Embodied takes in $22m series A

Embodied, a US-based companion robot developer co-founded by a researcher from University of Southern California (USC), raised $22m in a series A round yesterday featuring spinout-focused investment firm Osage University Partners.
The round was led by Calibrate Ventures and also featured Intel Capital, the corporate venturing arm of semiconductor producer Intel, as well as Jazz Venture Partners, Grishin Robotics and unnamed, existing shareholders.
Founded in 2016, Embodied is working on an artificial intelligence (AI) software platform and life-like companion robots aimed at the care and wellness industries. The company has yet to unveil any products and remains in stealth mode.
The technology is based on research by Maja Matarić, the Chan Shoon-Shiong professor of computer science, neuroscience and paediatrics at University of Southern California. Matarić now serves as chief science officer.
Matarić, who specialises in socially assistive robots, co-founded the company with chief executive Paolo Pirjanian, formerly chief technology officer for autonomous vacuuming and mopping robots producer iRobot.
The management team also includes chief technology officer Stefan Scherer, associate director of neural information processing at USC’s Institute for Creative Technologies, and chief creative officer Craig Allen.
Embodied is wholly independent of USC and has not sought any support from the institution.
Jason Schoettler, venture partner at Calibrate Ventures, and Andrew Firlik, co-founder and general partner at Jazz Venture Partners, will join the board of directors.
Embodied raised $12.4m in funding last month from unnamed backers, when a regulatory filing revealed the company was targeting an $18.8m close for the round.
The company had earlier secured $6.8m in capital, according to regulatory filings. Intel Capital, the corporate venturing division of chipmaker Intel, revealed Embodied was one of 12 startups to have received an undisclosed slice of a $38m commitment in 2016.
Embodied’s shareholders also include Amazon Alexa Fund and Sony Innovation Fund, respective investment divisions of e-commerce firm Amazon and consumer electronics producer Sony, as well as Vulcan Capital and Hive Ventures, according to its website.
Pirjanian said: “We are developing a software and robotics platform that will enhance and enrich the lives of individuals and their families.
“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.”