• Zaphiro Technologies

  Led · Equity · Mar 2019

  Zaphiro Technologies develops SynchroGuard, a smart-grid IoT software platform that leverages high-speed, time-synchronized measurements from Phasor Measurement Unit (PMU) devices adapted for distribution grids. The platform uses advanced data analytics to deliver full visibility of energy flows and asset status with a minimal number of measurement points, enabling fault location in seconds and reducing grid operation costs. Zaphiro positions its product to help grid operators manage the impacts of renewables and electric vehicles on distribution-grid stability. The company has already attracted several well-known power-utility customers across Europe, North America, the Middle East, and Asia. The startup plans to commercialize and expand its solution into new geographies and markets while continuing to innovate its technology. Zaphiro was founded in 2017 as a spin-off of EPFL. Zaphiro Technologies is a Swiss start-up founded in 2017 that develops SynchroGuard, a smart-grid solution combining new measurement devices and advanced data-processing algorithms. The product delivers real-time monitoring of grid status, efficient management of electricity flows, and rapid fault location to reduce blackout impacts. Well-recognized utilities including Romande Energie and China Light and Power are testing SynchroGuard and have praised its simple installation at strategic nodes and wide-area visibility. The company is led by CEO and co-founder Dr. Paolo Romano. Zaphiro says the recent financing will be used to accelerate product development and go-to-market activities. The team positions the technology to support utilities in integrating renewables and electric vehicles while maintaining grid stability.

• CREAL

  Participated · Seed · Jun 2018

  CREAL develops proprietary light field display technology to deliver natural, comfortable, and healthy digital visual experiences. Its core products include a miniaturizing AR light field module intended for integration into lightweight, fashionable AR glasses and a digitized vision care platform. The vision care platform will be supplied under a licensing agreement to power ZEISS’ next-generation diagnostic and treatment devices. The company plans continued miniaturization of its AR module to target enterprise and eventually consumer markets. CREAL recently closed an $8.9 million equity funding round led by ZEISS, and the company has now raised over $32 million to date. Investors include Swisscom Ventures, Verve Ventures, DAA Capital Partners and members of the UBS private investor network. CREAL builds light-field display technology that projects genuinely three-dimensional, hologram-like imagery for AR glasses, allowing each eye to change focus naturally. The technology aims to solve the vergence–accommodation conflict that causes eye-strain and visual discomfort in current AR hardware. The new funding will help move the product from a hardware-development-kit stage to a complete technology package for next-generation and consumer-grade AR glasses. Founded in late 2017 and based in Lausanne, CREAL's team counts 18 people with engineering and research experience from Intel, Magic Leap, CERN, EPFL and several startups. To date the company has raised CHF 14.2 million across seed, Series A, an EU research grant, and the announced A+ round. CREAL expects the improved optics to broaden AR use cases and support adoption in both consumer and professional markets. CREAL develops light-field display technology that projects genuinely three-dimensional, near-retinal-resolution images enabling natural eye focus for VR and AR. The company’s displays let each eye change focus between virtual objects, addressing eyestrain and nausea from current stereoscopic systems. CREAL plans to move its technology from the current prototype stage to next-generation VR headsets and later AR headsets. Financially, it closed a CHF4.3M Series A and received additional public funding and a subsidized loan, bringing combined new support to CHF7.3M. The team was founded by Tomas Sluka, Alexander Kvasov and Tomas Kubes and includes engineers from the former Intel Vaunt project with ties to CERN and EPFL. CREAL previously closed a CHF0.85M seed round in May 2018 led by SICTIC investors. CREAL3D develops a light-field display for virtual-reality goggles and smart glasses that enables genuinely three-dimensional images and natural focus changes between virtual objects. Its technology aims to eliminate the eye-strain caused by fixed-focus dual-screen headsets and to allow conflictless mixing of real and virtual images. The company completed a proof-of-concept phase prior to its latest financing. Following a FIT seed loan, CREAL3D closed a seed financing to support further product development. The round brought in CHF 0.85 million. Investors include Swiss ICT Investor Club (SICTIC) as lead and private investors such as Jari Ovaskainen and Atmosclear Investments.

No current team members are available.