Apera AI
4 known investors
Vancouver-based developer of 4D Vision software that combines 3D vision and AI to guide industrial robots.
Also known as Apera AI Inc.
Investors · 4
Also in the syndicate · 1
Company profile
researched Aug 2026Apera AI Inc. is a Vancouver, British Columbia-based developer of vision software for industrial robotic automation. Its core product line, marketed as 4D Vision, combines 3D machine vision with artificial intelligence — described by the company as the "fourth dimension" — to give industrial robots object recognition, pose estimation and path planning capabilities. The platform is applied to tasks such as bin picking, de-racking and complex assembly, and is positioned to handle real-world factory variability including shifting bins, changing lighting, worn grippers and complex part geometries.
The product is delivered through controller software called Apera Vue, together with an AI training component (Apera Forge) and camera hardware referred to as VuePorts. Recent releases have added no-code setup tools, AI-powered calibration, vision-guided tool-center-point calibration, recording and playback, real-time diagnostics and an accuracy insight tool, with the stated aim of reducing deployment time and improving operational reliability. Version 9.50 was released in July 2025, 9.51 in October 2025 and 9.52 in February 2026.
The company was founded in 2016 and is led by founder and CEO Sina Afrooze. In July 2025 it closed an oversubscribed Series A round and added four executives: Peter Brouwer (SVP of global sales), Genèse Castonguay (VP of marketing), Joseph Lee (CFO) and Robert St-Jacques (VP of people). In April 2026 Zebra Technologies announced a strategic investment in the company.
Founding story
Apera AI was founded in 2016; Sina Afrooze is founder and CEO.
Business model
Apera AI supplies AI-based vision software and associated camera hardware for vision-guided industrial robots, sold to manufacturers and deployed with engineering support. The company describes a partner-centric delivery approach in which deployments are aligned with customers' production goals, and it markets measurable return on investment from its installations.
Revenue comes from sales of its 4D Vision products — Apera Vue controller software, Apera Forge AI training and VuePort cameras — to industrial and automotive manufacturers and their integration partners.
Traction
At the time of its July 2025 Series A, Apera AI reported nearly 3x year-over-year revenue growth and a customer base including all six major North American automotive OEMs, their Tier 1 suppliers and more than 100 industrial manufacturers.
Latest developments
In April 2026, Zebra Technologies announced a strategic investment in Apera AI to drive intelligent automation. Earlier, in February 2026, the company launched Apera Vue 9.52 alongside Apera Forge AI training it described as 4x faster.
▸Full profile — market position, technology, go-to-market, geography, history
Market position
The company describes itself as a pioneer and leader in 4D Vision for industrial robotic automation, differentiating from conventional 3D vision systems that it says struggle with real-world manufacturing conditions. Investors cited its adoption by leading automotive manufacturers and dozens of global industrial companies.
Apera AI positions its AI layer on top of 3D vision as the key differentiator, claiming robots can adapt to shifting bins, variable lighting, worn grippers and complex geometries, and emphasizing no-code setup so that manufacturing engineers do not need machine learning expertise.
Technology
The patented 4D Vision platform pairs 3D vision hardware with proprietary AI and machine learning for object recognition, robotic pose estimation and path planning. It is designed to maintain speed and accuracy when bins shift, lighting changes, grippers wear or hardware calibration drifts. Product components include the Apera Vue controller software (versions 9.50, 9.51 and 9.52), Apera Forge for AI training, and large-format VuePort camera units, alongside no-code configuration, AI-powered and vision-guided TCP calibration, recording/playback and real-time diagnostics.
Go-to-market
Direct sales supported by a partner-centric deployment model. Following its Series A, the company said it was doubling its sales team and opening an office in Detroit in the fall of 2025 to be closer to North American manufacturing customers, and appointed a senior vice president of global sales and a vice president of marketing.
Automotive OEMs, Tier 1 automotive suppliers and other industrial manufacturers.
Geography
Headquartered in Vancouver, British Columbia, with a team across North America and Europe and a Detroit office announced for fall 2025.
History
Founded in 2016 in Vancouver, British Columbia, the company built its business around 4D Vision technology for vision-guided robotics. In July 2025 it closed an oversubscribed Series A led by BDC Capital with existing investors Lobby Capital, Flying Fish Ventures and J-Ventures, released Apera Vue 9.50 and appointed four new executives. Apera Vue 9.51 with Forge enhancements and large-format VuePorts followed in October 2025, and Vue 9.52 with faster Forge AI training in February 2026. In April 2026, Zebra Technologies announced a strategic investment in the company.
Compiled by commissioned research from 5 cited public sources — announcements, filings, and press listed under research sources below.
Key figures
latest reportedCompany-reported or press-reported figures, each dated to when it was claimed — not independently audited.
Timeline · 7
launches, deals, and filingsZebra Technologies announced a strategic investment in Apera AI to drive intelligent automation. Amount not disclosed.
Apera AI announced the closing of an over-subscribed Series A round with a significant new investment from BDC Capital and increased participation from existing investors Lobby Capital, Flying Fish Ventures and J-Ventures. Osler, Hoskin & Harcourt LLP advised Apera AI. Amount not disclosed.
Peter Brouwer joined as senior vice president of global sales, Genèse Castonguay as vice president of marketing, Joseph Lee as chief financial officer and Robert St-Jacques as vice president of people.
Latest version of the company's controller software, adding vision-guided TCP calibration, a recording and playback system, and an accuracy insight tool.
The company said it was doubling its sales team and opening a new office in Detroit in the fall to serve North American manufacturing customers.
Dated company events from announcements, filings, and press; legal rows summarize public dockets and regulator releases.
▸Research sources · 5
primary sources listed
- Zebra Technologies Makes Strategic Investment in Apera AI to Drive Intelligent Automation | Zebrazebra.com · web
5 public sources were cited for this profile; the first-party ones are listed here.
Frequently asked questions
- What does Apera AI do?
- Vancouver-based developer of 4D Vision software that combines 3D vision and AI to guide industrial robots.
- Who are Apera AI's investors?
- Apera AI's investors include Flying Fish Ventures, Lobby Capital, WUTIF Capital.