Solace Power, a Newfoundland and Labrador company that has developed a portfolio of wireless power technologies for commercial applications, has signed a partnership deal with Michigan-based automotive supply company Gentex, which is also investing in the business.

Founded in 2007 and helmed by CEO Neil Chaulk since 2021, Solace makes wireless power and data transfer technology for industries including the automotive, telecommunications and healthcare sectors. The company’s technology can provide up to three kilowatts of power, even through barriers like wood and concrete, which is enough to power fairly large pieces of equipment.

The Gentex deal is a significant step for Solace, since the company is well-established in both the automotive and aerospace sectors, with about US$2.2 billion in annual revenue and more than 5,000 employees.

“Solace's dynamic wireless platforms are the result of our expertise built up over more than a decade of working with our customers’ evolving needs," said Chaulk in a statement.

“Working alongside Gentex, we're elevating our technology, providing their next generation of vision, sensing, connectivity, and dimmable glass products with high-caliber, future-ready power solutions.”

Solace’s major breakthrough when it was originally founded was that its technology transferred power using a magnetic field, rather than the industry standard of magnetic coils that had to be closely in line with whatever they were powering.

Since then, the company has raised about $18.3 million of equity funding, according to data from Crunchbase, and has around 40 employees, according to LinkedIn data. It also holds 27 patents 

In their joint statement, Solace and Gentex said Solace already has a “diverse” range of customers, but that both companies hope the partnership will help Solace reach “market scale.” Gentex, for its part, plans to utilize Solace’s technology in its current portfolio of products, as well to enter new markets.