Tanvas
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2011
- HeadquartersChicago, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingSoftware
Tanvas firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Tanvas
- Legal name
- Tanvas, Inc.
- Website
- https://tanvas.co
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2011
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Where Tanvas is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Chicago
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Tanvas business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Software
- Cost components
- Technology or R&D, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Supply Chain
Revenue model
- Development Kit Sales: Sale of TanvasTouch Desktop Development Kit ($1,999) for developers to prototype haptic applications. The kit includes 10.1-inch multi-touch display, software, tools, training, and 5 hours of dedicated support.
- Technology Licensing: Licensing of TanvasTouch surface haptic technology to OEMs for integration into commercial products including automotive displays, consumer electronics, digital signage, and industrial displays.
- Commercial Product Co-development: Joint development and commercialization of products with partners such as Mimo Monitors (Mimo Vue with TanvasTouch) and Innolux (automotive displays), where Tanvas technology is embedded in partner products.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Standard TanvasTouch Desktop Development Kit - $1,999 |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Open Frame TanvasTouch Desktop Development Kit - $1,999 |
Go-to-market motion4 records
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels8 records
Tanvas product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Tanvas develops and licenses TanvasTouch, a surface haptic technology that uses electroadhesion to modulate friction between a fingertip and touch surface, creating programmable textures and haptic effects on touchscreens and physical surfaces. The company sells a TanvasTouch Desktop Development Kit for developers and partners with OEMs to embed its solid-state haptic technology into automotive displays, consumer electronics, industrial HMIs, and digital signage products.
Product overview
Tanvas offers surface haptic technology and products centered on the TanvasTouch platform. The core offering consists of the TanvasTouch surface haptic technology, which uses electroadhesion to modulate friction between fingertips and touch surfaces, creating programmable textures and effects without moving parts. This technology is delivered through the TanvasTouch Desktop Development Kit for developers to create haptic-enabled applications, and the Mimo Vue with TanvasTouch as the first commercial product for digital signage. The platform supports C/C++/C# APIs and can be integrated across various display sizes, shapes, and surfaces including flexible AMOLED displays.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- TanvasTouch Desktop Development Kit A 10.1" multi-touch development kit containing everything needed to program textures and haptic effects on touchscreens, trackpads, and physical surfaces. Includes dedicated support, SDK with C/C++/C# APIs, TanvasTouch Engine Dashboard, Viewer, Intro App, UI Reference Library, and educational materials. Sold for $1,999 directly to developers and researchers via tanvas.co e-commerce store with international shipping.
- Mimo Vue with TanvasTouch The first commercial surface haptic touchscreen product for digital signage and conference rooms, developed in partnership with Mimo Monitors. A 10.1" display combining Mimo Vue quality and durability with TanvasTouch surface haptics for programmable textures and feelings on flat physical surfaces. Served Fortune 500 customers including Google, Hertz, and VeriFone.
- TanvasTouch Automotive Display (with Innolux) An automotive-qualified 15-inch display with TanvasTouch surface haptics developed in partnership with Innolux Corporation for vehicle center information displays, infotainment systems, and smart cabin surfaces. Enables tactile feedback for drivers to locate controls without looking, reducing distraction.
- Distec Industrial HMI with TanvasTouch Industrial touch monitors and panel PCs with TanvasTouch surface haptics, distributed by Distec GmbH (FORTEC Group) in Europe. POS-PRO monitors and panel PCs from 7" to 15.6" with IP65 rating, designed for harsh industrial environments where vibration-based haptics would compromise sealed front glass.
- Flexible AMOLED Surface Haptics Solution Surface haptic solution for flexible AMOLED displays, enabling TanvasTouch on pliable surfaces for automotive, home automation, notebooks, tablets, and mobile devices. The solid-state electroadhesion technology works without moving parts, making it suitable for curved and flexible display form factors.
Quantifiable outcome
- Silver Lion at Cannes Lions 2018 for Gillette BabyFace campaign demonstrating commercial viability of haptic advertising
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Tanvas
Customer profileNamed customers9 records
Segments8 records
Ideal customer profiles5 records
Tanvas technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- Yes
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration4 records
Feature6 records
Tanvas partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Five partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.
- LG NovaminorTanvas selected as a First 50 company by LG Nova, advancing to next phase of LG's incubation program for innovative startups.
- Distec GmbHcoreDistec, a German specialist for TFT flat screens and system solutions (FORTEC Group), partners with Tanvas to offer finished industrial touch monitors with TanvasTouch surface haptics. Products include POS-PRO monitors and panel PCs from 7" to 15.6" with IP65 rating, available from February 2022.
- Innolux CorporationcorePartnership to deliver TanvasTouch surface haptics in an automotive-qualified 15-inch display. Innolux is one of the world's leading TFT-LCD total solution manufacturers with 14 TFT-LCD fabs and 3 touch sensor fabs in Taiwan. The collaboration enables automotive manufacturers to implement surface haptics in vehicle displays.
