RealSense Spins Off from Intel, Led by an Israeli Team

12 July, 2025

Nadav Orbach and Guy Halperin, both formerly with Intel, will lead the company as it brings its depth-sensing technology into the robotics era. RealSense has raised $50 million in funding

[Image: RealSense D435 depth camera. Source: RealSense website]

RealSense, formerly a division within Intel focused on depth-sensing technology, announced today (Friday) that it has officially completed its spin-off from the tech giant and become an independent company. Alongside the transition, RealSense closed a $50 million Series A funding round, led by an undisclosed private semiconductor-focused venture capital firm, with participation from strategic investors, including the investment arms of Intel and MediaTek.

As an independent company, RealSense will focus on developing AI-powered smart vision systems, primarily for the robotics, biometrics, and access control markets. Nadav Orbach has been appointed CEO, following nearly two decades at Intel. Orbach joined Intel in 2006 as an architecture engineer in its Israel development center and later specialized in computer vision and intelligent sensing. He held several senior leadership roles, spearheading the development of depth, facial recognition, and biometric systems. Most recently, he served as Vice President at Intel, leading the Incubation & Disruptive Innovation division focused on advanced projects in AI, robotics, and vision. Orbach sees the spin-off as a unique opportunity to accelerate market expansion. “Our independence will allow us to move faster, innovate bolder, and respond more flexibly to a rapidly evolving market,” he said in a press release.

Israeli R&D at the Core

RealSense began as an internal Intel development group in the early 2010s and was officially launched as a brand in 2014. Over the years, Intel acquired several companies specializing in facial and motion recognition technologies—among them Israeli startup Omek Interactive and InVision Biometrics—to enhance its 3D and computer vision capabilities. At one point, Intel even integrated RealSense technology into consumer cameras and laptops. However, in recent years the division was scaled back, with some operations halted or refocused. The spin-off marks a return to independent growth for the brand.

The company’s headquarters is located in Santa Clara, California, while R&D centers operate in various locations, including Israel, where most of the engineering team—originally formed under Intel—remains. Manufacturing is primarily carried out in Thailand and other parts of Asia. RealSense’s R&D efforts will be led by Guy Halperin, who has been appointed VP of R&D after years of leading Intel’s computer vision teams.

New Camera and Global Growth

Recently, RealSense launched the D555 depth camera, which supports Power over Ethernet (PoE) for simultaneous power and data transmission through a single cable. The device features a Vision SoC with built-in AI capabilities and is designed for use in robotics and security systems. According to the company, RealSense products are already integrated into over 60% of the world’s autonomous robotics systems. Customers include humanoid robotics company Unitree Robotics, Swiss robotics firm ANYbotics, and Fit:Match, a company specializing in augmented reality apparel fitting.

RealSense says it has more than 3,000 active customers worldwide and positions itself as a key provider of robotic vision systems and high-precision biometric solutions. The company maintains global partnerships for manufacturing and distribution and is preparing for further expansion across Asia, Europe, and the United States.

The spin-off comes amid rapid growth in the global robotics and biometrics markets. Demand for autonomous and humanoid robots is expected to rise by tens of percentage points annually, while the need for secure, reliable facial recognition systems is peaking due to emerging applications in transportation, healthcare, and security.

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Posted in: AI

Posted in tags: Depth Camera , intel , RealSense

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