CPE News (3.22.2023) – Haply Robotics has raised US $3.5 million in seed funding led by BDC Capital’s Deep Tech Venture Fund.
Charles Lespérance, Partner of Deep Tech Venture Fund, has joined Haply Robotics’ board of directors.
Led by Colin Gallacher and Steven Ding, Montreal based Haply Robotics is a haptic technology start-up that designs and builds highly portable and affordable haptic control devices with a number of applications in enterprise, education, and entertainment. Haply’s mission is to foster a diverse community of innovators pioneering new haptic technologies, and to realize those technologies as intuitive, world-class products that enliven our connection with the digital world.
Haply Robotics intends to use funding to further innovate haptic technology for medical training and gamification, robotic control, and 3D content design.
photo credit: Haply Robotics
News Release
Haply Robotics Secures $3.5 Million USD Seed Round to Transform Haptic Technology for Medical Training and Beyond
MONTREAL, QC — March 21, 2022 — Haply Robotics has announced the successful completion of a $3.5 million USD seed round of investment led by the Deep Tech Venture Fund at BDC Capital, Canada’s most active VC investor. With this investment, Haply Robotics, winners of the Innovative Solutions Canada’s Haptic Systems Challenge award, aims to further innovate haptic technology for medical training and gamification, robotic control, and 3D content design. The Montreal-based company develops high-performing, portable, and affordable haptic controllers, led by their flagship Inverse3 device.
BDC Capital’s Deep Tech Venture Fund is a CAD $200 million fund investing in early-stage Canadian companies that are developing transformational technologies in deep tech verticals such as quantum, electronics, photonics, foundational AI, robotics, and related fields.
Haply’s Inverse3 is a precision haptic 3D mouse that allows users to feel what it’s like to cut tissue, drill into bone, or excise fat in robotic surgery or in virtual surgical training. With the rise of importance in 3D applications in enterprise design, manufacturing, and gaming, this technology has the potential to shape the future of 3D interaction across sectors.
“Haply Robotics’ technology has the potential to meaningfully transform the way that humans interact with digital content. With its best-in-class technology and passionate management team, we are confident that the company has a solid foundation for its next phases of growth,‘’ said Charles Lespérance, Partner, Deep Tech Venture Fund at BDC Capital, and new member on the company’s board.
In 2022, Haply Robotics was referenced by Nvidia CEO, Jenson Huang, as “One of 12 companies disrupting medical robotics”. This recognition further cemented the company’s position as a leader in the haptic technology space. The company plans to use the funding to expand its team, align applications of its technology with channel partners in the areas of medical training and robotics and further its mission of making haptic technology more accessible.
“We are excited to have secured this funding to continue our mission of building haptic products that will redefine the way that humans interact with 3D content,” said Haply Robotics’ President, Colin Gallacher. “Logitech built the 2D mouse for the spreadsheet– we built a 3D mouse for the metaverse”.
About Haply Robotics
Haply Robotics is a Montreal-based haptic technology start-up that designs and builds highly portable and affordable haptic control devices with a number of applications in enterprise, education, and entertainment. Haply’s mission is to foster a diverse community of innovators pioneering new haptic technologies, and to realize those technologies as intuitive, world-class products that enliven our connection with the digital world. For more information, visit www.haply.co.
About BDC Capital
BDC Capital is the investment arm of BDC, Canada’s Business Development Bank. With over $6 billion under management, BDC Capital serves as a strategic partner to the country’s most innovative firms. It offers businesses a full spectrum of capital, from seed investments to growth equity, supporting Canadian entrepreneurs who have the ambition to stand out on the world stage. Visit www.bdc.ca/capital.