Startup aims to stop tunnel collapses with wireless sensors

The Ackcio team / Photo credit: Ackcio

This article is a part of Startup Spotlight, a series that features young, up-and-coming startups.

In 2015, National University of Singapore PhD student Mobashir Mohammad pitched his wireless mesh network to internet pioneer Vint Cerf. Cerf suggested the technology could serve as a communications backbone for unmanned space exploration.

This conversation led to the creation of Ackcio to solve connectivity bottlenecks in extreme environments. The company now deploys wireless sensors in locations where typical communication tools fail.

😟 Problem

The American Society of Civil Engineers gives US infrastructure a C grade. Aging structures like dams and tunnels are typically checked by engineers walking the site every few weeks. This manual approach lets structural weaknesses grow quietly between inspections.

Cabled monitoring instruments offer another option, but take months to install. Contractors also face costly delays when construction damages fragile sensor cables. Failing to detect issues early creates severe risks for engineers, regulators, and the public.

💡 Solution

Ackcio produces wireless data acquisition routers and sensors for high-risk sites like mines and railways. The system replaces fragile cabled sensors to provide continuous structural health monitoring.

A typical installation provides live data in minutes. The platform provides several core capabilities:

• Plug-and-play sensor chains reading continuous deformation profiles.
• Unmanned remote monitoring requiring minimal post-installation maintenance.
• Synchronized readings across expansive sites at reduced costs.

Photo credit: Ackcio

📊 Market size

Infrastructure investment is surging alongside stricter continuous monitoring regulations. Global tunneling, mining, and dam projects present extensive monitoring opportunities.

Deployments range from US$20,000 to US$500,000 in hardware per site. At an estimated 5,000 major projects annually, the company projects a US$500 million yearly global total addressable market.

🤝 Team

• Mobashir Mohammad. Co-founder and CEO. He holds a PhD in wireless networking from the National University of Singapore.
• Kenny Wang. COO. He previously scaled the smart lock company Igloohome across 90 countries.
• Rahim Sarban. Director of business development. The mechatronics engineer previously founded and scaled sensor tech firm ElastiSense.

🚀 Traction

🏆 Competition

💰 Financials

🚩 Risks