Softkinetic

TLDR

Softkinetic was a Brussels-based deeptech company specialising in 3D depth-sensing and gesture recognition, acquired by Sony in 2015.

Overview

Softkinetic was founded in July 2007 in Brussels, initially providing gesture recognition solutions for interactive digital entertainment, consumer electronics, and health applications. The company developed DepthSense, a line of 3D time-of-flight imagers based on patented CMOS sensor technology, and had roots in research at the Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB).

On 8 October 2015, Sony Corporation announced the acquisition of Softkinetic. The acquisition price was not publicly disclosed. In December 2017, two years after the acquisition, the company was rebranded as Sony Depthsensing Solutions. At the time of the acquisition, the company employed approximately 77 people under CEO Michel Tombroff.

Key People

• Michel Tombroff - CEO at time of acquisition

Sources

• Omar Mohout, "How Brussels became Belgium's most surprising startup city" (Apr 2026)
• TechCrunch, "Sony Buys Gesture-Tracker And 3D-Sensor Maker, SoftKinetic" (Oct 2015)
• VUB TechTransfer, "SOFTKINETIC (acquired by Sony)"
• PR Newswire, "SoftKinetic becomes Sony Depthsensing Solutions" (Dec 2017)