Pasadena, California-based Embodied announced today it has raised $22 million in Series A funding to support its AI and robotics platforms for improved care and wellness. The investment is led by Calibrate Ventures and Jazz Venture Partners, and had participation from previous backers including Osage University Partners, Intel Capital, Grishin Robotics, and others.
“We are developing a software and robotics platform that will enhance and enrich the lives of individuals and their families,” CEO and cofounder Paolo Pirjanian said in a statement. “Our technology delivers measurable benefits through interactions with individuals, and we will use proceeds from our financing to continue adding to our exceptional team of robotics and AI experts, neuroscientists, and creative animators.”
Embodied was first announced in 2016, and earlier this year filed an SEC notice for approximately $12.4 million. While the company has so far kept its offerings close to the vest, it stresses that the “emotionally intelligent” and “life-like” robotic offerings will also be built with both the individual and their family members’ quality of life in mind.
Pirjanian, formerly the chief technology officer of iRobot, cofounded the company with Maja Matarić, a professor of computer science, neuroscience, and pediatrics at the University of Southern California. Other C-suite names bolstering the young company include Chief Technology Officer Stefan Scherer, a machine learning researcher at the University of Southern California's Institute for Creative Technologies, and Chief Commercial Officer Craig Allen, a veteran of the gaming industry.
“Having previously backed Paolo at Evolution Robotics before it was acquired by iRobot, we have been inspired by his vision for how mankind can benefit from socially aware and engaging robots, and we are delighted to support the Embodied team as they work to create a remarkably transformative experience,” Jason Schoettler, partner at Calibrate Ventures, said in a statement.
According to a statement, Schoettler will be joining Embodied’s board along with Jazz Venture Partners’ Andrew Firlik.
While an IDC report from last year predicted an uptick in hospitals’ use of robots and automation, designs intended for home use have been gaining steam. Among the more well-known names in this space are Pillo Health and Catalia Health, for adherence, as well as Hasbro and Paro, for comfort.
