Lausanne-based biped.ai, a pioneering tech startup, has announced a successful funding round of 1.2 million CHF. This significant investment underscores the tech community’s confidence in biped.ai’s groundbreaking solution for enhancing the mobility of blind and visually impaired individuals. The funding round attracted a host of renowned investors, including Serpentine Ventures, Juchum Foundation, and prominent business angels such as Joel Roos, Raphael Lederman, Rolando Benedick, Khalid Zitouni, Jerome Gerbier, Caroline & Vincent Fabien, Markus Herrli, Jean-Fabien Monin, and several SICTIC investors including Marcel Egger. The company was supported by Venture Kick, FIT, Future of Health Grant, Genilem, Biopole startup fund and ICC Hackathon.
Founded in 2021, biped.ai has developed a cutting-edge AI copilot system, a smart navigation harness that leverages autonomous driving technology to guide visually impaired people. This wearable, shoulder-worn device is equipped with 3D cameras and AI algorithms, providing users with real-time guidance and obstacle avoidance, enhancing their independence and safety. The company secured late 2022 a partnership with Honda Research Institute to collaborate on software innovation, and won the « Prix de la Canne Blanche » from SZBlind (UCBA) earlier this year.
Maël Fabien, CEO de biped
« Our vision at biped.ai is to improve the lives of the visually impaired, offering them freedom and autonomy of movement » said Maël Fabien, co-founder of biped.ai. « This funding round is not just a financial boost but a validation of our mission to make a tangible difference in the world. »
The investment will fuel biped.ai’s ambitious plans to enter the US market and expand its presence across Europe. With this funding, biped.ai aims to scale its operations, enhance its technology, and reach more individuals who can benefit from its life-changing potential.
The market entry into the United States is a strategic move for biped.ai, tapping into a large demographic of visually impaired individuals seeking advanced mobility solutions. Additionally, the European expansion will solidify biped.ai’s position as a leader in assistive technologies on the continent.
Read the press release
