Hardware Startup Aina Secures $5.5 Million to Build Physical AI Control Interfaces

By Ivan Mehta · TechCrunch · 2026-07-16

Aina, a new hardware venture led by former Ultrahuman executive Apoorv Shankar, has closed a $5.5 million funding round to develop devices specifically designed to trigger AI workflows. TechCrunch reports that the startup intends to move beyond passive recording gadgets, focusing

Aina, a new hardware venture led by former Ultrahuman executive Apoorv Shankar, has closed a $5.5 million funding round to develop devices specifically designed to trigger AI workflows. TechCrunch reports that the startup intends to move beyond passive recording gadgets, focusing