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Glidance raised $1.5 million in pre-seed funding for its Glide robotic that provides autonomous mobility help for the visually impaired. The oversubscribed spherical will speed up the event of Glide, which is now obtainable for pre-order, and assist launch the Alpha and BETA assessments 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 making certain they keep away from obstacles. The robotic may also present some understanding of the setting by way of audio and haptic suggestions.
A more recent 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 person 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 as a consequence 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 govt at Microsoft Analysis and Chairman of the Board at Information Canines for the Blind (UK), I devoted my profession to leveraging know-how 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’ll create a venture-scale enterprise with a considerable influence. 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 consists of 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 mother or father 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 ground, can schedule one-on-one conferences with traders, community with 1000’s of {industry} colleagues and extra. Fill out this type right here by Aug. 9 to be thought of.
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 know-how 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 canines as a consequence 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.