indoor and outdoor small cells to converge 4G and 5G, providing a frictionless migration experience with no rip-and-replace.
Website: https://edgeq.io/
Highway9 Networks
Founded: 2020
Top Executive: Allwyn Sequeira, CEO
Highway 9 develops mobile cloud technology for cloud-native mobile connectivity and services for the AI-driven enterprise. Developed by veterans from VMware, Cisco Systems and HPE, Highway 9’s Mobile Cloud enables reliable connectivity everywhere for AI-driven use cases like factory automation and always-on mobile data access, all integrated into the IT stack.
The company’s Virtual Mobile Cloud provides supplemental connectivity to make devices work reliably and securely. The target market is enterprises with mobile connectivity challenges from Fortune 5000 to midsize enterprises with large physical facilities, whether indoor or outdoor.
Website: https://highway9.com/
Lightyear
Founded: 2019
Top Executive: Dennis Thankachan, Co-Founder, CEO
Lightyear’s AI-driven platform automates enterprise telecom, streamlining network procurement, inventory management and expense management. The company serves IT and network teams looking to reduce costs and drive efficiency across the telecom life cycle. Lightyear automates telecom services management while leveraging proprietary data to deliver faster, smarter outcomes.
Lightyear’s Telecom Operating System platform automates network service procurement, inventory management and expense management for enterprise networks. Key features include automated network RFPs and installation of digital system of record for networks and automated network life-cycle management— powered by AI.
Website: https://lightyear.ai/
RYTHMz
Founded: 2024
Top Executive: Steve Copeland, Founder, CEO
RYTHMz delivers enterprise-grade, portable 5G connectivity offerings. The company’s technology focuses on carrier-agnostic 5G and satellite connectivity, bonded VPN traffic and cloud-native management platforms. RYTHMz serves the managed services market exclusively through channel partnerships, targeting MSPs, event organizers, emergency responders and remote-work enterprises that require reliable backup or primary connectivity.
RYTHMz 5G Connectivity Ecosystem delivers enterprise-grade portable 5G offerings through rugged hardware (DroneResponse, BeeLink, SuperBee and QueenConnect) with cloud management. The subscription-based model enables rapid deployment for MSPs serving enterprises, events, emergency responders, and remote operations requiring reliable connectivity anywhere.
Website: https://rythmz.com/
Vida
Founded: 2022
Top Executive: Lyle Pratt, Founder, CEO
Vida provides enterprise-grade AI voice offerings, transforming operations for telecom service providers and SMBs. Founded by telecom industry veterans, its agents automate key business functions like customer service, lead qualification and scheduling. Vida’s proprietary voice stack integrates seamlessly over SIP, delivering lifelike, real-time conversations that boost efficiency and engagement.
The Vida platform is designed for SMBs and telecom service providers, automating key functions like customer service, lead qualification and sales. The platform seamlessly integrates with existing phone systems via SIP and over 7,000 apps, delivering real-time conversations to enhance customer experience and boost efficiency.
Website: www.vida.io
