Embodied Labs Secures $3.2M Seed Funding to Expand VR Training for Elder Care

VCBeat (WeChat ID: vcbeat) learned from foreign media that on January 14, 2020, Embodied Labs, a VR immersive learning platform, completed a $3.2 million seed funding round. The round was led by Ziegler Link·Age Fund, with participation from The Venture Reality Fund, SustainVC, WXR Fund, ETF@JFFLabs, and angel investors Ken Dychtwald and Maddy Dychtwald.

Embodied Labs is a VR-based immersive learning platform headquartered in Los Angeles. By leveraging virtual reality, Embodied Labs enables healthcare professionals and family caregivers to experience realistic scenarios related to aging, including age-related declines in cognitive functions such as vision and hearing, neurodegenerative diseases, Parkinson’s disease, Lewy body dementia, and end-of-life care.

It is reported that since its establishment in 2016, Embodied Labs has raised a total of $4.3 million in funding, having completed nine financing rounds in 2016, 2017, and 2018. The proceeds from this round will be used to expand Embodied Labs’ virtual reality training business for elderly care.

Carrie Shaw, Founder and CEO of Embodied Labs, stated, “Embodied Labs is interested in unique investors, particularly those with distinct advantages in addressing aging issues, emerging technologies, social impact, women’s empowerment, and transforming training approaches for caregivers of older adults.”

John Hopper, Chief Investment Officer of the Ziegler Link·age Fund, stated, “The Ziegler Link·age Fund invested in Embodied Labs because it offers a differentiated solution with significant market potential. This solution addresses training for caregivers in senior living, home care, hospice, and hospital settings, meeting the needs of the Ziegler Link·age Fund’s partners.”

Marco DeMiroz, Founder and Partner of The Venture Reality Fund, stated: “Embodied Labs sits at the intersection of immersive technology and generational technological innovation. Embodied Labs’ unique focus in the VR space attracted investment from The Venture Reality Fund—namely, its delivery of transformative training through turnkey, technically sophisticated software built on a comprehensive innovation platform that has been widely adopted by the long-term care sector.”

Ken Dychtwald, co-founder of AgeWave and an angel investor in Embodied Labs, stated, “VR technology has unique advantages in fostering empathy and helping people understand the issues surrounding an aging population. I became an early seed funder of Embodied Labs because it is committed to leveraging cutting-edge technology to provide better care for the aging population.”

Ziegler Link·Age Fund, established in 1902, is a U.S.-based innovation fund focused on technologies, services, and emerging care models within the aging market.

The VR Fund, established in 2012, is a U.S.-based investment firm dedicated to providing expert guidance and resources to promising early-stage startups in the VR, AR, and MR sectors.

SustainVC, established in 2007, is a U.S.-based investment fund dedicated to providing capital to companies in their early or growth stages. SustainVC focuses on areas such as climate and sustainability, equity and empowerment, and health and education.

(Compiled by: Chang Jia)