Take heed to this text  |
Glidance raised $1.5 million in pre-seed funding for its Glide robotic that gives autonomous mobility help for the visually impaired. The oversubscribed spherical will speed up the event of Glide, which is now out there for pre-order, and assist launch the Alpha and BETA exams in late summer season and early fall throughout Canada, the U.S., Europe, and the U.Ok.
Glide makes use of AI and navigational robotics to assist blind and low-vision people improve their independence. Glidance mentioned the robotic adapts to a person’s tempo whereas guaranteeing they keep away from obstacles. The robotic also can present some understanding of the atmosphere via audio and haptic suggestions.
A more moderen technology of Glide has a smaller kind issue that features a built-in kickstand to park the unit when it’s not in use. The system doesn’t use powered wheels and as an alternative actively steers the consumer safely round obstacles. In consequence, the unit is designed to function all day on a single cost.
Amos Miller, co-founder & CEO of Glidance, misplaced his eyesight in his mid-twenties because of a genetic eye situation.
“This private expertise motivated me to create Glide — an answer I wanted and wished for myself. As a former product government at Microsoft Analysis and Chairman of the Board at Information Canine for the Blind (UK), I devoted my profession to leveraging expertise to interrupt down limitations. Glide, powered by cutting-edge AI and robotics applied sciences, demonstrates that when such applied sciences deal with significant human wants, they will create a venture-scale enterprise with a considerable impression. We’re deeply grateful to our unimaginable traders, who proceed to problem and information us in shaping our enterprise mannequin and technique.”
The brand new Glide technology contains haptic suggestions within the deal with and a built-in kickstand. | Credit score: Glide
Glidance received the 2023 RoboBusiness Pitchfire Startup Competitors. RoboBusiness is produced by The Robotic Report and dad or mum firm WTWH Media. RoboBusiness 2024 takes place Oct. 16-17 in Santa Clara, Calif. and is searching for startups to compete in Pitchfire. Competing startups obtain a free sales space on the expo flooring, can schedule one-on-one conferences with traders, community with hundreds of {industry} colleagues and extra. Fill out this manner right here by Aug. 9 to be thought-about.
Glidance’s pre-seed spherical noticed participation from Grep VC, Prota Ventures, Greenwood & Cavalier, St. Johns Neighborhood Service, Alliance of Angels, TiE Oregon Angels, and different industry-leading angel traders and teams.
“Glidance confirms the expertise optimist in us all,” mentioned Paul Willard, managing director of Grep VC. “Nice founders can apply cutting-edge tech to enhance lives so powerfully that additionally they create highly effective worth propositions for enterprise and traders.”
In its funding announcement, Glidance mentioned 98% of blind people select to not go away residence alone because of the lack of accessible navigation choices. Within the U.S., there are 7.3 million visually impaired individuals, however solely a small fraction have entry to white canes and information canine because of restricted applications, coaching programs, and funding.
Miller was a visitor on The Robotic Report Podcast in October 2023 and laid out his go-to-market plan. Glidance additionally received a 2024 RBR50 Robotics Innovation Award.