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Energous
Publicly traded wireless power technology developer led by CEO Cesar Johnston, with FCC Part 18 certified power-at-a-distance charging.
Energous
Energous was founded in 2013 and is headquartered in San Jose, California. The company operates as a publicly traded entity focused on developing WattUp, a proprietary radio-frequency-based system that transmits power wirelessly to devices across a room. Unlike widespread Qi induction methods, Energous targets a far-field charging architecture, placing it more in the category of an industrial technology development company than a traditional asset manager or operating business. Its core technology is a semiconductor-chip and transmitter system designed to charge multiple IoT sensors, electronic shelf labels, and asset trackers without direct contact. The company does not deploy capital into a portfolio of outside investments; instead, its deployment function is tied to research and development spend and regulatory milestones. A key achievement came when it received FCC Part 18 certification for power-at-a-distance wireless charging, validating its RF-based approach in a highly regulated spectrum environment (per FCC records, 2021). Its addressed markets span North America, with growing interest from retail and logistics operators in Europe and Asia for the IoT device segment. Energous operates with a lean team centered in Silicon Valley and relies on partnerships for manufacturing and distribution, including an agreement with a global electronics components distributor. In January 2024, the company received FCC Part 18 approval for its 2W transmitter, targeting next-generation IoT deployments (per the firm, January 2024). The firm maintains a consistent posture of engaging with the FCC for expanding its allowable transmit power, a critical path for commercial adoption. What structurally differentiates Energous is its business as a pure-play technology licensor and chipset provider rather than a product manufacturer. It generates potential revenue through silicon sales and license fees from partners who embed WattUp technology in end devices, a model that places all downstream scaling risk on its ecosystem rather than an owned factory footprint. This capital-light approach, contingent on a single core patent portfolio, creates a tightly focused corporate structure where regulatory and standards-body decisions are the primary business catalysts.
General information
Firm type
Asset Manager
Year founded
2013
AUM
Undisclosed
Location
Region
North America
Country
United States
City
San Jose
Corporate office
San Jose, CA, United States
Principals
Cesar Johnston
President and CEO
Sector focus
Frequently asked questions
What core technology does Energous commercialize?
Energous develops WattUp, a radio-frequency-based wireless power system intended to charge multiple devices at a distance without pads or cables. The technology uses a transmitter that sends focused RF energy to a receiver chip embedded in a client device, converting it to DC power. It is fundamentally different from the magnetic induction used in standard Qi chargers, as it allows for simultaneous, over-the-air charging of multiple devices (per FCC Part 18 certification records, 2021).
What is the regulatory status of Energous' power-at-a-distance product?
Energous' WattUp technology has received FCC Part 18 certification for transferring power at a distance without physical contact. This regulatory clearance is specific to industrial, scientific, and medical equipment, and validates the company's claims of safe, controlled RF-based energy transfer. The latest certification in January 2024 expanded this approval for a 2W transmitter, paving the way for broader IoT deployments (per the firm, January 2024).
How does the company generate revenue?
Energous operates as a technology licensor, generating income by selling WattUp transmitter and receiver chips to partners who integrate them into final products. The company also licenses its intellectual property down to the silicon level. This is a capital-light business model where the primary assets are the patent portfolio and the regulatory certifications held by the firm, rather than a large direct sales force or manufacturing plant.
Which end markets are targeted by the firm?
Energous primarily addresses the enterprise IoT ecosystems, including electronic shelf labels for retail, active asset trackers for logistics and manufacturing, and smart sensors for battery-free environmental monitoring. The company targets customers in North America, Europe, and Asia that need to eliminate battery replacement costs across thousands of distributed endpoints, with early adoption focused on the retail and industrial logistics sectors.
Who controls investment and strategic decisions at Energous?
Strategic decisions at the company rest with Cesar Johnston, who serves as President and CEO. As a publicly traded company on the Nasdaq, final oversight resides with the Board of Directors, but Johnston drives the executive strategy related to technology roadmaps, regulatory initiatives, and key partner relationships. Prior to his role, the company was led by founder Stephen R. Rizzone, who established the initial vision for power-at-a-distance charging.
Profile maintained by Altss using OSINT (open-source intelligence), regulatory filings, licensed data partners, and verified direct submissions. Read the methodology. Last updated: . Continuous refresh with full update cycles at least every 30 days.
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