TandemLaunch-incubated AAVVA fetches C$2m in seed round

• As part of the deal, Anges Québec member and angel investor Guillaume Courtemanche will join AAVAA’s board of directors
• The funds raised will be used to continue development and commercialization of AAVAA’s technology for advancing human-machine interactivity and human-assistance devices

Montreal-based AAVVA, a developer of technology focused on advanced human attention-detection opportunities, has raised C$2 million in seed financing.

Anges Quebec and AQC Capital led the round, with participation from Investissement Québec and TandemLaunch, a Canadian startup incubator and venture capital firm.

As part of the deal, Anges Québec member and angel investor Guillaume Courtemanche will join AAVAA’s board of directors.

Founded in 2019, AAVAA’s platform starts with unobtrusive sensors that can be included on the inside and around-the-ear portion of existing form factors such as earphones, earbuds, and eyeglasses, together with software that integrates easily with current device components. Sensors detect a wearer’s attention space via decoding and combining brain signals, eye movement, and head direction, and detect a wearer’s intended action by recognizing intentional eye blinks and other intentional facial movement.

The funds raised will be used to continue development and commercialization of AAVAA’s technology for advancing human-machine interactivity and human-assistance devices.

“AAVAA’s technological developments provide advanced solutions to hearing problems and its innovation, focused on different types of biosignals around the ear opens up compelling prospects in human-device interactivity,” said Louis St-Jacques, a partner at AQC Capital, in a statement.

Founded in 2008, Anges Québec has over 230 members who have so far invested close to C$130 million in more than 190 Quebec high growth companies.

AQC Capital manages two venture capital funds to support Quebec businesses in the startup phase in partnership with Anges Québec.