Sensel
Sensel developed advanced haptic forcepad technology combining force sensing with haptic feedback for OEM trackpads in laptops, gaming devices, and AR/VR hardware. Following acquisition by Cirque Corporation (an Alps Alpine subsidiary), its technology is integrated into the GlideSense product line.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2013
- HeadquartersSunnyvale, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Sensel does
Sensel was a Sunnyvale-based technology company founded in 2013 that developed advanced haptic forcepad technology combining force-sensitive tactile sensing with high-quality haptic feedback. The company positioned its technology as the most advanced haptic forcepad solution globally, targeting OEM manufacturers of notebook computers, gaming peripherals, AR/VR input devices, and industrial/medical equipment. Sensel's go-to-market was OEM-embedded, with distribution through direct sales engagement and OEM sales agents.
Sensel's intellectual property, physical assets, and trademarks were acquired by Cirque Corporation (a subsidiary of Alps Alpine), ending Sensel's independent operations. Under Cirque, the technology is being integrated with Cirque's sixth-generation (Gen6) capacitive touch architecture to produce the GlideSense product line, which delivers haptic feedback for trackpads in laptops, gaming devices, and adjacent consumer electronics. The revenue model post-acquisition is licensing/royalty-based through Cirque's OEM channels.
Over its operating life, Sensel raised approximately $56.8M in disclosed funding across multiple rounds from 2015 through January 2022, with investors including Lenovo, Global Lighting Technologies, Morningside, Susquehanna International Group, SMiT, and others. The company was led by co-founder and CEO Aaron Zarraga, with a leadership team including a Chief Product & Strategy Officer and VPs of Sales/Marketing and Software/UX. No standalone revenue figures were disclosed.
Sensel firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Sensel
- Website
- https://sensel.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2013
- Operating status
- Acquired
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Sensel developed advanced haptic forcepad technology combining force sensing with haptic feedback for OEM trackpads in laptops, gaming devices, and AR/VR hardware. Following acquisition by Cirque Corporation (an Alps Alpine subsidiary), its technology is integrated into the GlideSense product line.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Sensel industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Haptic Forcepad Technology
- akta.pro primary industry
- Touchpads & Touch Input Modules (HDACAFAE)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Game Controllers & Input Devices (Gamepads, Wheels, Flight Sticks) (CRACAOAD), Game Controllers, Joysticks & Flight/Driving Sim Controls (HDACAFAC)
Keywords
Where Sensel is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Sunnyvale
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Sensel business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Technology or R&D, Personnel, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Operations
Revenue model
- Haptic Technology Licensing/IP: Following acquisition by Cirque Corporation, Sensel's technology is now integrated into Cirque's product line. The revenue model involves licensing of haptic technology for trackpad and touch interface applications in consumer electronics, primarily targeting OEM manufacturers of laptops and gaming devices.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels3 records
Sensel product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Sensel developed advanced haptic forcepad technology combining force sensing with high-quality haptic feedback for trackpad applications. Following its acquisition by Cirque Corporation, this technology is now integrated with Cirque's Gen6 capacitive touch architecture to power the GlideSense™ product line, delivering immersive haptic trackpad solutions for laptop OEMs, gaming device makers, and other consumer electronics manufacturers.
Product overview
Sensel's product portfolio centers on advanced haptic forcepad technology, which was acquired by Cirque Corporation along with associated intellectual property and trademarks. The core offering is the Sensel haptic technology, which is now being integrated with Cirque's Gen6 capacitive touch architecture to create the GlideSense™ product line. These combined solutions deliver high-quality haptic feedback for laptop trackpads, gaming devices, and beyond, representing next-generation user experience capabilities for the PC market.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- GlideSense™ Haptic Forcepads Next-generation haptic trackpad solutions combining Sensel's haptic technology with Cirque's Gen6 capacitive touch architecture, delivering immersive haptic feedback for laptop, gaming device, and other OEM applications. Targeted at notebook computer manufacturers, gaming/AR/VR device makers, and other consumer electronics OEMs.
- Sensel Haptic Forcepad Technology (acquired IP/platform) Advanced haptic forcepad technology originally developed by Sensel and described as the most advanced in the world, featuring high-quality haptic feedback for trackpad applications. Now licensed/integrated within Cirque Corporation's product portfolio and offered to OEMs through GlideSense™ solutions.
Companies that use Sensel
Customer profileSegments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Sensel technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature2 records
Sensel partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
One partnership is on record.