- Mimo MonitorscoreLaunched Mimo Vue with TanvasTouch - the first commercial touchscreen with TanvasTouch surface haptics for digital signage and conference rooms. Mimo Monitors was founded in 2008 and serves Fortune 500 companies including Google, Hertz, and VeriFone.
- Microchip TechnologycoreMicrochip provides HV53001 and HV53011 high-voltage drivers (±135V) for TanvasTouch implementations. These integrated circuits drive haptic loads up to 250pF with integrated boost converters, enabling compact haptic solutions.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves8 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Tanvas competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Immersion Corporation: The dominant haptic technology licensing company, licensing vibrotactile and force feedback technology to OEMs across mobile, automotive, gaming, and consumer electronics. Most directly comparable to Tanvas as a haptic IP licensor pursuing similar OEM relationships.
- Ultraleap: Developer of mid-air haptic and hand tracking technology for automotive, digital signage, and XR applications. Direct peer offering alternative haptic modalities (ultrasound-based mid-air haptics) targeting the same OEM and digital signage customers.
Emerging players
- Boreas Technologies: Developer of low-power piezo haptic actuators for consumer electronics and automotive applications. Comparable as an emerging haptic technology company targeting similar OEM integration opportunities in wearables, smartphones, and automotive interfaces.
- Aito BV: Developer of piezo-based haptic feedback technology for touch surfaces including automotive, consumer electronics, and industrial applications. Direct technical peer pursuing surface haptic solutions with comparable OEM-targeting go-to-market.
Broad incumbents
- Synaptics: Established leader in touch sensing, display drivers, and biometric authentication serving mobile, PC, automotive, and IoT markets. Overlapping focus on touch interface technology and automotive HMI makes it a broad incumbent peer.
- Apple (Taptic Engine / Haptic Touch): Sets the de facto standard for premium haptic experiences on consumer devices through the Taptic Engine. While not a direct licensor, Apple's widespread adoption of advanced haptics creates OEM expectations that influence the addressable market for surface haptic technology.
- TDK Electronics (PiezoHapt): Major electronic components manufacturer producing piezo haptic actuators (PiezoHapt) used in smartphones, wearables, and automotive HMIs. Competes in the haptic actuator market with mass-manufacturing scale and established OEM relationships.
- 3M Touch Systems: Established manufacturer of touch screen technology for industrial, retail, and commercial applications. Comparable as a broad incumbent in touch interface technology with overlapping go-to-market into industrial and commercial display segments.
Others
- Microchip Technology: Provides the HV53001/HV53011 high-voltage drivers that are integral to TanvasTouch implementations. Functions as both an enabler (providing reference-verified components) and an adjacent technology partner in the haptic hardware ecosystem.
Regional players
- Elo Touch Solutions: Major touch screen and digital signage manufacturer serving retail, hospitality, healthcare, and industrial markets. Comparable as a commercial touch display provider and potential integration partner for surface haptics in vertical applications.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Tanvas social profiles
Digital presenceTanvas compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance3 records
Tanvas financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Tanvas leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles6 records
Tanvas funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds5 records
Investors6 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Tanvas 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 Tanvas
What does Tanvas do?
Tanvas develops and licenses TanvasTouch, a surface haptic technology that uses electroadhesion to modulate friction between a fingertip and touch surface, creating programmable textures and haptic effects on touchscreens and physical surfaces. The company sells a TanvasTouch Desktop Development Kit for developers and partners with OEMs to embed its solid-state haptic technology into automotive displays, consumer electronics, industrial HMIs, and digital signage products.
Is Tanvas a public or private company?
Tanvas is a private company. It is classified as venture growth investor backed and is currently operating.
When was Tanvas founded?
Tanvas was founded in 2011. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Tanvas based?
Tanvas is headquartered in Chicago, United States, in the North America region.
How does Tanvas make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Development Kit Sales are the primary driver. The others are technology Licensing and commercial Product Co-development.
Who are Tanvas's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Immersion Corporation and Ultraleap. Emerging players are Boreas Technologies and Aito BV. Broad incumbents are Synaptics, Apple (Taptic Engine / Haptic Touch), TDK Electronics (PiezoHapt) and 3M Touch Systems. Microchip Technology is listed as an others. Elo Touch Solutions is listed as a regional player.
Does Tanvas have an API?
Yes. TanvasTouch SDK provides APIs for developers to create haptic-enabled applications. The development kit includes C# API, C API, and C++ API with detailed API documentation. Developers can create haptic resources to communicate with the TanvasTouch Engine and use the TanvasTouch Engine Dashboard for visualizing virtual resource objects. The API enables placing haptic media at specific locations on the touch surface to create textures and effects. Developer documentation is at tanvas.co/resources.