Wi-Charge Shuts Down After Years Developing Wireless Charging Technology

Wi-Charge, a company specializing in wireless energy transfer via infrared beams, announced its closure after years of technological development and partial commercialization. Co-founder and CEO Uri Mor shared the news in a farewell LinkedIn post, reflecting on the company's journey and thanking its team, partners, and investors. Founded with the vision to revolutionize device charging by eliminating cables, Wi-Charge succeeded in bringing room-level wireless energy technology to market, selling products in dozens of countries and securing numerous patents.

Despite these engineering achievements, the company struggled to achieve commercial success due to market challenges. A key obstacle was the chicken-and-egg dilemma with original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), who hesitated to integrate receivers into their products without widespread transmitter deployment. Additionally, wireless charging was perceived more as a convenience than an essential need, slowing adoption. These factors, combined with inherent hardware and consumer product challenges, hindered fundraising efforts during expansion phases.

Over its lifespan, Wi-Charge raised approximately $23 million from venture capital and strategic investors, including early-stage funding, a $13.4 million grant from the European Innovation Council, and rounds led by Standard Investments. The company was founded and led by Uri Mor, Ortal Alpert, and Victor Weisleib, with Eli Zeltkin heading the technology team. Mor concluded his message optimistically, affirming that wireless energy transfer is inevitable and that Wi-Charge’s groundwork will enable future players to complete the mission.