Qualcomm Announces Qualcomm Robotics Accelerator, Powered by Techstars
Qualcomm Incorporated (NASDAQ: QCOM) today announced the Qualcomm Robotics Accelerator, powered by Techstars, a four-month mentorship-driven startup program aimed to accelerate the development of the next generation of robotics and intelligent machines.
Approximately 10 companies will be selected to participate in the program and will be based on Qualcomm’s corporate campus in San Diego. These companies will build next generation smart machines that combine mechanics and intelligent controls, computer vision, sensors, navigation and wireless communications.
Qualcomm Incorporated is committing over $1 million in aggregate funding to the program participants. Additionally, the participants will be offered business and technical insight on robotics during the program. Upon completion of the four-month accelerator program, companies will be able to leverage Techstars’ network of over 3,000 successful entrepreneurs, mentors, investors, and corporate partners.
The Qualcomm Robotics Accelerator, powered by Techstars, aligns with Qualcomm’s current efforts to develop “smarter,” more efficient robotics platforms with more enhanced connectivity built around the Qualcomm® Snapdragon™ processor. These platforms aim to provide an integrated, low power solution for multiple robotics applications. Qualcomm Snapdragon is a product of Qualcomm Technologies, Inc.
For instance, Qualcomm has already announced work on Qualcomm® Zeroth™, a technology that enables robots and smartphones to excel at perceptual pattern matching tasks that can be executed fully on device. Last month, Qualcomm demonstrated the Zeroth technology embedded in the Snapdragon Rover, a robot that learned to successfully classify different types of toys including specific models it had never seen before. It was able to then pick them up and sort them into different bins.
“The scale and pace of smartphone technology development is having a growing impact on many other technology sectors, and robotics is no exception,” said Matt Grob, CTO, Qualcomm Technologies, Inc. “At Qualcomm, we work to provide entrepreneurs and innovators worldwide with the technologies that will help them transform the way we work, live and play, and this robotics accelerator is just one example of how we are trying to achieve that goal.”
“We have already had a number of successful robotics companies coming out of Techstars and are excited to see what this new batch of companies will achieve given the support they’ll receive from Qualcomm, particularly given the Company’s deep expertise in mobile,” said David Cohen, Managing Partner, Techstars. “Robotics is a hugely untapped frontier that is quickly becoming a focus for Techstars given recent tech advances that let machines be prototyped faster and easier than ever before.”
Those companies interested in participating in this accelerator program can submit their application starting today at qualcommaccelerator.com. The application submission process will be open from now until February 22, 2015. The program will commence in May 2015 and conclude in September 2015 with a Demo Day, where each team will have the opportunity to present their work to investors, industry leaders, and the community at large.
For more information about Qualcomm’s robotics initiatives, please visit www.qualcomm.com/robotics. For more information on the Qualcomm Robotics Accelerator, powered by Techstars and to apply for the program, visit qualcommaccelerator.com.
About Qualcomm Incorporated
Qualcomm Incorporated (NASDAQ: QCOM) is a world leader in 3G, 4G and next-generation wireless technologies. Qualcomm Incorporated includes Qualcomm’s licensing business, QTL, and the vast majority of its patent portfolio. Qualcomm Technologies, Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Qualcomm Incorporated, operates, along with its subsidiaries, substantially all of Qualcomm’s engineering, research and development functions, and substantially all of its products and services businesses, including its semiconductor business, QCT. For more than 25 years, Qualcomm ideas and inventions have driven the evolution of digital communications, linking people everywhere more closely to information, entertainment and each other. For more information, visit Qualcomm’s website, OnQ blog, Twitter and Facebook pages.
About Techstars
The massive Techstars interconnected network of over 3,000 successful entrepreneurs, mentors, investors, and corporate partners help the most promising startups do more faster. With 13 programs worldwide, our mentorship-driven accelerators fund the best companies in the most entrepreneurial communities. Since 2006, 80% of the 500 companies from almost 40 Techstars programs have received funding, representing approximately $2 billion in market capitalization.