- Cirque CorporationcoreCirque Corporation acquired Sensel's key intellectual property, physical assets, and trademarks. Sensel's team had built what is described as the most advanced haptic forcepad technology in the world. Cirque is now integrating Sensel's industry-leading haptics with its proven Gen6 capacitive touch architecture to create GlideSense™ solutions. This acquisition represents Sensel becoming part of Cirque's product portfolio rather than remaining an independent company.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights4 records
Sensel competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Pixart Imaging: Fabless sensor IC supplier specializing in touch, optical, and motion sensors, with significant PC touchpad share. Pixart competes with Sensel/Cirque for OEM trackpad design wins, particularly in mid-range notebooks.
- Goodix Technology: Chinese fabless supplier of touch controllers, fingerprint sensors, and increasingly haptic/audio solutions. Goodix serves both Chinese and global OEMs, making it a structural competitor to Sensel/Cirque in the notebook trackpad IC space.
- Elan Microelectronics: Taiwanese IC vendor with strong OEM relationships in touch controllers for notebooks and Chromebooks. Elan directly competes with Cirque/Sensel for trackpad sockets in cost-sensitive notebook segments.
- Synaptics: Leading supplier of touchpad, fingerprint, and display driver ICs to PC OEMs worldwide. Synaptics competes head-to-head with Sensel/Cirque for notebook trackpad sockets and has deep incumbent relationships with top PC OEMs.
- Immersion Corporation: Pioneer in haptic feedback technology with a licensing model covering touch, gaming, and automotive haptics. Immersion's IP licensing business directly parallels Sensel's intended haptic IP royalty stream.
Others
- Alps Alpine: Parent company of Cirque Corporation and a major Japanese automotive and consumer electronics component supplier. Alps Alpine provides scale manufacturing and distribution that indirectly amplifies Sensel's IP via Cirque.
Emerging players
- Boreas Technologies: Developer of low-power piezoelectric haptic driver ICs for wearables, smartphones, and PC trackpads. Boreas overlaps with Sensel's haptic-feedback roadmap in piezo-driven trackpad applications.
Broad incumbents
- TDK (Piezo Haptics / InvenSense): TDK supplies piezo haptic actuators and motion sensors used in trackpads and smartphones. TDK is both a potential component supplier to and a horizontal competitor for haptic feedback subsystems.
- Cirque Corporation: Acquirer of Sensel and a long-established touchpad and touch IC supplier (now owned by Alps Alpine). Cirque's GlidePoint® trackpads and Gen6 capacitive architecture are directly integrated with Sensel's haptic IP, making it the closest technology and channel peer.
- Apple (Taptic Engine / Force Touch): Apple's MacBook Force Touch trackpads and Taptic Engine define the premium haptic trackpad experience benchmark that Sensel/Cirque's GlideSense™ competes against in OEM evaluations.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat3 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Sensel social profiles
Digital presenceSensel financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Sensel leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Sensel funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds5 records
Investors12 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Sensel M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Sensel
What does Sensel do?
Sensel developed advanced haptic forcepad technology combining force sensing with high-quality haptic feedback for trackpad applications. Following its acquisition by Cirque Corporation, this technology is now integrated with Cirque's Gen6 capacitive touch architecture to power the GlideSense™ product line, delivering immersive haptic trackpad solutions for laptop OEMs, gaming device makers, and other consumer electronics manufacturers.
Is Sensel a public or private company?
Sensel is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently acquired.
When was Sensel founded?
Sensel was founded in 2013. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Sensel based?
Sensel is headquartered in Sunnyvale, United States, in the North America region.
How does Sensel make money?
One revenue line is on record: haptic Technology Licensing/IP.
Who are Sensel's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Pixart Imaging, Goodix Technology, Elan Microelectronics, Synaptics and Immersion Corporation. Alps Alpine is listed as an others. Boreas Technologies is listed as an emerging player. Broad incumbents are TDK (Piezo Haptics / InvenSense), Cirque Corporation and Apple (Taptic Engine / Force Touch).
Does Sensel have an API?
No public API is recorded for Sensel.
What industry is Sensel in?
Sensel's product category is Haptic Forcepad Technology. Its primary akta.pro industry code is HDACAFAE, Touchpads & Touch Input Modules, with a secondary code of CRACAOAD, Game Controllers & Input Devices (Gamepads, Wheels, Flight Sticks).