Haptic (WearWorks)

What Haptic (WearWorks) does

Haptic (formerly WearWorks) is a Brooklyn-based B2B SaaS company founded in 2017 that builds patented haptic navigation technology, delivering screen-free, audio-free turn-by-turn guidance through vibration patterns on smartphones and wearables. Its core technology, the patented Haptic Corridor system, uses GPS, IMU sensor fusion, and machine learning to create a virtual navigable pathway; users feel nothing when on course and receive vibration cues whose intensity scales with deviation angle. The product portfolio spans the HapticNav consumer iOS app (with live Apple Watch integration and Android in development), the HapticNav SDK for enterprise embedding, the WayBand wearable wristband, the HapticAI Studio haptic design tool, the HapticLab research platform, and the Haptic Foundation nonprofit.

Haptic monetizes through a tiered licensing model: a free Developer tier (10,000 sessions/month), a quote-based Platform License for commercial app deployment with white-label SDK and analytics, and an Enterprise & OEM tier offering multi-year contracts, SLA guarantees, on-premise/air-gap deployment, and per-device royalties. The go-to-market combines product-led growth (SDK self-serve) with enterprise field sales targeting rideshare, airports/venues, smart cities, defense/first responders, and consumer electronics OEMs. Distribution leverages strategic partnerships with Mapbox (8+ years of pedestrian-grade routing), Apple (Watch/AHAP integration), Google (Project Guideline), Carahsoft (U.S. government procurement), and accessibility organizations (NFB, RNIB, Helen Keller Services, Aira, Lighthouse Guild). The company has been validated by the GSMA GLOMO Award at MWC Barcelona, AARP AgeTech Approved status, and SOC 2, GDPR, CCPA, and WCAG 2.1 AA certifications, and holds 4+ granted US patents.

Name

Haptic (WearWorks)

Legal name

Haptic Works Inc.

Website

https://haptic.works

Company type

Private

Founded year

2017

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Haptic (formerly WearWorks) is a Brooklyn-based B2B SaaS company that provides patented, screen-free haptic navigation SDK and hardware for accessibility, rideshare, smart city, defense, and OEM customers worldwide.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Haptic Navigation Software

NAICS

Navigational, Measuring, Electromedical, and Control Instruments Manufacturing (33451), Navigational, Measuring, Electromedical, and Control Instruments Manufacturing (3345)

SIC

Search, Detection, Navagation, Guidance, Aeronautical Sys (3812)

akta.pro primary industry

Special Education & Accessibility-Optimized Media (UDL, AAC, Captioning) (EDAGALAH)

akta.pro secondary industry

Wearable Computers (Industrial Smart Glasses/Wrist/Arm-Mount) (HDACALAH)

Keywords

• Haptic navigation technology
• Assistive wayfinding software
• Vibration-based navigation SDK
• Wearable navigation devices
• Screen-free accessibility solutions

Headquarters

HQ city

Brooklyn

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Software

Cost components

Technology or R&D, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Consumer App (Freemium): Free iOS app with 5-star App Store rating. Consumer accessibility use case establishes market presence and brand recognition.
2. Developer SDK Tier: Free tier with 10,000 navigation sessions/month for developers, researchers, and startups. Commercial conversion path to paid licensing.
3. Platform License: Commercial deployment license for production apps. Includes full haptic library, custom patterns, white-label SDK, Mapbox integration, priority support, and analytics. Scoped to deployment environment.
4. Enterprise & OEM Licensing: Unlimited navigation sessions, multi-app/multi-platform license, sector-specific configuration, dedicated customer success, SLA uptime guarantees, on-premise/air-gap deployment, OEM per-device royalty model.
5. WayBand Hardware Sales: Sale of WayBand wearable device for hands-free, eyes-free navigation. Magnetic charging, water resistant, Bluetooth enabled.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion4 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Haptic (WearWorks) develops and licenses a patented haptic navigation platform that delivers turn-by-turn guidance through vibration patterns, eliminating the need for screens or audio. The company sells the HapticNav SDK and Platform/Enterprise licenses to businesses in rideshare, airports, smart cities, defense, and consumer electronics, while offering a free HapticNav consumer iOS app and the Wayband wearable wristband to establish accessibility-first market presence.

Product overview

Haptic (formerly WearWorks) is a tactile navigation technology company offering a unified platform centered on the patented HapticNav technology and Haptic Corridor navigation system. The product portfolio includes: HapticNav App (free consumer app for iOS with Apple Watch live integration), HapticNav SDK (enterprise licensing for partners to integrate haptic navigation), Wayband (wearable wristband hardware), HapticAI (AI-powered haptic design tool), HapticLab (research platform), and Haptic Foundation (nonprofit). The platform serves accessibility, rideshare, airports, smart cities, defense, and consumer electronics sectors with screen-free navigation using vibration feedback. Licensing spans Developer (free tier), Platform License (commercial), and Enterprise & OEM (unlimited scale) programs.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• HapticNav: AI-powered haptic navigation SDK providing screen-free, turn-by-turn guidance through vibration patterns. Includes free iOS app and enterprise SDK for B2B licensing.
• Wayband
• HapticLab
• HapticAI
• Haptic Foundation

