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Haptics is big news in virtual reality. Sure, we can mentally ‘feel’ like we are in a different time, place or world with a headset on and some controllers – but what about physically feeling it, too?
This is where AxonVR steps in. It’s just completed the largest round of funding a haptic VR company has ever made, $5.8m and its investors include former Twitter CEO Dick Costolo, as well as NetEase and the Virtual Reality Company.
The funds will be used to develop the company’s HaptX platform, which is a haptic textile that stimulates lifelike touch. It can bring the sense of touch to any surface and the flexible, lightweight material can be applied to wearables and other form factors.
According to the company, the team will also deliver HaptX to its first enterprise customers, including those in sectors such as manufacturing and design, training and simulation and location-based entertainment.
The new investments add to a $1.2m ‘friends and family’ round completed in 2014, two years after the company was founded, bringing the total funding to $7m.
“We envision a world in which virtual experiences are indistinguishable from real life,” said Jake Rubin, founder and CEO of AxonVR. “This funding enables us to delivery HaptX technology to our first enterprise partners. It’s a big step towards achieving our vision
AxonVR was founded in 2012 by Rubin and lead engineer Dr Robert Crockett and is based in Seattle and California.
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