Key points from article :
Tombot, a California robotics company, has raised $6.1 million in Series A funding to advance Jennie, a robotic puppy created for people with dementia or mild cognitive impairment who cannot care for a live animal. Designed with help from Jim Henson’s Creature Shop, Jennie responds to touch, voice and movement through built-in sensors, and can be customized through an optional caregiver app.
The new funding will help the company expand its team, complete engineering work and finish regulatory and safety requirements as it prepares to ship the first units to more than 16,000 people who have already pre-ordered or joined a waitlist. The goal is to offer companionship and reduce stress and loneliness for older adults in private homes, assisted living residences and memory care settings.
The study also notes that earlier studies from 2019 suggest robotic pets can improve mood and quality of life for many seniors, though not everyone enjoys interacting with them. The funding places Tombot’s work within a broader landscape of healthcare robotics, including machines built for hospital deliveries, automated nasal swab testing and UVC disinfection, all aimed at easing workloads and improving safety.
