Aira, a company based in Arizona, was founded in 2017. It quickly proved its technology. The company's wireless charging technology has been mentioned a few times in the past, including the FreePower technology that it embedded into Nomads charging stations. This allows for a simpler version of Apple's aging AirPower. This technology allows users to charge up three items at once without having to place them on the charging pad.The startup today announced that it raised $12 million in a seed round. This was primarily led by private investors such as Jawad Ashan and Lori Greiner. This funding will be used to expand the company's reach beyond consumer charging and into enterprise, automotive, and hospitality as well as develop a 2.0 version its charging tech.The new funding round is a game-changer in terms of accelerating our innovation capacity, Jake Slatnick, CEO and cofounder, stated in a release. This is a turning point for Aira, with so many partnerships in the pipeline, FreePower 2.0 on the horizon and Jawad joining our board.Aira, as we reported late last year has made significant progress in automotive. Aira announced funding from Motherson, an auto parts supplier giant, late last year. This deal showed that the company was looking to integrate its wireless modules into automobiles. Many automakers lack consumer electronics-friendly amenities.Neither the party announcing specific car partners made any announcements at the time, or today. Aira does note that Motherson and it are collaborating to develop automotive-grade FreePower modules.Aira released a statement today stating that current wireless charging technology was not designed for use in moving environments. FreePower in-car charging surfaces can support devices moving around during driving, multi-device charging and surfaces of all sizes. Firmware updates are also available for future enhancements. They are also capable of delivering high-power charging, while still meeting strict safety and regulatory standards.Axon CFO Jawad Ahasan joins Arias board.
