NZ Technologies
NZ Technologies Inc. is a Vancouver-based touchless human-machine interaction company that develops proprietary electric-field sensing and AI gesture recognition technology (HoverCore platform) for surgical, defense, elevator, and industrial applications, with FDA-cleared TIPSO medical devices and the HoverTap product family.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2009
- HeadquartersVancouver, Canada
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What NZ Technologies does
NZ Technologies Inc. is a Vancouver-based private technology company founded in 2009 by Dr. Nima Ziraknejad, specializing in touchless human-machine interaction through proprietary electric-field sensing technology combined with AI/ML gesture recognition. The company's product architecture is anchored by the HoverCore platform, which integrates electric-field sensors, embedded signal processing, and adaptive algorithms to detect finger position through air, gloves, and protective materials up to 100mm thick without cameras or vision systems. Two product families sit on top of this platform: the TIPSO family (Beam and FDA-cleared AirPad) provides touchless image navigation for sterile surgical environments, and the HoverTap family extends touchless interaction to medical-grade, rugged defense, elevator, kiosk, and surface applications.
The company operates a hybrid B2B revenue model combining direct enterprise sales with channel distribution and OEM licensing. Hardware devices are sold through quote-based, multi-year contracts to hospitals and medical institutions, supplemented by exclusive distribution agreements (TZ Medical for US TIPSO sales) and OEM manufacturing collaborations (Dupar Controls for elevator products). Customers include 14+ named medical institutions such as Stanford, University of Miami, SickKids, Vancouver General Hospital, and Indiana University Health, plus government, defense, and nonprofit accounts. The company holds FDA Class 1/510(k) exempt, CE Mark, and IEC 60601 certifications for its flagship medical products and has accumulated approximately $9M in cumulative funding through dilutive seed rounds and non-dilutive government programs (NRC IRAP, Build in Canada Innovation Program).
Strategic positioning centers on three go-to-market motions: enterprise field sales for high-value medical and industrial accounts, channel partners for regional distribution, and OEM embedded licensing for technology integration. Recent strategic actions include a 2024 partnership with Barco to integrate AI into medical imaging interfaces, a 2024 DRDC selection for the HoverTap Rugged defense variant, and a 2021 manufacturing collaboration with Dupar Controls to commercialize HoverTap elevator products. With 11-50 employees, 60+ patents, and an expanding OEM partnership portfolio (Philips, Siemens, Shimadzu, Olympus, Stryker), NZ Technologies is positioned as a niche, IP-heavy touchless HMI specialist targeting regulated and harsh-environment applications where conventional touchscreens fail.
NZ Technologies firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- NZ Technologies
- Legal name
- NZ Technologies Inc.
- Website
- https://nztech.ca
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2009
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- NZ Technologies Inc. is a Vancouver-based touchless human-machine interaction company that develops proprietary electric-field sensing and AI gesture recognition technology (HoverCore platform) for surgical, defense, elevator, and industrial applications, with FDA-cleared TIPSO medical devices and the HoverTap product family.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
NZ Technologies industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Touchless Human-Machine Interface Devices
- NAICS
- Electromedical and Electrotherapeutic Apparatus Manufacturing (334510), Computer and Peripheral Equipment Manufacturing (33411), Navigational, Measuring, Electromedical, and Control Instruments Manufacturing (33451)
- SIC
- Electromedical & Electrotherapeutic Apparatus (3845)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Touchpads & Touch Input Modules (HDACAFAE)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Embedded & HMI Electronics Manufacturing (Industrial PCs, HMIs, Panel PCs) (IMAGAGAD), Industrial Panel PCs & HMI Terminals (HDACALAE), Rugged Handhelds & Mobile Computers (HDACALAB)
Keywords
Where NZ Technologies is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Vancouver
- HQ country
- Canada
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
NZ Technologies business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Operations
Revenue model
- Hardware Device Sales: Sale of proprietary touchless HMI hardware devices including TIPSO™ and HoverTap™ product families. One-time hardware purchase model for medical devices and industrial systems.
- OEM Licensing: Technology licensing to OEM partners for integration into their products. Dupar Controls markets HoverTap Lift products under manufacturing collaboration, paying licensing fees.
- Distribution Revenue: Revenue through exclusive distribution agreements with regional distributors like TZ Medical for US market penetration.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Multi-year contract | Enterprise/Institutional Pricing |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels5 records
NZ Technologies product offering
Product offeringCore offering
NZ Technologies designs and manufactures proprietary touchless human-machine interface (HMI) hardware devices powered by its HoverCore platform. The company sells two main product families: TIPSO, an FDA-approved wireless touchless image navigation system that allows surgeons to control radiology images without breaking sterility, and HoverTap, a touchless interaction system adapted for elevators, defense/public safety, kiosks, and industrial environments.
