HapWare, a technology startup developing accessibility tools, has raised $1.5 million in an oversubscribed pre-seed funding round for its wearable product, ALEYE. The round was led by Adaptation Ventures, with participation from Sidecut Ventures, Mines Venture Fund, Avesta Fund, The Pitch Fund, and other investors.
The funding will support the company’s efforts to expand ALEYE across the United States and make its technology available to more users.
ALEYE is a haptic wristband designed for people who are blind, have low vision, or are DeafBlind. It uses AI to detect facial expressions, gestures, and body language through compatible Meta smart glasses or smartphone cameras. The device then converts these visual signals into vibration patterns that users can feel on their wrists.
“The majority of communication is visual,” said Jack Walters, CEO and cofounder of HapWare. “Our customers tell us ALEYE helps them navigate conversations at work, know when someone is waving, recognize when a loved one is smiling, and feel more independent. Those moments matter.”
For example, a smile is represented by a U-shaped vibration, while a wave produces a side-to-side vibration. The technology helps users understand nonverbal cues and follow social conversations more easily.
HapWare’s technology recently received recognition from TIME, which named ALEYE one of its Best Inventions of 2026 in the Accessibility category.
The company was co-founded by Dr. Bryan Duarte, who became blind at the age of 18 and later earned a Ph.D. in computer science. HapWare aims to make social interactions more accessible in educational, professional, and personal settings.
The company is preparing to expand its US launch, including through organizations such as the Braille Institute of America and the Society for the Blind.
Beyond its current target users, HapWare sees potential applications for neurodivergent people, sales professionals who want to understand nonverbal responses, and developers building accessibility tools using a planned haptic software development kit.
With its latest funding and TIME recognition, HapWare plans to continue developing ALEYE and expand access to technology that helps make everyday communication more inclusive.
