AnyVision Raises $235M Funding Round From SoftBank, Others
The funding round is one of the largest in the visual intelligence space in Western markets and underscores the growing importance of AI.
AnyVision bills its Access Point AI platform as leveraging state-of-the-art technologies to help protect an organization’s physical access points by identifying authorized personnel and persons of interest in real-time.
HOLON, Israel — Artificial intelligence (AI)-based facial recognition startup AnyVision, based here, has secured an investment of $235 million from SoftBank Vision Fund 2i and Eldridge, with further participation from existing investors.
The funding round is said to be one of the largest in the visual intelligence space in Western markets, according to an announcement. It is said to underscore the growing importance of AI, machine learning and biometrics in transforming physical and perimeter security.
Proceeds from the round will accelerate AnyVision’s product innovation in edge computing and Access Point AI used to optimize touchless access control, video surveillance and watchlist alerting, according to the announcement. This same platform will drive operational insights including occupancy analytics, people counting and dwell times, as well as flag potentially dangerous behavior.
AnyVision bills its Access Point AI platform as leveraging state-of-the-art technologies to help protect an organization’s physical access points by identifying authorized personnel and persons of interest in real-time and layering in additional operational insights to streamline the customer experience.
“AnyVision’s innovations in Recognition AI helped transform passive cameras into proactive security systems and empowered organizations take a more holistic view to advanced security threats,” says AnyVision CEO Avi Golan. “The Access Point AI platform is designed to protect people, places and privacy while simultaneously reducing costs, power, bandwidth and operational complexity.”
To increase its market reach, AnyVision says it has formed strategic relationships with several key partners in this space including Honeywell, Schneider Electric, Boon Edam, Ambarella and Nvidia, as well as a number of key regional system integrators.
AnyVision says its biometric technologies currently serve organizations across financial services, gaming, stadiums, education, critical infrastructure, healthcare and manufacturing/distribution verticals.
The company faced significant challenges last year, including laying off half of its staff and cuts to research and sales due to shrinking clients’ budget as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, Reuters reported in April, citing sources.
The layoffs and cuts were also brought on by investor Microsoft Corp.’s divestiture in the company based on ethical concerns of its technology, the report added.
With this new funding, AnyVision says it will integrate SDKs and software onto edge-devices (e.g., smart cameras, bodycams and chips) to deliver enhanced video analytics in terms of speed, security, affordability, flexibility and versatility.
As part of the transaction, Amit Lubovsky, director for SoftBank Investment Advisers, will join AnyVision’s board of directors.
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