Knightscope, a US-based developer of autonomous robots to predict and prevent crime, raised $5.2m yesterday in a series A round backed by several corporate investors.
NTT Docomo Ventures, the corporate venturing unit of mobile telecommunications network NTT Docomo, provided the funding alongside print service provider Konica Minolta and supply chain services company Flextronics.
The round included $1.5m secured from a seed round in April backed by NTT Docomo Ventures, SeedInvest and angel investor Kishore Ganji.
Knightscope has created a crime-prevention system based around robots that can patrol an area, transmitting information to a browser-based user interface. The funding will support commercialisation of its product.
Ekta Sahasi, vice president of Konica Minolta, said: “We are extremely impressed with Knightscope’s vision and the team’s dedication to providing an all-inclusive service to its customers.
“Knightscope’s security solution utilises some of today’s hottest technologies in Silicon Valley – autonomous technology, robotics, big data, predictive analytics, sensors and social engagement – and we are delighted to help Knightscope define the next generation of public safety where technology is embraced for the betterment of society.”