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

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…

Aira was named on Fast Company’s prestigious annual list of the World’s Most Innovative Companies for 2021, placing fifth in the Consumer Electronics 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 Shark Tank…

Consumer electronics companies dream of a future where power cords and wireless charging surfaces are obsolete. They dream of a time when charging will play out like this: You walk into a room, and your smartphone and other small gadgets automatically begin receiving power over the air from a nearby transmitter, perhaps embedded in a light fixture on the ceiling or plugged in under the desk like a Wi-Fi router.

Today, Aira, Inc.’s Co-Founder and CEO Jake Slatnick was honored among the first class of 250 standouts for Forbes’ The Next 1,000 2021. The recognition underlines Aira’s electrifying growth – from an idea to an innovative startup challenging the notion and pushing the limits of wireless charging technology – and adds to the growing list of accolades the brand has received to date,

Aira Inc., the company redefining wireless charging experiences through FreePower™, is pleased to announce the appointment of Amir Khoshniyati to its Board of Advisors. Khoshniyati brings an impressive background in corporate strategy, contactless technology and IoT solutions to Aira’s rapidly growing team. As their newest strategic advisor, Khoshniyati will guide Aira as it continues to pursue industry partnerships and prospective investments.