Products and services

• HapticNav App Free iOS mobile application providing screen-free, turn-by-turn haptic navigation using vibration patterns driven by the patented Haptic Corridor technology. It guides users without requiring sight or audio, serving accessibility needs while also benefiting sighted users in challenging environments, and integrates with Apple Watch via AHAP.
• HapticNav SDK Software development kit licensing program for enterprise partners to integrate patented haptic navigation technology into existing applications. Includes RESTful API, WebSocket support, native SDKs for iOS and Wear OS, full haptic pattern library, Mapbox integration, and analytics. Available in Developer (free), Platform License, and Enterprise & OEM tiers.
• WayBand Wearable wristband device providing eyes-free, ears-free, hands-free haptic navigation. Features Bluetooth connectivity, magnetic charging, and water resistance, and pairs with the HapticNav app to deliver vibration-based navigation guidance for users who prefer a dedicated wearable.
• HapticAI Studio AI-powered haptic wave designer tool that lets users create and customize haptic feedback patterns by controlling frequency (5–400Hz) and amplitude parameters, with waveform options (Sine, Square, Triangle, Sawtooth) and export to industry-standard formats including AHAP, Core Haptics, JSON, CSV, and Web Vibration API.
• HapticLab Research and product engine behind corridor-based navigation, translating spatial data into tactile signals. Provides reusable signal blocks including HapticSandbox (rapid prototyping), HapticHealth (clinical and wellness research), HapticGaming (immersive play), and HapticAlerts (notification patterns). Backed by multiple US patents and XR research publications.
• Haptic Foundation Nonprofit organization dedicated to screen-free, touch-based navigation for blind and visually impaired people worldwide, supporting wider distribution of haptic navigation technology to underserved communities.

Quantifiable outcome

• 92% of users rate safety as a very important aspect of finding their rideshare vehicle
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers9 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

Yes

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration7 records

AI capability3 records

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core and flagship.

• UbercoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Letter of Intent signed for curbside pickup optimization. HapticNav guides riders to exact vehicle locations via vibration patterns, reducing curbside confusion, driver circling, and support tickets.
• South by Southwest (SXSW)coreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2024Official Navigation Partner for SXSW 2024. Guided thousands of attendees with screen-free, language-free haptic navigation across the festival.
• MapboxcoreTechnology or Integration8+ year strategic partnership providing pedestrian-grade routing with sidewalk differentiation. Mapbox Navigation SDK and Directions API power HapticNav's precise location services. Sidewalk-differentiated routing distinguishes sidewalks from roads for pedestrian safety.
• GoogleflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerProject Guideline partnership in partnership with Google. Open source initiative for accessible navigation technology.
• CarahsoftcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorGovernment procurement channel via GSA schedule. Enables municipal RFP participation and defense/emergency response deployments. Carahsoft is the #1 government technology distributor in the US.
• ApplecoreTechnology or IntegrationApple Watch integration live and shipping. Supports AHAP (Apple Haptic and Audio Pattern) for full iOS haptic fidelity. Cross-device handoff between phone and watch.
• National Federation of the Blind (NFB)flagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerLeading US accessibility organization. Haptic technology deployed with NFB to provide screen-free navigation independence for blind individuals.
• Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB)flagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerUK-based leading blindness organization. Partner for deploying haptic navigation across accessibility ecosystem.
• Helen Keller ServicescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAccessibility partner organization serving blind and visually impaired communities with haptic navigation deployment.
• AiracoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerVisual interpretation service partner integrating haptic navigation for accessible wayfinding.
• Lighthouse GuildcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAccessibility partner providing navigation services to visually impaired individuals using haptic technology.
• Wear OScoreTechnology or IntegrationNative Wear OS SDK integration in active development. Wearable haptic navigation platform alongside iOS.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves3 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Emerging players

• Strap Technologies: Strap Technologies builds a wearable haptic navigation device for blind users, conceptually the closest hardware analog to WayBand. Smaller emerging player in the same haptic accessibility navigation niche.

Direct peers

• Waymap: Waymap builds indoor and outdoor navigation for blind and partially sighted users using smartphone sensors. It is a direct peer in screen-free/eyes-free wayfinding for accessibility.
• Aira: Aira provides on-demand visual interpreting and navigation for blind users via remote agents. Haptic already lists Aira as a partner, and both serve the same core accessibility navigation use case.
• GoodMaps: GoodMaps offers accessible indoor and outdoor maps and navigation, with a strong focus on blind and low-vision users. It directly competes with HapticNav in the accessible wayfinding category.
• Blindsquare: Blindsquare is a long-standing audio-based navigation app for blind and visually impaired users. It is a direct peer in accessibility navigation, though Haptic differentiates through touch rather than audio.

Broad incumbents

• Immersion Corporation: Immersion is a long-established IP and technology licensor for haptic feedback across automotive, mobile, gaming, and wearables. It is a broad incumbent whose patent portfolio could overlap with Haptic's and who could compete in OEM haptic licensing.
• Cirrus Logic (Lofelt): Cirrus Logic acquired Lofelt, a haptic technology and IP company, extending into advanced haptics for consumer devices. A broad incumbent in the haptic hardware and software stack that could integrate navigation-grade haptics into platforms.
• Google Maps: Google Maps is the dominant pedestrian navigation platform and a current Haptic partner via Project Guideline. As a broad incumbent, it could either integrate Haptic's layer or build a competing accessibility experience natively.
• Apple Maps: Apple Maps is the iOS-default navigation platform and the substrate through which HapticNav operates. As a broad incumbent owning both the platform and haptic APIs, Apple is both a critical partner and a long-term competitive risk.

Others

• Microsoft Soundscape: Microsoft Soundscape was a 3D audio-based navigation project for blind users exploring similar assistive wayfinding concepts. Though discontinued, it represents a relevant historical peer in the same accessibility navigation category.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/results?search_query=HapticNav+SXSW+WearWorks

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds10 records

Investors15 records

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Haptic (WearWorks)