Tel Aviv-based startup Ottopia has announced that it has raised $14.5 million in its Series A funding round, the largest of its kind in the teleoperation industry. The round was led by ComfortDelGro, one of the world’s largest public transport companies, and included participation from AI Alliance Fund and existing investors such as MizMaa Ventures, IN Venture, and Next Gear Ventures.
The teleoperation industry is a rapidly growing field that encompasses the use of technology to remotely control or monitor autonomous systems, machines, and vehicles. It has applications across a wide range of industries, including mobility, logistics, freight, last-mile delivery, agriculture, and construction. The ability to remotely intervene and operate autonomous systems provides a level of safety and security, as well as a means to comply with regulatory requirements. The industry is expected to see significant growth in the coming years as more and more companies invest in autonomous technology and the need for teleoperation solutions increases.
Ottopia’s mission is to enable autonomy across various industries, including mobility, logistics, freight, last-mile delivery, agriculture, and construction. Its teleoperation software allows remote humans to monitor, guide, and even directly control fleets of autonomous vehicles and machines in a safe and secure manner, helping developers to cut R&D costs, commercialize faster, and comply with regulatory requirements for deployment.
The company’s patented technology is built on several innovations in the domains of networking, video, user experience, cybersecurity, and integration with the autonomous “brain”. The software has been tested and deployed in various environments, making it an essential tool for enabling the widespread adoption of autonomous technology.
“Ottopia’s successful Series A is a triumph that showcases their hard work and vision. They are solving for a key missing link in the future of connected, autonomous everything,” said Aaron Applbaum, Partner at MizMaa Ventures.
With the new funding, Ottopia plans to accelerate the roll-out of its teleoperation software to enable autonomy across multiple industries. The investment by ComfortDelGro is considered as a cornerstone of the company’s future-proofing plans and will allow them to intervene and operate autonomous vehicles remotely, whenever needed, for the future operational plans.