Powermat Technologies

Powermat Technologies develops wireless energy transfer solutions for consumers, original equipment manufacturers, and public places.

Powermat Technologies is a developer of wireless energy transfer solutions for consumers, OEM and public places. Retail products are sold worldwide under the brand Duracell Powermat. The company's inductive charging technology has been adopted by the Power Matters Alliance and is the platform adopted by Duracell, General Motors, Starbucks and AT&T. The company was founded in 2006 by Ran Poliakine while in 2009 its first products were launched. In 2011 General Motors announced that it would integrate Powermat's wireless charging technology into certain vehicles in its 2013 Chevrolet Volt line, and would also invest in the private company. During that year Powermat also partnered with Leyden Energy, manufacturer of advanced lithium-imide (Li-imide) batteries, in order to develop wireless chargeable batteries, as well as with Arconas, provider of public seating, to incorporate wireless charging directly into airport seating and lounge areas. The first integration with airports included: Chicago O'Hare International Airport, Aspen–Pitkin Airport, Eppley Airfield in Omaha and Toronto Pearson International Airport. Powermat and Procter & Gamble created a joint venture, under the Duracell Powermat brand.The venture began operations in January 2012. The entertainer Jay-Z signed on as the 'face and voice' of the venture, and took an equity stake in the company. As part of a partnership with Madison Square Garden, the arena features Duracell Powermat charging surfaces in a number of suites and other areas, beginning in mid-2012, in addition the Duracell Powermat charging spots were embedded in Jay-Z's 40/40 Club NYC club tables. A year later, Powermat Technologies along with Procter & Gamble founded the Power Matters Alliance (PMA), an alliance of semiconductor and consumer electronics industries as well as governmental organizations. The alliance dedication is to advance smart and environmental wireless power. AT&T and Starbucks are board members and among its members are: Samsung, LG, HTC, BlackBerry, Huawei, ZTE, Texas Instruments, STMicroelectronics, Broadcom, Fairchild Semiconductor, Freescale, IDT, Otterbox, and Incipio. In October 2012, Powermat and Starbucks announced a pilot program to install Powermat charging surfaces in the table tops in 17 locations around Boston area. The technology is consistent with Starbucks' environment friendly guidelines.As the pilot was completed, in July 2013, Starbucks decided to bring the Powermat's wireless charging tech to additional locations in the Silicon Valley. In 2013, Powermat announced it had acquired Powerkiss, a provider of integrated wireless charging solutions. Powerkiss had deployed wireless charging hot spots across Europe, founded in 2008 and headquartered in Helsinki, Finland.