Product overview
NZ Technologies operates a platform-plus-products architecture anchored by the HoverCore™ enabling technology. HoverCore™ is a sensing and processing platform that combines electric-field sensors with AI-powered firmware and gesture detection, connecting via USB-HID to serve as a drop-in replacement for conventional touchscreens. Two product families sit atop this platform: (1) the TIPSO™ family — TIPSO Beam and TIPSO AirPad™ — provides FDA-approved touchless image navigation for sterile surgical environments, enabling surgeons to control radiology images without touching any surface; and (2) the HoverTap™ family — HoverTap MD, HoverTap Module, HoverTap Rugged, HoverTap Surface, and HoverTap Lift — extends touchless interaction beyond healthcare into defense/public safety, elevators, kiosks, and industrial environments. Both families share the underlying HoverCore™ AI and sensor technology, but serve distinct market verticals with tailored form factors.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- HoverCore Platform Core enabling technology platform combining electric-field sensors with AI-powered firmware and gesture detection. Connects via USB-HID to serve as a drop-in replacement for conventional touchscreens, available to OEMs and system builders.
- TIPSO AirPad FDA-approved, portable wireless touchless image navigation device for sterile surgical environments. Allows surgeons to interact with radiology images without leaving the operating table—hand motions are translated into mouse/keyboard commands to control PACS, DSA, CT, or other intraprocedural imaging modalities. Operates within a sterile bag and projects a virtual menu onto the surgical drape.
- TIPSO Beam Advanced version of the original TIPSO touchless image navigation device providing sterile-field interaction capabilities for controlling radiology images during image-guided procedures. Projects a virtual menu onto the surgical drape for intuitive, in-situ image manipulation.
- HoverTap MD Medical-grade touch and touchless interaction system for advanced surgical environments. Enables reliable touchless control of medical displays and equipment through gloves, liquids, and protective barriers while maintaining sterility.
- HoverTap Module Compact module version of HoverTap touchless technology designed for integration into third-party systems and OEM products seeking to add touchless interaction capabilities powered by the HoverCore platform.
- HoverTap Rugged Ruggedized touchless interaction system engineered for industrial, defense, and field environments. Delivers reliable touchless input through thick protective materials in harsh conditions with dust, grease, moisture, vibrations, and extreme temperatures. Selected for testing by DRDC.
- HoverTap Surface Interactive surface variant of HoverTap enabling touchless interaction on surfaces beyond traditional screens. Designed for outdoor, high-traffic, and public-facing environments requiring durable, vandal-resistant interfaces.
- HoverTap Lift AI-powered touchless elevator control system that transforms existing elevator button panels into contact-free interfaces. Detects 3D position of user's fingertip to enable touchless taps and swipes. Available as a retrofit for existing panels or a panel-integrated solution for new installations. Manufactured in partnership with Dupar Controls.
Quantifiable outcome
- Reduced operating times by 10-15% during testing at VGH
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use NZ Technologies
Customer profileNamed customers19 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
NZ Technologies technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
AI capability3 records
Feature7 records
NZ Technologies partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
15 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- BarcocoreStrategic partnership to revolutionize medical imaging interfaces with artificial intelligence. Combines NZ Technologies' touchless HMI technology with Barco's medical imaging display systems for next-generation surgical visualization.
- Dupar ControlscoreManufacturing Collaboration Agreement for HoverTap Lift touchless elevator controls. NZ Technologies provides core hardware; Dupar markets products to elevator industry customer base under retrofit and panel-integrated models.
- TZ MedicalcoreExclusive distribution agreement for TIPSO devices in US regional markets outside Canada. TZ Medical is a leading multispecialty medical device provider serving interventional radiology and cardiovascular markets.
- PhilipscoreStrategic partnership for medical technology integration. Philips represents major medical device OEM for imaging and healthcare technology deployments.
- SiemenscoreStrategic partnership for medical imaging integration. Siemens is a global leader in medical imaging technology requiring advanced interface solutions.
- Shimadzu Medical SystemscoreAgreement to bring TIPSO AirPad technology to IXR Suite in US healthcare market. Shimadzu is a major medical imaging systems provider.
- OlympuscoreStrategic partnership for medical technology integration. Olympus is a global leader in medical endoscopy and surgical imaging.
- StrykercoreStrategic partnership for medical technology integration. Stryker is a major medical technology company serving surgical and neurovascular markets.
- TELUSminorIndustrial consortium partner in ICICS 'People and Planet Friendly Home' sustainability initiative. TELUS supported research project for residential sensing technology development.
- West Coast Elevator (WCE)minorLocal elevator service company that validated sensor design and defined installation process for HoverTap in elevator cabins. Instrumental in product design finalization.
- INOVAITcoreStrategic partner in image-guided therapy. INOVAIT announced funding for AI and image-guided therapy projects including NZ Technologies' 'Image-guided Needle Visualization Enhancement for a Touchless Ultrasound Display Device' project.
- Defense Research and Development Canada (DRDC)coreHoverTap Rugged selected for testing by DRDC. Government defense research organization evaluating touchless technology for military and defense applications.
- Stanford University Medical CentercoreCollaborative research study to evaluate TIPSO Touchless Image Navigation in Interventional Radiology, extending beyond current uses in angio suite to CT-guided therapy applications.
