Sonavation

The company's core business centered on creating ultrasonic biometric fingerprint sensors. This technology was developed to offer a higher level of security for authentication into a variety of devices, including smartphones, tablets, and wearables, as well as for automotive and other connected device applications. Sonavation's product line was engineered to provide secure authentication for both digital and physical environments, catering to consumers and businesses. The offerings included embedded solutions and standalone devices aimed at protecting access to online services like e-commerce and financial services. A key product was SonicTouch, an ultrasound biometric authentication solution. The technology's main benefit was its ability to perform 3D surface and sub-surface scans, making it difficult to spoof. This capability also allowed for through-glass fingerprinting, giving device manufacturers more flexibility in sensor placement.

Over its history, Sonavation achieved several milestones, including the acquisition of security identification firm Arkami in 2014 to bolster its technology. This acquisition was intended to integrate Arkami's hardware-based password management with Sonavation's biometric solutions. The company also entered into a significant commercial licensing agreement with Analog Devices in 2017 to develop and manufacture complete biometric system solutions. Despite raising approximately $74.5 million in funding over multiple rounds, the company faced financial difficulties. In May 2023, Sonavation filed for Chapter 11 reorganization, citing an inability to find a buyer for its technology and a lack of liquidity to continue operations. At the time of the filing, the company reported having no income for the previous or current year and was operating as a debtor in possession.