Waved

Waved, a Norwegian technology firm established in 2018, offers a sophisticated platform designed to regulate audio levels within the hospitality and retail sectors. The company's inception traces back to four friends—reportedly two engineers, a marketer, and a finance professional—who, after a restaurant experience marred by imbalanced music, were inspired to create a solution. This foundational team includes individuals like Daniel Harper and Jonas Andersen, who serves as the CFO.

The core of Waved's business is a system that automates the adjustment of background music volume to match the energy and noise level of a venue. This is achieved through a network of sensors, which are essentially microphones paired with Raspberry Pi processors, that continuously monitor ambient sound. The collected data is sent to a central hub, which uses algorithms to calculate the optimal music volume, aiming to create a pleasant atmosphere without overpowering conversations. The system is designed to be a significant improvement over manual adjustments by staff, who are often too busy to consistently manage audio levels. Clients can manage the system through a web-based interface.

The company's business model is centered on providing this technology as a service to venues such as restaurants, bars, and retailers. Notable clients include prominent names like The Savoy, Flight Club, and Goodman. Waved's operational history marks several key milestones. After its founding, the first MVP was tested across various sites in Oslo in 2019. By the summer of 2020, the company secured pre-seed funding which fueled further product development, leading to the first hardware production run in November of the same year. A significant fundraising round in June 2021 brought in €1.2 million, enabling the integration of machine learning based on three years of client data. This investment supported its expansion across the Nordics, reaching over 100 venues by May 2022, followed by a launch in the UK in late 2023. The company's work was recognized when it won "The Hospitality Tech Product of the Year" in October 2023.

Keywords: hospitality technology, guest experience, automated volume control, ambient sound, smart audio, restaurant tech, retail audio solutions, dynamic music adjustment, atmosphere management, acoustic monitoring, customer experience technology, venue sound system, background music automation, sound level sensors, audio algorithm, Daniel Harper, Jonas Andersen, The Savoy, Flight Club, Goodman