Circular Wave coils together $2m seed round

Circular Wave Drive, a US-based robotic gear manufacturer spun out from Ohio State University, added $900,000 in funding on Tuesday to take its seed round to $2m.
The round was led by venture capital firm Ikove Venture Partners.
Circular Wave Drive has created speed reduction gear technology for industrial robots to help control the momentum of internal components, so energy is transferred efficiently.
The system was designed as a streamlined, durable and cost-efficient alternative to the strain-wave speed reduction gears typically favoured by manufacturers. Such gears act as a substantial overhead for the industrial robot sector, according to Flavio Lobato, principal of Ikove Venture Partners.
The seed capital has been allotted for further research and development as Circular Wave prepares to add to its headcount and expand in international markets including China, where it plans to open an office.
Circular Wave’s technology is based on research by Yuanfang Zheng, professor in Ohio State’s Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering.
Zheng said: “”When running on 18-hour shifts, industry-standard speed reducers must be replaced once every two years. This short lifespan results in a loss of productivity, which can prove very costly to a company.
“Our precise design enables us to offer a speed-reducing gear that is lower cost and more durable than strain-wave gears, which currently dominate the market.”