sensiBel

sensiBel is a Norwegian technology firm, operating on a B2B model, that manufactures high-performance Micro-Electro-Mechanical Systems (MEMS) microphones. The company spun out of SINTEF, a major independent research organization in Norway, in 2017. Its foundation is built upon research that began in the early 2000s, which led to a functional prototype in the 2010s demonstrating the potential of using optical technology for MEMS microphones. The company was co-founded by Matthieu Lacolle (CTO), an expert in MEMS and optics, and Jakob Vennerød, an acoustics specialist, who both came from SINTEF. They are led by CEO Sverre Dale Moen, a serial entrepreneur with experience in commercializing deep-tech startups.

The core of sensiBel's business is its patented optical MEMS technology, which represents a significant departure from traditional capacitive or piezoelectric microphones. This technology utilizes a laser (VCSEL) and a photodetector to precisely measure the movement of the microphone's diaphragm. This optical sensing method allows the microphone to capture sound with an exceptionally low self-noise and a high dynamic range, preventing distortion in loud environments while retaining subtle audio details. Their flagship SBM100 series microphones deliver an 80dBA signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) and a dynamic range of up to 132dB with a 24-bit digital output, performance comparable to professional studio microphones but in a miniature, surface-mountable package.

sensiBel serves a broad range of markets that require superior audio quality, including consumer electronics (like high-end smartphones and active noise cancellation headphones), pro audio, enterprise video conferencing systems, automotive, and medical devices. The microphones are designed for straightforward integration into various products, supporting digital interfaces like PDM, I2S, and TDM, which simplifies the design for engineers by eliminating the need for external analog-to-digital converters. The company has secured significant funding, including a Series A round that brought its total to over $30 million, with notable investors like German audio giant Sennheiser and TRUMPF Venture. This capital is being used to scale up production and further research and development efforts. Keywords: optical MEMS microphone, high dynamic range microphone, low noise microphone, audio capture technology, SINTEF spinoff, MEMS sensor, studio-quality audio, acoustic sensor, VCSEL technology, digital microphone, noise cancellation microphone, conferencing audio, professional audio, consumer electronics audio, automotive microphone, medical device microphone, Sverre Dale Moen, Matthieu Lacolle, Jakob Vennerød, SBM100 series