Two Hebrew University alumni and a professor walk into a bar. It sounds like the beginning of a joke, but it’s actually the beginning of a technological revolution.
Computer Science alumni Avi Bakal and Omer Kapach, along with Prof. Uriel Levy, are developing sensors that will make driver assistance systems infinitely more accurate and affordable. “Our goal is, and always has been, to save lives,” Avi says.
Omer arrived at Hebrew University in 2009. “I’d always been drawn to solving problems through technology, and the computer engineering and applied physics program offered a diverse yet powerful set of skills that would serve me professionally,” he recalls.
That same year, Avi began studying electrical and computer engineering, with a minor in applied physics. “Hebrew University has a strong record of contributing to global science and developing applications that benefit society,” he says. “This is where I wanted to be.”
Avi completed an undergraduate research project in Prof. Levy’s lab and continued to his master’s degree there. Prof. Levy is a global leader in nanophotonics, or nano-optics, which is the study of how light behaves on the nanometer scale. Together, they realized the immense commercial potential of Prof. Levy’s academic findings.
Omer had been working for a large, global technology company, but never stopped dreaming about founding his own start-up. Through friends, he heard that Avi was in the process of setting up a venture. They met up. “It felt like a good team, which is crucial for building something from the ground up,” Omer reflects.
In late 2017, TriEye was born. The company develops and produces shortwave infrared (SWIR) sensors. Today, an individual SWIR sensor can cost thousands of dollars. Using proprietary technology that enables reliable and scalable mass-production, TriEye is able to produce a SWIR sensor at a mere fraction of the cost.
Moreover, other sensors currently on the market don’t perform adequately in adverse weather and lighting conditions such as rain, fog, and the glare of sunrise or sunset. Taking a different approach to production, TriEye successfully overcame the challenges of price and performance and is currently working with leading manufacturers and producers in the automotive industry and working to introduce their sensor to other industries: consumer electronics, health, biometrics, and the inspection of production lines. To date, they have completed three rounds of funding, totaling over $100M investment.
Prof. Levy says that TriEye is a dream come true. "The company's technology is based on a decade of nanophotonic research. Developing commercial products that implement academic achievements – all while enhancing society – is one of my primary goals. It is a real joy conducting basic research to overcomes a scientific challenge, which is then translated into a life-changing piece of technology!”
Reflecting on the last few years, Avi feels immense satisfaction. “I love tackling complex problems. Photonics and semiconductors are new fields, and any progress advances our understanding by leaps and bounds.” Omer is proud of all they’ve accomplished in less than five years. “We set out to produce an infinitely more accurate sensor at a fraction of the cost – and succeeded!”
“Scientific research can often feel like a Sisyphean task. But Hebrew University rigorously trained us to define our research question, analyze existing data, identify the potential for progress, and understand the importance and positive impact of our work. We also developed a flexible mindset, creativity, and daring.”
- Avi Bakal & Omer Kapach