littleBits Electronics, the open-source library and maker of electronic modules and kits to foster STEM learning, has been acquired by Boulder-based Sphero. The terms of the transaction were not disclosed. “When I studied engineering, it was top-down, test-based,” said Ayah Bdeir, founder of littleBits. “I hated it and wanted to quit every semester. Then I […]
Hardware
WAVE Raises Another $4.15M for its Meditation Cushion and Subscription Service
86% of the American population does not meditate. Many of these people suffer from the very conditions that meditation can relieve – namely stress. WAVE is a lifestyle brand that remedies this disconnect through its music-driven, hardware-enabled meditation platform targeted toward millenials. At the heart of the company’s offering are a $199 connected memory foam […]
goTenna Raises Another $24M to Bring Connectivity in Situations When it is Needed the Most
Losing touch with the outside world during calamitous events like natural disasters is still a serious concern even in this age of what seems to be constant connectivity. goTenna addresses this problem with its decentralized communication infrastructure network that is virtually indestructible and designed for the times where communication may most be needed. Founded in 2012, […]
A Personal Saga To Understanding Hardware Market Opportunities
The shock ripped through the industry, on almost every social media platform techies were bemoaning the loss of Anki. As a former robo-toy maker, I read the epitaph months earlier in the title of Lara Sorokanich’s Medium post, “Anki’s AI Robot Is a Delightful (and Expensive) Desk Toy.” When asked this week to comment, I could […]
Why We Invested in Fi – the Smartest Dog Collar
Early stage investor Trace Cohen shares what made Fi, a smart dog collar startup, a compelling investment for New York Venture Partners.
Vengo Raises Another $7M for its Digital Vending Machine That Brings Product Discovery to a New Level
The old-fashioned vending machines that sit in the office kitchen or in the rooms that house the ice machines at hotels are soon to go extinct. Vengo Labs has redefined the concept of vending through its mini, interactive, and digital vending machines that serve not only consumer-packaged goods but also digital advertisements. The machines prioritize a seamless user experience […]
Kinetic: Supporting Our Industrial Workforce From the Inside Out
That new coffee table you just bought on Amazon? It was handled at least 25 times before it reached your front door. Same for those new shoes and the set of wine glasses that arrived yesterday. As e-commerce continues to grow aggressively – in 2017, e-commerce accounted for 10.2% percent of all retail sales worldwide […]
NYC Startup Meural Acquired by NETGEAR
Meural, the digital art platform, has been acquired by networking giant NETGEAR. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed but the acquisition was announced at NETGEAR’s Financial Analyst Day earlier today.
This NYC Startup Just Raised Another $25M to Bring a Studio Workout to Your Home
A popular excuse for not working out is: it’s an inconvenience. Joining a gym is inconvenient and finding the time is difficult. But that’s all destined to change with the creation of MIRROR, the first-ever interactive hardware-enabled home gym that streams live and on-demand fitness classes. Classes are led by NYC’s top fitness instructor and […]
This NYC Startup Makes Hearing Aids Accessible to Everyone
It’s a common sight: New Yorkers walking around listening to music through their headphones at an unhealthy volume. We’ve all done it before, but did you know that 48 million Americans suffer from hearing loss and this number is only projected to rise given the noise in our current environment. Unfortunately, hearing aids have traditionally […]
This NYC Startup Just Created the Keurig for Smoothies
Smoothies are making a comeback – but if you want that Instagram worthy smoothie, your old blender is not going to cut it. Luckily, there’s the new smart blender from Blix. Removing the mess and preparation of antiquated smoothie making methods, just pop a premade Blix cup into your Blix and your healthy and nutritious […]