Kynogon

Kynogon SA was a French software company that specialized in artificial intelligence middleware for the video game and simulation industries. The company was established in 2000 by Pierre Pontevia and Jacques Gaubil. Both founders graduated from the prestigious Ecole des Mines de Paris in 1987. Pontevia, who served as CEO, brought a deep background in AI research from his time at the CAOR laboratory and Matra Cap System, complemented by an MBA from Insead and experience at AT Kearney. Gaubil, the COO, managed sales, marketing, and finance, leveraging his extensive international experience with the management consulting firm AT Kearney.

The firm developed and marketed Kynapse, an AI engine designed to give non-player characters (NPCs) spatial awareness, enabling them to navigate complex and dynamic 3D environments realistically. This technology addressed critical development challenges by providing out-of-the-box solutions for complex pathfinding, allowing developers to focus on higher-level behaviors and gameplay. The business model centered on licensing its Kynapse middleware to game developers and simulation clients. Its client roster included top-tier game development studios like Electronic Arts, Lionhead Studios, and Sony Online Entertainment, as well as leaders in the simulation industry such as EADS and British Aerospace Systems. Kynapse was utilized in over 65 AAA game titles, including prominent games like 'Fable 2', 'Crackdown', and 'The Lord of the Rings Online: Shadows of Angmar'.

In January 2006, Kynogon secured a Series A funding round of $3 million from investors including Innovacom, Karista, and Turenne Groupe. A significant milestone occurred on May 7, 2008, when Autodesk, a world leader in 2D and 3D design software, completed its acquisition of Kynogon for an undisclosed amount. This acquisition was a strategic move for Autodesk to bolster its game development middleware offerings, integrating Kynapse with its existing tools like HumanIK to provide more comprehensive solutions for creating believable characters and environments. Following the acquisition, the Kynogon team and its technology formed the core of Autodesk's newly formed Games Technology Group, with Pontevia and Gaubil continuing to lead their respective areas of product development and sales. Autodesk later retitled the product to Autodesk Navigation but ceased its sale in July 2017. Keywords: Kynogon, Kynapse, Autodesk, Pierre Pontevia, Jacques Gaubil, AI middleware, video game development, character AI, pathfinding, simulation technology, game engine middleware, Kynapse AI, Autodesk Navigation, AAA games, 3D environment navigation, spatial awareness AI, game development tools, EADS simulation, British Aerospace Systems, Innovacom