Amsterdam-based Aito Raises € 4.1 Million to Market Finger Sensing and Haptic Technology Product in 2022

Paul Pruijmboom of FORWARD.One says, “Analysts predict that the haptic touch market will double in size over the next five years and with the thinnest, most responsive solution in the industry, Aito can benefit from this rapid growth, enabling consumer tech brands to deliver new experiences. to users and offering strong returns to its investors.

Before this round of funding, the startup had raised € 3M in August 2020.

Use of capital

The company says the raised capital will help it bring its product to market with several top brands in 2022, reflecting the growth potential of the haptic feedback market.

The company says, “At less than 2.4 millimeters, our integrated finger sensing and haptic feedback solution is the industry’s thinnest haptic touchpad, providing ultra-local haptic feedback ‘only where you press’, allowing a seamless design with larger batteries in laptops. ”

Aito says this solution enables consumer tech brands to create laptops, accessories, display screens, gaming devices, and AR / VR solutions that transform user experiences.

Speaking on the development, Aito CEO Nedko Ivanov said, “This new funding round reflects the huge potential of the haptic touch market and is a testament to the progress made by the Aito team. Our integrated finger sensing and haptic feedback product is ready for release in a range of consumer technology devices, including the lucrative laptop market. This investment makes the global deployment of our product a reality.

Integrated finger and haptic sensing technology

Founded in 2012 by Jockum Lönnberg, Pauli Laitinen and Rene Vries, Aito claims to be a leader in the global human interfaces market. Haptile Modules add force sensing and haptic feedback to a wide range of devices, including laptops, keyboards, computer mice, smartphones, and automotive infotainment systems.

Aito’s technology is developed by a team of engineers based in Espoo, Finland. It can be scaled to offer the largest edge-to-edge touchpads in the industry as well as to provide consumer tech companies with new design options for creating laptops, accessories, displays, and other compact devices. and versatile.

Ivanov adds: “With nearly 80 patents, we have built a significant portfolio of intellectual property in the fields of electronic detection, control, signal processing and mechanical engineering. This enables us to deliver a fully integrated haptic solution, enabling consumer tech companies to create intuitive touch experiences housed in sleek designs.

“This investment, combined with the team’s expertise in bringing haptic solutions to market, gives us the opportunity to truly expand our reach into the global marketplace and transform the way consumer electronics devices are designed.” and used, ”adds Ivanov.

New CEO

Earlier this month, Aito announced the appointment of its new CEO Nedko Ivanov. Ivanov will help drive the company’s growth in the finger sensing and haptic touch industries, and will scale up its business as engagements with consumer electronics brands increase.

Nedko’s previous experience includes various high-level roles. During his role as CEO of Redux, another haptic touch company, Nedko led the company in preparation for its acquisition by Google in 2017. He was also CEO of internet security software company, BullGuard, which was then acquired by Avira.