The startup Era has secured $11 million in funding to scale its software platform, which serves as the intelligence layer for a new generation of AI-driven hardware. By providing the infrastructure for AI agents and orchestration, the company aims to move beyond the traditional app-based model, enabling developers to build intelligent devices ranging from wearable jewelry to home speakers.
From Experimental Gadgets to Scalable Platforms
During an April event in New York, artists showcased early projects built using Era’s developer kit. These experimental devices included a souvenir that provides facts and jokes about France, a specialized phone-like device that analyzes stocks to determine if it is time to quit your job, and a gadget that monitors air quality.
While these prototypes are unique, they share a common foundation: Era’s platform. Rather than manufacturing its own hardware, Era provides the software layer necessary for tasks like customized voice creation and integrating AI intelligence into classic devices, such as headphones.
Financial Backing and Industry Expertise
The startup’s $11 million funding total includes a $9 million seed round led by Abstract Ventures and BoxGroup, with additional support from Collaborative Fund and Mozilla Ventures. This follows an earlier $2 million pre-seed round from Topology Ventures and Betaworks.
A notable group of angel investors has backed the venture, including Flickr co-founder Caterina Fake, iPhone keyboard creator Ken Kocienda, OAS founder Tony Wang, Little Guy co-founder Daniel Kuntz, Sandbar co-founder Mina Fahmi, former Rabbit CPO ShaoBo Z, and Poetry Camera creator Kelin Zhang.
The Visionaries Behind the Tech
Era was established last year by CEO Liz Dorman, CTO Alex Ollman, and CPO Megan Gole. The founding team brings significant experience from companies like Humane, HP, and Sutter Hill Ventures. Investor Casey Caruso, managing partner at Topology Ventures, highlights that Era’s platform distinguishes itself through dynamic model routing and the ability to manage real-world constraints, such as connectivity.
Ditching the App Model
CEO Liz Dorman envisions a future where AI models replace the traditional app layer entirely. “We’re building the intelligence layer to allow anyone to create these types of intelligent objects,” Dorman stated. She emphasized a desire to democratize technology, moving away from devices forced upon users by tech giants in San Francisco, and instead offering consumers more agency over their personal hardware.
Currently, Era provides access to over 130 LLMs from more than 14 providers. As the market sees a “Cambrian explosion” of new form factors—from glasses to bracelets—the company expects hardware makers will increasingly rely on its software to handle complex multimodal inputs and inference.
The Path Forward for AI Hardware
Era is designed to scale across millions of devices, offering flexibility for both mass-market products and bespoke brand experiments. The company’s long-term goal is to allow users to select their own memory and model providers while prioritizing privacy. By opening its platform to the maker and open-source communities, Era hopes to prove that AI-integrated hardware can become a permanent fixture in daily life, overcoming the hurdles that have stalled other players in the burgeoning AI gadget space.
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