RALEIGH – Relay has raised $36 million and plans to hire about 100 workers over the next year as the frontline-communications company expands its artificial-intelligence software, safety tools and next-generation hardware.
Relay announced the funding Wednesday, saying the round was led by International Paper and brought its total capital raised to more than $90 million. Other new investors included clients of Cerity Partners, Harmonic Growth Partners and Thayer Investment Partners. Earlier lead investors G2 Venture Partners and Wind River Ventures also increased their investments.
The Raleigh company said the capital will accelerate software and artificial-intelligence capabilities, including tools that let teams query shift data, along with worker-safety products, integrations with enterprise systems and next-generation frontline hardware. Relay also plans to expand across industrial and hospitality markets and continue hiring in product and go-to-market roles.
Axios Raleigh reported that Relay has about 300 employees and that Chief Executive Chris Chuang expects the company to hire around 100 workers during the next year. If achieved, the plan would expand Relay’s current workforce by roughly one-third. Axios also reported that the company now subleases space at Bandwidth’s headquarters near Lenovo Center after outgrowing its former North Hills office.
Relay makes internet-connected push-to-talk devices and software for workers in manufacturing, hospitality, health care, education and other frontline settings. The system supports remote communication, real-time location data, language translation, safety alerts and operational analysis. The company said its platform is deployed at nearly 10,000 sites and used by almost 10 percent of the Fortune 500.
The funding announcement did not identify the round type, disclose Relay’s current valuation or provide a role-by-role hiring schedule. Axios reported that the company declined to disclose its valuation. The sources also do not say that all planned hires will be based in Raleigh, so the package treats the 100-worker figure as a companywide plan tied to a Raleigh-headquartered employer.
Featured image: A frontline worker wears a Relay smart radio. Credit: Relay Inc. The official company photograph was faithfully cropped and resized, then placed above the approved NC Business Desk footer.