Touch New Technologies

Apple just sued OpenAI, Tang Tan, and io Products for trade secret theft — and it could stall OpenAI's first AI hardware device and its IPO.
Here's what didn't fit on the slides: Apple's filing names two ex-employees. Tang Tan — a 25-year Apple veteran who worked on iPhone and Apple Watch, now OpenAI's Chief Hardware Officer — allegedly circulated an internal Apple "Need to Know" security document to coach new hires on dodging exit checks. Chang Liu, an engineer, allegedly kept his Apple laptop and downloaded dozens of confidential files after leaving. Apple says it raised concerns with OpenAI in February and got silence. The awkward part: OpenAI bought Jony Ive's startup io for $6.5 billion to build this device — a company founded by Apple's own former design leadership. Apple wants damages plus an injunction blocking OpenAI from using any of it.
Is this Apple protecting innovation — or punishing employees for leaving? 🍎/🤖

South Africa's deep-tech startups don't fail for lack of ideas.

They fail because of capital intensity, compliance complexity, lack of OEM access, and missing mentorship.

We know — because we crossed that gap ourselves.

Today, Touch New Technologies (TNT) is stepping up as a TIA Deep Tech Venture Builder — not as a consultant, not as a theoretical accelerator, but as an ecosystem architect with 12 years of lived industrial experience.

What we bring to ventures:

🔩 VITAL IoT → Day-1 machine connectivity, no hardware R&D needed
🧠 AURA → Pre-trained industrial AI models, zero-to-inference in weeks
🏭 SYNC Twin → Digital twin 'what-if' modelling for client pitches
🔐 TRU-TRACE → Instant regulatory-grade ESG & traceability compliance
🖥️ NEXUS → Enterprise-grade UI/UX without expensive front-end dev cycles

Every R1 of TIA funding we're requesting unlocks R2.78 of total ecosystem value.

We are shifting from SaaS vendor to definitive catalyst for South Africa's next generation of Black-owned industrial startups.

12 years. 5 platforms. One mission.