PaperPlane raises $7.5M seed to build tangible prototyping kit

Design · 3 min read

PaperPlane launched a tactile prototyping kit that lets teams assemble sensor-and-actuator modules into interactive mockups without soldering. The $7.5 million seed, led by CraftWorks Capital, will support first production runs, tooling, and a community portal with shared kits and templates.

The kit integrates with a visual scripting app where designers map hardware events to UI behaviors and state machines; it also exports to professional PCB designs for engineers once a concept is validated. PaperPlane emphasizes low barrier to iteration to keep fidelity high in early-stage experimentation.

Early testers from three major design agencies praised the speed of moving from paper sketches to interactive prototypes. PaperPlane plans an educational program for design schools and a subscription service that replenishes consumables like sensors and adhesives.