Glidance raises $1.5M to develop robots for visually impaired

By Steve Crowe | July 9, 2024

Glidance raised $1.5 million in pre-seed funding for its Glide robot that offers autonomous mobility assistance for the visually impaired. The oversubscribed round will accelerate the development of Glide, which is now available for pre-order, and help launch the Alpha and BETA tests in late summer and early fall across Canada, the U.S., Europe, and the U.K.

Glide uses AI and navigational robotics to help blind and low-vision individuals increase their independence. Glidance said the robot adapts to an individual’s pace while ensuring they avoid obstacles. The robot can also provide some understanding of the environment through audio and haptic feedback.

A newer generation of Glide has a smaller form factor that includes a built-in kickstand to park the unit when it’s not in use. The system does not use powered wheels and instead actively steers the user safely around obstacles. As a result, the unit is designed to operate all day on a single charge.

Amos Miller, co-founder & CEO of Glidance, lost his eyesight in his mid-twenties due to a genetic eye condition.

“This personal experience motivated me to create Glide — a solution I needed and wished for myself. As a former product executive at Microsoft Research and Chairman of the Board at Guide Dogs for the Blind (UK), I dedicated my career to leveraging technology to break down barriers. Glide, powered by cutting-edge AI and robotics technologies, demonstrates that when such technologies address meaningful human needs, they can create a venture-scale business with a substantial impact. We are deeply grateful to our incredible investors, who continue to challenge and guide us in shaping our business model and strategy.”

Glidance won the 2023 RoboBusiness Pitchfire Startup Competition. RoboBusiness is produced by The Robot Report and parent company WTWH Media. RoboBusiness 2024 takes place Oct. 16-17 in Santa Clara, Calif. and is looking for startups to compete in Pitchfire. Competing startups receive a free booth on the expo floor, can schedule one-on-one meetings with investors, network with thousands of industry colleagues and more. Fill out this form here by Aug. 9 to be considered.

Glidance’s pre-seed round saw participation from Grep VC, Prota Ventures, Greenwood & Cavalier, St. Johns Community Service, Alliance of Angels, TiE Oregon Angels, and other industry-leading angel investors and groups.

“Glidance confirms the technology optimist in us all,” said Paul Willard, managing director of Grep VC. “Great founders can apply cutting-edge tech to improve lives so powerfully that they also create powerful value propositions for business and investors.”

In its funding announcement, Glidance said 98% of blind individuals choose not to leave home alone due to the lack of accessible navigation options. In the U.S., there are 7.3 million visually impaired people, but only a small fraction have access to white canes and guide dogs due to limited programs, training courses, and funding.

Miller was a guest on The Robot Report Podcast in October 2023 and laid out his go-to-market plan. Glidance also won a 2024 RBR50 Robotics Innovation Award.