CHANDLER, Ariz., Aug. 3, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Aira Inc., the
company redefining wireless charging with FreePower®,
today announced a $12 million Series
Seed funding round. This additional capital will accelerate the
company's expansion into the automotive, enterprise, and
hospitality sectors. It will also enable Aira — which was
named FastCompany's #5 Most Innovative Company in 2021
— to expand its operational and engineering resources in
preparation for the launch of FreePower® 2.0 by year's
end. The company was recently granted it's first patents for
FreePower® and has more than 80 patent assets related
to its ground-breaking wireless charging methods.
Aira also announced the appointment of Axon [NASDAQ: AXON] Chief
Financial Officer Jawad Ahsan to its
board of directors. Ahsan brings more than two decades of global
financial strategy experience and public company leadership to the
company's board. Jawad currently leads Axon's global finance,
corporate strategy, legal and IT organizations. He also serves as
executive sponsor for the company's consumer-facing business. Prior
to Axon, Jawad served as CFO for SaaS market intelligence firm
Market Track, and spent 13 years at General Electric, most notably
serving as CFO for its Healthcare electronic health record and
enterprise software businesses.
"This new round of funding is a game changer when it comes to
accelerating our capacity for innovation," said Jake Slatnick, co-founder and CEO of Aira. "With
so many partnerships in our pipeline, a 2.0 version of
FreePower® on the horizon, and Jawad having just
joined our board, this is an inflection point for Aira."
"Aira is transforming the way people charge devices, evolving a
technology that has failed to meet consumer expectations since it
was first introduced," added Ahsan. "Jake, Eric, and the team have
built a technology that will set the standard for the next decade
and make consumers less beholden to cables, chargers, power
outlets, and the stress of a dead battery during the day. I'm
excited to be along for the ride."
Aira in Automotive
Current wireless charging
technology is not built for moving environments, leaving consumers
and automakers underwhelmed. In-car charging surfaces with
FreePower®, on the other hand, are able to support
devices shifting around while driving, multi-device charging,
surfaces of any size, and firmware updates for future enhancements
and compatibility. They can also deliver high-power charging while
maintaining stringent safety and regulatory standards.
Aira announced a strategic partnership in December 2020 with Motherson Innovations Company
Limited, the emerging technologies arm of the Motherson Group [NSE:
MOTHERSUMI], a leading Tier 1 global automotive supplier, who
also invested in the company. This joint project to develop,
manufacture, and supply automotive-grade
FreePower® wireless charging modules into vehicle
interiors was recently nominated for a prestigious PACEPilot
Award.
About Aira
Aira is setting a new standard for wireless
charging with FreePower®, an elegant hardware and
software solution that offers complete freedom of placement across
surfaces. Founded in 2017 by Jake
Slatnick and Eric Goodchild,
the company's FreePower® technology is an elegant,
adaptable solution that pushes long-standing boundaries to deliver
on the fundamental promise of wireless charging – convenience.
Built to work with devices operating on the Qi standard,
FreePower® is compatible with all major Qi devices
including those from Apple, Samsung, and Google. Aira is partnering
with brands, OEMs, and technology suppliers across several
verticals, including consumer electronics, automotive, furniture
and hospitality, to make "wireless charging as it was meant to be"
available everywhere. To learn more about Aira and
FreePower®, visit airapower.com. For media, please visit
airapower.com/news.
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SOURCE Aira