The Swiss deep tech startup Eyeware announced today the closing of its seed financing round of 1.9M CHF. Eyeware develops 3D eye tracking software for depth sensing enabled consumer devices. The seed round was led by High-Tech Gründerfonds (HTGF), in partnership with TRUMPF Venture GmbH, Swiss Startup Group AG, and Zurich Kantonalbank.
Eyeware is a spin-off of Idiap Research Institute and EPFL. Created in September 2016, Eyeware Tech SA has collaborated with multiple industrial partners to prototype and develop innovative eye tracking applications. One of the projects presented publicly is the BionicWorkplace: a concept for a futuristic factory workplace containing a collaborative robotic arm developed by the German corporate Festo and presented at the Hannover Messe 2018.
More recently, Eyeware technology was presented as part of an automotive solution during CES 2019. Eyeware software can use autograde time-of-flight cameras to estimate attention of drivers for in-cabin monitoring and infotainment systems. The proposed system can contribute to reducing the number of road accidents caused by drivers who lose attention at the wheel.
The Eyeware team will use the capital to make the 3D eye tracking development kit ready for integration into consumer applications. Eyeware is also looking to expand its corporate partnerships in the US and China.
Axel Nitsch, Investment Manager at HTGF, said about the investment in Eyeware: “Eyeware’s revolutionary approach to enable attention understanding in industrial and consumer applications brings state-of-the-art technology to a next level. We have a strong belief that the extraordinary team around Kenneth will be able to change the landscape of human machine interaction. HTGF is very happy to be part of this journey.”
Dr. Dieter Kraft, Managing Director of TRUMPF Venture and Board member of Eyeware, also commented that: “Attention sensing by eye tracking is the missing link in a multimodal human machine interaction. We are delighted to support the Eyeware team and help to bring the product to market.”
Speaking about the investment, Dr. Kenneth Funes, Founder & CEO of Eyeware said: “Eyeware technology is the result of intensive research, and we are confident to be opening the doors for exciting new opportunities in eye tracking applications for daily use. We have been extremely fortunate to receive the support of a well-connected and experienced group of investors that shares our vision and is committed to work with us to achieve it.”
(Press release)
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