Opal has raised $116.0M in total across 7 funding rounds.
Opal's investors include Charles Zedlewski, Andreessen Horowitz, Buckley Ventures, CVentures, Electric Capital, EQT Ventures, Flexcap, Founders Fund, Future Shape, Tom Hulme, Haun Ventures, Streamlined Ventures.
OPAL-RT TECHNOLOGIES is a leading developer of open real-time digital simulators and hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) testing equipment for electrical, electro-mechanical, and power electronic systems.[1][2] Founded in 1997 and based in Canada, the company serves engineers and researchers at manufacturers, utilities, universities, and research centers worldwide, with core products like RT-LAB software enabling rapid model development for real-time simulation using commercial-off-the-shelf technologies optimized for parallel computing.[1][2][3] It targets high-demand industries including energy (smart grids, renewables), power electronics, automotive (EVs, ADAS), aerospace, and autonomy, helping reduce costs and delays in complex system design, prototyping, and testing.[2][3][4]
The company powers innovation across sectors like distributed energy systems, wind farms, hybrid vehicles, and avionics, with scalable solutions from single-processor setups to 64-processor HIL simulators integrated with tools like Simulink.[3][4] Trusted by over 1,000 users in 40+ countries and clients like NASA, Tesla, and Hydro-Québec, OPAL-RT emphasizes efficiency, accessibility, and real-world impact in accelerating product development.[2][4]
OPAL-RT TECHNOLOGIES was founded in 1997 in Canada as a pioneering startup in real-time simulation technology.[1][2][3] It emerged from the need for cost-effective, scalable rapid prototyping and HIL systems, quickly becoming a global leader through innovations in parallel distributed computing and integration with commercial tools.[1][2] Key milestones include developing RT-LAB for real-time model execution and specialized solvers for power electronics and grids, alongside FPGA-based I/O for precise sub-microsecond simulations.[1][3]
Over 25+ years, the company evolved from a niche provider to an industry standard, partnering with sectors like automotive, aerospace, and energy while expanding to support mechatronics, propulsion, and distributed energy systems.[2][3][4] Its growth reflects a commitment to proactive solutions for demanding challenges, fostering collaborations that drive customer success and sustainable development.[2]
OPAL-RT rides the wave of electrification, decarbonization, and autonomy in energy, automotive, and aerospace, where real-time simulation is essential for testing complex, interconnected systems like smart grids, EV batteries, and UAVs without physical risks or high costs.[2][3][4] Timing aligns with global pushes for renewable integration, grid modernization, and ADAS/electric propulsion, as market forces like regulatory demands for stability and efficiency favor scalable HIL over traditional prototyping.[4]
By providing virtual proving grounds for perception algorithms, control strategies, and distributed energy, OPAL-RT accelerates innovation, reduces development timelines, and influences the ecosystem through partnerships with top firms and research institutions, enabling safer, faster deployment of next-gen technologies.[2][3][4]
OPAL-RT is poised to expand in AI-driven autonomy, advanced grid resilience, and e-mobility, leveraging its real-time platforms for emerging needs like sensor fusion in self-driving tech and wide-scale renewable orchestration.[2][4] Trends in decentralized energy, electric aviation, and hybrid systems will amplify demand for its FPGA-accelerated, open solutions, potentially growing its 1,000+ user base amid rising simulation adoption.[4]
As industries prioritize speed and sustainability, OPAL-RT's evolution from 1997 innovator to trusted leader positions it to shape reliable energy transmission and smarter products worldwide, sustaining its edge in real-time tech.[2]
Opal has raised $116.0M across 7 funding rounds. Most recently, it raised $60.0M Series B in August 2024.