Tombot Launches New Funding Round for Emotional Support Robot Dog
October 3, 2022
Tombot, which is developing a hyper-realistic emotion-support robot that looks, feels and behaves much like a real puppy, has announced a limited-time opportunity for U.S. and international individuals to invest in the company as part of a community raise. The crowdfunding campaign will be held on Republic, a platform for investors seeking high growth potential.
Scientifically engineered to treat symptoms of mental illness, Tombot has a mission of creating robotic animals that aim to transform the daily lives of individuals, families and communities facing mental health adversities. Launched in 2017, Tombot seeks to be the first robotic animal classified as an FDA medical device and safety and health monitoring platform to treat the behavioral, emotional and psychological symptoms associated with dementia, autism, depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and more. The company said its Tombot puppies have been pre-ordered for applications in hospitals, residential facilities, and private homes for people who are unable to care for a live animal.
Tombot said the funding round is an opportunity for everyday people to invest in the company for as little as $249. The company projects to ship more than 200,000 robots by the end of 2026, with its first product, “Jennie”, a robot that stimulates emotional attachment.
Features of Jennie include:
- Hyper-realistic appearance and textures
- Patented artistic design by Jim Henson’s Creature Shop
- Patent-pending behaviors that mimic a real puppy
- Monitoring and feedback for treating Sundowning Syndrome
- Sensors including touch, sound, voice commands, movement and light
The company said it is raising capital through Republic to achieve several goals, including:
- Completing alpha/beta engineering and testing
- Finalizing supply chain contracts and manufacturing preparations
- Fulfilling the first 2,500 customer orders
- Achieving $60 million in pre-money Series A valuation to scale the business and begin developing its next products.
Tom Stevens, the co-founder and CEO of Tombot, conceived of the company when his mother’s Alzheimer’s dementia progressed to the point where she could no longer safely care for her dog. Stevens said he realized that robotic animals could help millions of individuals, families and caregivers struggling with dementia and other conditions.
“Over 1 billion people face serious mental health adversities,” said Stevens. “Since many of these people cannot safely or practically care for a live animal companion, they miss out on the mental and physical health benefits of the human–animal bond. I launched Tombot in 2017 to serve these people.”
For more details on the investment opportunity, visit the Republic website here. To learn more about Tombot and Jennie, visit its website here.
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