US-based connected toy producer Sphero has spun out a personal robot developer called Misty Robotics with $11.5m of series A funding from investors including venture capital firms Venrock and Foundry Group.
Sphero is best known for its rolling toys, which can be controlled by a user’s smartphone, but Misty is working on personal robots that can be used at home or work for personal interaction or to perform tasks.
Misty’s initial focus will be on its first personal robot, and on a collaborative platform for robotics development. The series A capital will support product development and the shipping of its first product, which is slated for 2018.
Ian Bernstein, a co-founder of Sphero and its former chief technology officer, will be the Misty’s head of product, and five members of Sphero’s autonomous robotics team will also be joining the company.
Paul Berberian, chief executive of Sphero, said: “Coming on the heels of two very important Sphero product announcements, we are as confident as ever that our company’s focus should be on connected play experiences.
“At the same time, we see tremendous opportunity for the personal robot market, and the creation of Misty Robotics will allow the new company, with Ian’s product leadership and (CEO) Tim Enwall’s executive experience, to focus on these efforts.”