Camero Revved Up With $5M

Camero Inc., an Israeli company whose technology blurs the line between military intelligence and emergency rescue techniques, closed its first round of venture capital last week with $5 million.

Led by Jerusalem Global Ventures (JGV), the round also included commitments from Motorola Ventures, the strategic investment arm of Motorola Inc., and Walden Israel Venture Capital.

Herzliya-based Camero has developed a portable device that uses ultrawideband wireless technology to generate three-dimensional images of an object concealed behind walls. It’s being marketed as a system that will help law enforcement agencies to operate more effectively in saving lives.

The company’s ability to produce 3-D images with a portable device for military and law enforcement “will significantly improve critical detection and rescue operations of many public safety agencies around the world,” says Matthew Growney, managing director with Motorola Ventures.

Camero’s technology is being marketed to fire and rescue crews, law enforcement agencies and special operations.

Ultrawideband technology, in fact, is already gaining traction with law enforcement agencies worldwide. Time Domain Corp., a venture-backed company in Huntsville, Ala., has developed motion detection devices for soldiers that can be used to “see” through walls. Time Domain has raised $100 million over multiple rounds from Fuqua Ventures, Noro-Moseley Partners, Siemens Venture Capital, WorldCom Ventures and other investors.

Plus, Houston-based Florian Wireless makes devices for firefighters that allows them to see through smoke, fire and building materials to pinpoint fire victims and aid in rescue operations. Florian is not venture-backed.

Entrepreneurs-in-residence Aharon Aharon and Amir Beeri, two technology industry veterans with deep ties to Israel’s military, incubated Camero inside JGV.

Aharon is the former COO of Zoran Corp., an Israeli-based chip developer for the consumer electronic and digital imaging markets, and was once the CEO of Seabridge, a broadband network equipment maker owned by Siemens.

Beeri served with an elite intelligence unit of the Israeli military before becoming vice president for research and development with ADC Israel, a developer of broadband access systems, and general manager of Infineon Technologies Savan, a company whose technology allows for high-speed data transfer over telephone wires.

Camero’s advisory board includes Amiram Levin, a retired major general with the Israeli army, and four U.S.-based advisors with experience in law enforcement and special operations.

The company will use this round of funding for continued research and development and to launch its marketing efforts.