The most expensive part of a home security system is often the central panel. It requires professional installation, a dedicated power source, and a specific location, creating a physical and financial anchor for the entire network. Singapore-based startup nami is betting that by fusing two wireless protocols, it can cut that anchor loose.
Its core product is a Fusion Sensing platform that combines Wi-Fi sensing with the Thread protocol in a dual-protocol mesh architecture [PR Newswire, May 2026]. The bet is that this hybrid approach, running on RTOS-based chipsets instead of more expensive Linux hardware, can deliver reliable, panel-less security and personal awareness at a lower bill of materials than traditional systems [PR Newswire, May 2026]. The company recently announced its systems are compatible with Alarm.com, a major platform for professional security monitoring [PR Newswire, May 2026].
The technical wedge
Nami's architecture is a direct challenge to the star-topology model common in many smart home setups, where every device connects directly to a central hub. Its dual-protocol mesh aims to create a self-healing network where Wi-Fi handles high-bandwidth sensing data and Thread provides a low-power, resilient mesh for battery-operated sensors like door contacts. The stated advantage is coverage and reliability in larger or more complex spaces without a single point of failure. By building this intelligence on real-time operating system (RTOS) chipsets, nami claims it achieves cost efficiency that Linux-based competitors cannot match [PR Newswire, May 2026]. This technical stack is the foundation for its turnkey systems and integration-ready building blocks targeting security, CareTech, and telecom industries [nami.ai].
Building on Thread and Alarm.com
The company's go-to-market strategy hinges on two key partnerships. An integration with the Thread Group provides the underlying mesh networking standard and a stamp of interoperability credibility. More concretely, the recently announced compatibility with Alarm.com is a critical distribution play. It allows nami's panel-less systems to slot into the existing workflows of professional security installers and monitoring services, a channel that has historically been difficult for DIY-focused startups to penetrate.
This partnership-driven approach is reflected in its investor base, which includes Verizon Ventures, a logical backer for telecom-focused IoT infrastructure [PR Newswire]. The $10.5 million Series A, also supported by Amavi Capital and INSPiRE, suggests investors are betting on the architecture's potential to scale across multiple verticals beyond residential security [PR Newswire].
| Founder | Role |
|---|---|
| Jean-Eudes Leroy | Co-founder [PR Newswire] |
| Jérôme Leroy | Co-founder [PR Newswire] |
| Gleb Vodovozov | Co-founder [LinkedIn] |
The scale and skepticism test
For a technical breakdown: the fusion of Wi-Fi Channel State Information (CSI) sensing with a Thread mesh is clever. Wi-Fi sensing can detect motion and presence through signal perturbations, while Thread's mesh ensures low-power sensors stay connected. The cost claim hinges on the RTOS versus Linux divide, which is real for mass-produced hardware. The open question is whether the fused data stream from two radios creates a reliability advantage significant enough to displace entrenched, single-protocol systems that are simpler to troubleshoot.
The sober assessment lies in what could go wrong at scale. The market is not empty. Origin Wireless is a well-funded, pure-play Wi-Fi sensing competitor with its own telecom partnerships [Origin Wireless]. Nami must prove its dual-protocol approach isn't just technically interesting but demonstrably more reliable and cheaper at volume than a Wi-Fi-only or proprietary-mesh alternative. Furthermore, selling through the Alarm.com channel means competing for installer mindshare against giants like Resideo and Johnson Controls, who have deep relationships and bundled offerings. The success of nami's building-block strategy for broader IoT applications will depend on proving its core security use case first, in homes and buildings where a missing panel is seen as a feature, not a risk.
Sources
- [PR Newswire, May 2026] nami Introduces Agile Security and Personal Awareness Systems Compatible with Alarm.com Ahead of MWC 2026 | https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/nami-announces-10-5m-series-a-to-innovate-digital-sensing-infrastructure-301870955.html
- [nami.ai] nami - Wi-Fi Sensing and Fusion Sensing | https://nami.ai/
- [LinkedIn] Gleb Vodovozov - nami | https://www.linkedin.com/in/se-hsieng-e-a450852/
- [Origin Wireless] Origin Wireless Corporate Website | https://www.originwireless.com/