Car Sensor Startup Guardian Optical Technologies Raises $5.1 Million

Car sensor startup Guardian Optical Technologies Ltd. announced a $5.1 million Series A funding Monday. The round was led by Maniv Mobility, an Israeli venture capital fund focused on auto and mobility technologies, and Mirai Creation Fund, a subsidiary of Asian equity management firm SPARX Group.

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The company said it would invest the money in research and development for its new automatic sensor system which combining video image recognition, 3D depth-mapping, and motion detection.

Founded in 2014 and headquartered in Tel Aviv, Guardian Optical Technologies develops optical sensors that monitor the interiors of cars and work in conjunction with seatbelts, airbags, and other built-in safety systems to protects drivers and passengers. Among other applications, the technology can be used to address the problem of small children and pets being forgotten in vehicles.

“Guardian Optical Technologies enables manufacturers to understand the reality inside the vehicle, in-depth,” Guardian Optical Technologies co-founder and CEO Gil Dotan said in a statement. “Our vision is to create the ultimate in-vehicle sensing platform, enabling manufacturers to be more aware of passengers so that over time the travel experience will be improved, and the road will become a safer place for us all.”