Apprentice.io, creator of the first conversational augmented reality (AR) and artificial intelligence (AI) platform, announced today an $8M Series A funding round led by Pritzker Group Venture Capital with participation from existing investors, Silverton Partners and Hemi Ventures. The Venture Reality Fund — a leading early-stage investor focused on immersive and intelligent computing — and GFR Fund also joined as new investors.
With more than $10 million in total capital raised to date and support from the industry’s top AR/VR funds, Apprentice.io is recognized as the leader in enterprise AR for the pharma/biotech industries and, by extension, lab, line and suite environments.
With extensive domain expertise, integrated industry features, and an in-house research laboratory, Apprentice.io is the premier solution for batch records, tech transfer, R&D workflows, training procedures, troubleshooting, and support.
The Apprentice platform is the all-day workflow solution, built for the entire organization — from the scientist performing experiments in a lab to discover the next ground-breaking drug, to the operator in a manufacturing suite getting that drug to market for millions of patients around the world.
In a cleanroom gown, a lab technician can use Apprentice’s conversational user interface (UI) to access complex procedures, visualize a 3-D technique demonstration, and intelligently capture or track data using computer vision — all without touching a single piece of paper.
“We like to say that we don’t just augment reality; we augment human ability,” said Angelo Stracquatanio, co-founder and CEO of Apprentice.io. “AR and AI are changing the way workforces across all industries solve problems and share information, ushering in the next wave of human potential.”
In order to meet the needs of all workforces in complex enterprise industries, especially those in pharma and biotech, Apprentice.io solutions are built platform-independent, mobile-capable and industry-compliant.
For more flexible environments, Apprentice has leveraged the iPhone XS to support mobile solutions with ARKit 2, and ARCore for Android-enabled devices. For hands-free, fully immersive AR experiences, Apprentice utilizes HoloLens and Magic Leap devices, while monocular smart glasses such as RealWear HMT-1 provide the versatility for all-day operation.
“We are absolutely thrilled to be collaborating with the leader in AR and AI,” said Peter Liu, vice president, Pritzker Group Venture Capital. “Angelo and his team of experts have a clear vision for what will be the next generation of enterprise AR. It was among the many reasons we were eager to invest at this stage.”
The New Jersey-based startup has tripled in size and customer reach, adding numerous top Fortune 100 clients across the U.S., Asia, South America and Europe.
With new capital, Apprentice will further expand its mission to change the way humans work. Significant developments in new products and features, intelligent responses, and international partnerships are on the horizon for Apprentice.
Key features and benefits of Apprentice include:
Augmented batch records
Tech transfer
Seamless R&D workflows
Instant troubleshooting and global support
Hands are free to perform tasks guided by virtual data
Stoppages for handwritten notations and data recordation are eliminated
Time expenditures and financial losses caused by communication delays or remote site travel are greatly reduced
Instant communication with remote vendors for machinery repair the moment immediate action is required
Real-time global collaboration
Efficient, cost-effective training
Significant annual cost-cuts with direct SME support
All data content is captured, recorded and exported for audit-readiness
Avoid extensive downtime from audit investigations and costly procedural deviations caused by human error
About Apprentice.io
Apprentice.io is the leading enterprise augmented reality (AR) provider for all lab, line and suite environments, with extensive specialization in pharma and biotech industries. The company developed and globally deployed the first conversational, industry-compliant augmented reality (AR) and artificial intelligence (AI) platform. Apprentice is the premier solution for batch records, tech transfer and R&D workflows as well as training procedures, troubleshooting and support. Mobile ARCore/ARKit 2 solutions, fully immersive AR devices and monocular smart glasses are leveraged to provide live AR content, real-time feedback for performance correction, and intelligent data-capture to improve complex workplace processes.
Apprentice’s mission is to develop a world in which our solutions are used to empower scientists, engineers and manufacturers who operate in various complex, compliance-driven environments, ushering in the next wave of human potential.
Apprentice is headquartered in New Jersey, with global product deployments at Fortune 100 pharma, biotech, cosmetic, consumer goods and chemical companies across the U.S., Asia, Europe and South America. For more information, visit apprentice.io.