CES 2022 is less of a show stopper until you take at look in-car innovation. This year, we’ve had a shorter and more compact version of CES. There are fewer brands on the floor and even fewer visitors. Despite this, we’ve still seen auto manufacturers wowing us with high-tech concepts and creative artistry

Here’s a list of 2022 CES Innovation Awards honorees for Vehicle Intelligence and Transportation. For the full list, plus honorees in the In-Vehicle Entertainment and Safety catergy, visit ces.tech/innovation

It’s official: Aira has once again been announced as an honoree for the CES Innovation Awards! This time, our team was recognized in the 2022 Vehicle Intelligence & Transportation category, marking our second consecutive year receiving a CES Innovation Award honor. This award celebrates the advancements Aira has made in the past year, from expanding its reach and collaborating with leading automakers to reinventing the in-car charging experience. It is also a very important nod…

Aira, a Chandler startup that previously appeared on ABC’s ‘Shark Tank,’ announced on Tuesday that it had raised a $12 million seed round. Here’s how the company plans to use this investment

Founded in 2017, Arizona-based Aira didn’t waste any time proving out its technology. We’ve written about the company’s wireless charging a few times over the years, including the “FreePower” technology it has baked into Nomad’s charging pads, which brings a more streamlined version of the Apple’s abandoned AirPower. The tech allows for users to charge up to three objects at once, without having to futz with their precise placement on the pad.

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.

First, the tech. Wireless charging has long been problematic; see AirPower, the first-ever product Apple canceled before it was even released. Put simply, all wireless devices use a standard known as Qi, which relies on a silver dollar-sized metal coil that’s embedded in a charging station and any device intended to draw power from it.

What’s the promise of wireless charging? Well, it’s the convenience factor. No more fumbling with plugging a cord in. You can just toss your device on a pad or a stand, line it up and see it start to charge. The key point here is that you need to line up the wireless charging spot on your device with the coil in the pad.

At CES 2020, Aira announced that its FreePower technology would be coming soon with the ability to set your mobile device down on a charging pad virtually anywhere and have it charged up. Effortless and seamless wireless charging was promised, about a year after Apple canceled a similar initiative with AirPower.

Aira Inc., the company redefining wireless charging experiences through FreePower®, is pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Marc Rosenmayr to its Board of Advisors. Rosenmayr brings with him extensive experience in automotive electronics, electrification, interior, and advanced user interfaces. As an advisor, he will help Aira continue its push into mobility verticals and introduce FreePower® technology to new markets across the globe.

It seems like just yesterday when the Nokia Lumia 920 blew our collective minds when it became the first smartphone to offer built-in wireless charging. Sure, it took an age to actually charge, but it was, in our minds, the beginning of the glorious cable-free revolution.

Today, Aira, Inc. was named on Fast Company’s prestigious annual list of the World’s Most Innovative Companies for 2021, placing fifth in the Consumer Technology category. The list recognizes pioneering businesses that are transforming their industries and shaping our society with groundbreaking innovations. Some others in the top ten names include Apple, Samsung, Google, and AMD. This incredible honor is the latest addition to a growing list of accolades Aira has garnered since appearing on…