From Drone Racing to Emergency Response: A/R Company Edgybees Raises $5.5 Million

Augmented reality (AR) is a hot topic.  Put AR on another hot platform – like drones – and you get some amazing possibilities.  Israeli-based Edgybees, whose technology enables augmented reality (AR) on high speed platforms like drones and cars, is realizing those possibilities – and they’ve just raised over $5 million to move forward.

Edgybees “enables developers to create realistic, immersive experiences that layer three dimensional visuals over live video from fast-moving cameras,” says the company. Edgybees first foray was an AR racing game for drones, released in 2017 with manufacturing giant DJI.  Later that year, Edgybees turned their technology to more practical – and critical – purpose.  The company released First Response, a “drone-flying app being used by emergency responders to orient themselves in confusing environments and to better track rapidly evolving circumstances.” The drone flying app has already proven itself, used by first responders in the aftermath of hurricane Irma in Florida and the California wildfires which immediately followed.

Co-founder and CEO Adam Kaplan says, “What started as technology powering a racing game is now saving lives around the world. The overwhelming response by commercial and industrial drone users looking to leverage AR, and partner with us in the fields of fire, public safety, and search & rescue has been amazing, and we can’t wait to expand the next set of drone applications into new markets.”

The round included Motorola Solutions Venture Capital, and Verizon Ventures. Venture firms OurCrowd, 8VC, NfX, and Aspect Ventures also participated.

 

OurCrowd CEO Jon Medved says, “At OurCrowd we are particularly happy to invest in groundbreaking tech companies who believe they will change the world. What makes Edgybees so special is that they have already demonstrated that their drone software can save lives in addition to making software history by enabling Augmented Reality at high speed.”

Motorola Solutions Chief Technology Officer Paul Steinberg says, “Motorola Solutions is committed to exploring technology-driven solutions to our customers’ challenges. We see powerful potential for Edgybees’ AR software to help us deliver rich, real-time intelligence to public safety and commercial users during the moments that matter.”

Edgybees says they will use the funding to bring their AR technology to new verticals, including defense, smart cities, automotive, and broadcast media.