- UBC ICICSminorICICS (Institute for Computing, Information, and Cognitive Systems) provided lab space through Hatch incubator for early company development. Academic partnership for research.
- e@UBCminorEntrepreneurship program provided mentoring, business model validation, and strategic guidance for commercialization and investor attraction.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
NZ Technologies competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Synaptics: Synaptics is a large, established semiconductor vendor of touch controllers, display drivers, and biometric HMI solutions used across consumer electronics, automotive, and IoT. It competes indirectly with NZ in touch/HMI silicon and is a likely acquirer or large competitor if touchless gesture sensing becomes a mainstream interface.
- Elo Touch Solutions: Elo Touch Solutions is a long-established manufacturer of touchscreen hardware and interactive signage for retail, hospitality, healthcare, and industrial markets. While focused on conventional touchscreens rather than touchless, Elo addresses the same kiosk, healthcare, and industrial HMI customer set that NZ targets with HoverTap.
- 3M Touch Systems: 3M Touch Systems supplies projected capacitive touch sensors and displays for industrial, retail, and medical applications. It competes in the same rugged and high-reliability HMI segment as HoverTap Rugged, but with conventional touch rather than touchless sensing.
Others
- Karl Storz: Karl Storz is a global leader in endoscopy and surgical visualization equipment. Like Olympus and Stryker, it represents an OEM partner opportunity for integrating HoverCore into surgical visualization stacks, with adjacent overlap to NZ's TIPSO clinical workflow.
- Stryker: Stryker is a major medical technology company in surgical and neurovascular equipment, already listed as an NZ Technologies strategic partner. It is both an integration channel for HoverTap MD/TIPSO and an adjacent incumbent in surgical HMI workflows.
- Brainlab: Brainlab is a leading vendor of image-guided surgery and surgical visualization software/hardware. It operates in the same interventional-radiology and surgical-suite procurement cycles as TIPSO and is a potential OEM partner or adjacent competitor for surgical HMI workflows.
Emerging players
- Chirp Microsystems: Chirp Microsystems (acquired by InvenSense/TDK) developed ultrasonic gesture-recognition sensors for wearables, AR/VR, and IoT. It represents an alternative touchless sensing modality competing with NZ's electric-field approach in compact, low-power use cases.
- DISPLAX: DISPLAX manufactures projected-capacitive touch films, sensors, and interactive tables for digital signage, retail, and industrial customers. Its focus on large-format and rugged touch overlaps with NZ's HoverTap Surface and industrial verticals, making it a partial competitor on the touch side.
Direct peers
- Neonode: Neonode licenses touch-sensing and optical sensing technology (zForce) for integration into HMI applications including automotive, medical, kiosks, and robotics. Its technology-licensing business model and focus on multi-vertical touch HMI directly parallels NZ Technologies' HoverCore platform and OEM go-to-market.
- Ultraleap: Ultraleap (formerly Leap Motion) develops mid-air gesture-recognition hardware and software using IR cameras and ultrasound. It is the closest direct competitor to NZ Technologies' touchless HMI, pursuing adjacent use cases in automotive, digital signage, kiosks, and industrial control with a camera/IR-based approach vs. NZ's electric-field sensing.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
NZ Technologies social profiles
Digital presenceNZ Technologies compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance3 records
NZ Technologies financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
NZ Technologies leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles3 records
NZ Technologies funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds3 records
Investors3 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
NZ Technologies 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 NZ Technologies
What does NZ Technologies do?
NZ Technologies designs and manufactures proprietary touchless human-machine interface (HMI) hardware devices powered by its HoverCore platform. The company sells two main product families: TIPSO, an FDA-approved wireless touchless image navigation system that allows surgeons to control radiology images without breaking sterility, and HoverTap, a touchless interaction system adapted for elevators, defense/public safety, kiosks, and industrial environments.
Is NZ Technologies a public or private company?
NZ Technologies is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was NZ Technologies founded?
NZ Technologies was founded in 2009. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is NZ Technologies based?
NZ Technologies is headquartered in Vancouver, Canada, in the North America region.
How does NZ Technologies make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Hardware Device Sales are the primary driver. The others are OEM Licensing and distribution Revenue.
Who are NZ Technologies's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Synaptics, Elo Touch Solutions and 3M Touch Systems. Others are Karl Storz, Stryker and Brainlab. Emerging players are Chirp Microsystems and DISPLAX. Direct peers are Neonode and Ultraleap.
Does NZ Technologies have an API?
No public API is recorded for NZ Technologies.
What industry is NZ Technologies in?
NZ Technologies's product category is Touchless Human-Machine Interface Devices. Its primary akta.pro industry code is HDACAFAE, Touchpads & Touch Input Modules, with a secondary code of IMAGAGAD, Embedded & HMI Electronics Manufacturing (Industrial PCs, HMIs, Panel PCs). Its NAICS code is 334510 and its SIC code is 3845.