Novalia

High-Level Overview

Novalia is a Cambridge, UK-based technology company specializing in PrintedTouch technology, which adds touch activation, wireless connectivity, and data capture to printed surfaces using conductive ink and printed sensors.[1][2][3] It serves major brands like Disney, Audi, Chrysler, Pizza Hut, Bud Light, and IKEA by creating interactive experiences that bridge physical print with digital functionality, solving the problem of making static marketing materials immersive and data-driven.[1][2] With over 20 patents and additional applications focused on low-cost manufacturing, Novalia has won two Cannes Lions Awards for high-profile campaigns, demonstrating strong growth through innovative, mass-manufacturable solutions in experiential advertising and smart products.[1][2][3]

Origin Story

Founded in 2006 by Dr. Kate Stone, a Cambridge University PhD in Physics with a degree in electronics and a TED Talk speaker, Novalia emerged from her expertise in blending electronics with print at companies like Plastic Logic.[1][2][3] Stone, alongside team members like Madeleine Kelleyan (textile design background) and Ignacio Lopez (MSc in Electronics Engineering), pioneered conductive ink to "bridge the physical with the digital."[3] Early traction came from ideating and executing award-winning campaigns, securing investments from Amazon’s Alexa Fund and Techstars, and building a team with PhDs, MBAs, and design expertise, humanizing their mission to revive tactile discovery in a digital world.[1][3]

Core Differentiators

• Patented PrintedTouch Technology: Uses printed conductive ink sensors combined with silicon microcontrollers, sound, or Bluetooth for touch-enabled surfaces at the lowest manufacturing costs, protected by over 20 patents and 20 applications.[1][2]
• End-to-End Innovation: Designs, codes, and mass-produces interactive products from the ground up, enabling scalability from single events to global brand campaigns.[1][3]
• Proven Brand Impact: Delivered Cannes Lions-winning experiential installations for top clients, creating sensory journeys that merge digital and physical worlds.[1][2][4]
• Expert Team and Ecosystem: Combines scientists, engineers, designers, and software developers with investor backing from Amazon’s Alexa Fund and Techstars, fostering immersive advertising, entertainment, and smart home applications.[3]

Role in the Broader Tech Landscape

Novalia rides the trend of phygital experiences, where IoT and printed electronics converge to make everyday surfaces interactive amid rising demand for experiential marketing and smart packaging.[1][3] Timing aligns with advancements in low-cost conductive inks and wireless tech, amplified by post-pandemic shifts toward tactile, data-capturing consumer interactions that boost engagement over passive digital ads.[2][4] Market forces like brand needs for immersive retail (e.g., IKEA) and automotive (e.g., Audi) favor Novalia, influencing the ecosystem by enabling mass-manufacturable IoT at print scale, inspiring sectors like advertising and consumer goods to rethink physical-digital fusion.[1][3]

Quick Take & Future Outlook

Novalia is poised to expand PrintedTouch into broader IoT applications like smart homes and packaging, leveraging its patents and investor network for global scaling.[3] Trends in edge computing, 5G connectivity, and sustainable manufacturing will accelerate adoption, potentially evolving its influence from campaign innovator to standard-setter in interactive print. As brands seek data-rich physical touchpoints, Novalia's foundational blend of digital and physical—unlocking "childhood desire to discover through touch"—positions it to redefine ordinary surfaces as extraordinary gateways to the future.[1][2]