When Tom Stevens’ mother, Nancy, was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease in 2011, she had two companions: a caregiver and a goldendoodle puppy named Golden Bear. Golden Bear had to be rehomed after getting aggressive with a caregiver, exacerbating Nancy’s loneliness.
Her experience inspired Stevens to create Tombot Inc., a Santa Clarita-based robotics company that raised $7 million in late June.
The funding will be used to scale manufacturing and commercialize its lifelike robotic companion dog, Jennie. The robot, meant to look and act like a 2-month-old Labrador puppy, is expected to launch in the fall to more than 23,000 customers on the company’s preorder and waitlist roster.
Pasadena-based Wavemaker 360, Caduceus Capital Partners, the Florida Community Health Network and Lutheran Foundation for Long Term Living participated in the round.
The company’s previous funding round netted $6.1 million last year.
“Their support will enable us to meet growing customer demand, execute a successful market launch, and continue building a broader portfolio of products that set the bar for emotional support through technology,” Stevens, Tombot’s founder and chief executive, said in a statement.
Addressing a growing need
The robotic dog is geared toward addressing loneliness and sedentary behavior in elderly patients managing cognitive decline – a growing issue as Baby Boomers are expected to be the oldest and longest-living generation so far, requiring extensive healthcare to manage physical and cognitive issues. The robot is embedded with sensors that allow it to react with certain voice commands and physical interactions. The accompanying caregiver app lets customers further customize the bot, which is also rechargeable.
“The convergence of an aging population, caregiver shortages and increasing loneliness underscores the need for innovative solutions that expand access to care and support mental well-being,” Ryan McKindles, managing partner at Caduceus Capital Partners, said in a statement.
Tombot isn’t the first company to create a robotic animal companion that is low maintenance for owners who can’t walk, play catch or remember to feed their animals. Rhode Island-based Ageless Innovation manufactures a slew of lifelike animatronic toys like purring orange tabby cats, puppies that bark back and cardinal birds that perch on walking devices.
Robots are becoming an increasingly popular healthcare category as the U.S. faces a nursing shortage and caregiving costs skyrocket beyond what most people can afford.
Glendale-based Expper Technologies created Robin the Robot, a moving screen that can ask questions, turn into digital games and even play hide and seek. Robin is meant to boost social interactions and stimulate cognitive abilities in both pediatric and geriatric departments at hospitals.
