America’s $4.5T wireless infrastructure faces a critical coordination bottleneck. While devices competing for radio spectrum have exploded, from 5G towers to satellite constellations to autonomous drone swarms, the federal systems managing spectrum licenses still rely on manual workflows, static databases, and decades-old technology that can take months to resolve a single coordination request. This analog friction doesn’t just slow commercial innovation; it creates tactical vulnerabilities as spectrum access becomes increasingly contested in modern warfare. Airbase addresses this coordination crisis by building the first software platform designed to automate federal spectrum management at machine speed. The company’s AI-powered system ingests chaotic analog records and translates them into dynamic, machine-to-machine interfaces that enable real-time spectrum coordination, licensing intelligence, and interference deconfliction. Already operating under federal contract, Airbase supports both civilian regulators managing commercial spectrum and defense applications including Electronic Warfare, tactical communications, and Joint All-Domain Command and Control initiatives. The platform enables spectrum experts to focus on complex RF engineering challenges rather than time-consuming database management and manual coordination processes.
AlleyWatch sat down with Airbase CEO and Cofounder Ari Rosner to learn more about the business, the future plans, and recent funding round, and much, much more…
Who were your investors and how much did you raise?
A16z led the $5M round, with participation from Squadra Ventures and Founders You Should Know (FYSK).
Tell us about the product or service that Airbase offers.
Airbase builds the software platform for spectrum licensing, coordination, and intelligence.
What inspired the start of Airbase?
At True Anomaly, Planet, and Boeing, Millen Anand (cofounder) and I watched cutting-edge innovations like new satellite constellations, advanced autonomous systems, critical defense capabilities get grounded not by physics but by paperwork. We saw the demand for data exploding while the infrastructure managing spectrum access remained stuck in the analog era, with coordination processes taking months when they should take milliseconds. We founded Airbase because the speed of innovation has lapped the speed of human coordination, and we believe bandwidth should be negotiated by machines, not trapped in manual workflows.
How is Airbase different?
Technologically, Airbase stands apart by using novel AI pipelines to ingest the chaotic, analog records that paralyze spectrum access, and translating them into a dynamic, machine-to-machine interfaces. We aren’t just building dashboards; we are building the autonomous data layer for spectrum at the tactical edge. Culturally, we are a tight-knit, high-agency team of builders who refuse to let bureaucracy dictate our speed. We operate with zero bloat, rapidly shipping commercial software to solve real-world bottlenecks today. We’re a mission driven company, driven by connecting the world and supporting the warfighter.
What’s your business model?
Both B2G and B2B.
How are you preparing for a potential economic slowdown?
Every company should be disciplined financially, regardless of where we are in an economic cycle.
What was the funding process like?
Our round was highly over-subscribed. Our story really resonated with investors, and we were able to attract some incredible partners who can support and help accelerate us.
What factors about your business led your investors to write the check?
Three key factors in any investment are Team, Tech, and Market. We were able to clearly demonstrate how we are an outlier on all three.
What advice can you offer companies in New York that do not have a fresh injection of capital in the bank?
Send us your best engineers, we’re hiring.
What’s your favorite spring destination in and around the city?
Our office is in SoHo, and our team loves finding new food spots in nearby Chinatown for team lunches!
