Ultrahaptics feels around series A

Mid-air haptic technologies firm Ultrahaptics, a spinout of Bristol University, has raised £10.1m ($15.56m) in its series A.

The round was led by Woodford Investment Management, the investment vehicle of UK investor Neil Woodford, with participation from existing backer IP Group. The latest round brings Ultrahaptics’ total funding to £11.3m.

A graduate of SetSquared, the incubator coalition between Bristol and four other UK universities, Ultrahaptics is developing a haptics technology that provides tactile feedback to users in mid-air without the user needing to touch or wear any other devices. The haptics can be used as buttons, allowing users to interact with a number of potential objects, including cars, kitchen tops, machinery, and gaming equipment.

Steve Cliffe, CEO at Ultrahaptics, said: “The company is engaged with Tier 1 manufacturers in multiple markets and the investment from Woodford Investment Management will allow us to fulfil this demand and address additional markets and customers. Our technology completes gesture control by re- introducing the sense of touch.”