Northwestern spin-out Tanvas secures $5m series A to commercialise added sensory output for touchscreen devices.

Tanvas, a spin-out of Northwestern University, has raised $5m in its series A, which the US-based firm will use to further advance its touchscreen-focused sensory technology.

The firm is working on providing physical feedback for touchscreen devices, allowing users to feel what they are touching.

Northwestern University participated in the round, along with Peak 6, which was led by venture firm R7 Partners.

Greg Topel, CEO of Tanvas, said: “The major drawback of touchscreens has always been the missing element of physical feedback. We constantly interact with the world through the sense of touch. Yet until now, that has not been possible in our electronic devices. Tanvas finally empowers touchscreens what we didn’t know we were missing: true interaction with what you see.”