Reuters July 11, 2017
Toyota leads $14 million funding round for Israel’s Intuition Robotics
Intuition Robotics, an Israeli developer of artificial intelligence robots for use by the elderly, said on Tuesday it raised $14 million in an early stage funding round led by the Toyota Research Institute (TRI).
OurCrowd, iRobot, Maniv Mobility, Terra Venture Partners, Bloomberg Beta and other private investors also participated.
The investment in Intuition Robotics is TRI’s first outside investment in robotic technology specifically for older adults.
Intuition Robotics’ product, ElliQ, is being developed to promote an active lifestyle, with the goal of helping older adults benefit from technology that is easy to use, the company said.
“We believe Intuition Robotics’ technology in the field of cognitive computing has strong potential to positively impact the world’s aging population,” said Gill Pratt, chief executive of Toyota’s research institute.
(Reporting by Steven Scheer)
Intuition Robotics, known for developing the Elli•Q aging companion, announced on Tuesday that the company received a $14 million investment in a Series-A financing round.
n Israeli-developed robotic companion is one step closer to helping older adults connect to their families and stay active, following a significant investment round led by Toyota Research Institute.
Ramat Gan-based Intuition Robotics, known for developing the Elli•Q aging companion, announced on Tuesday that the company has received a $14 million investment in a Series-A financing round. A white, faceless robot that can sit on a living room side-table next to an accompanying screen, Elli•Q employs artificial intelligence to help older adults chat with friends, listen to or watch digital content, keep track of appointments and take advantage of recommended activity ideas.
“We are honored that TRI believes in our approach to help older adults stay connected and engaged through our first product, Elli•Q , the active aging companion,” said Dor Skuler, CEO and co-founder of Intuition Robotics. “This strategic investment illustrates our joint beliefs in the potential of social robotics in keeping older adults connected and engaged and in overcoming the digital divide using cognitive computing and natural communications.”
As the leader of the $14m. investment round, the Toyota Research Institute joins other early A-round investors in Intuition Robotics such as OurCrowd and iRobot, as well as existing seed investors like Maniv Mobility, Terra Venture Partners, Bloomberg Beta and other private entities. The investment markets Toyota Research Institute’s first outside investment in robotic technology specifically aimed toward older adults, according to the Israeli company.
| 11 July, 2017 |
| דה מרקר, אלירן רובין |
| כולם רוצים להשקיע בסטארט־אפים: במסגרת המרוץ של ארגונים לחדשנות טכנולוגית, הודיעה אתמול חברת הדיור המוגן, מגדלי הים התיכון, כי היא מקימה קרן ייעודית להשקעה בסטארט־אפים, המפתחים פתרונות לשיפור איכות חייהם של בני הגיל השלישי בתחומים כמו בריאות, תרבות ופנאי.
|
Sources: http://www.ivc-online.com/Research-Center/News-PR/News-Archive?nid=9B265A76-1566-E711-80D7-00155D0B832C (Hebrew version)
http://www.jpost.com/Business-and-Innovation/Tech/Israeli-robotics-company-receives-funding-from-Toyota-Research-Institute-499414 (English version)
TO READ THE LATEST NEWS IN THE FIELD, JOIN THE GROUP IN LINKEDIN
