Remember mObi?

Seems like eons ago, but the last time we got a good look at Bossa Nova, Sarjoun Skaff, Martin Hitch, and mObi the rollerball robot was back in October of 2012 at RoboBusiness Pittsburgh. Yes, three years ago. Before “Selfies”! It was the first time that I had heard of any robot referred to as a new-age Jetson’s Rosie.

See our 2012 article on mObi: Bossa Nova Robotics Boldly Sets New Direction.

Back then, mObi (the spinoff version of the famous Carnegie Mellon/Ralph Hollis Ballbot) was first introduced to the public at RoboBusiness. Two of the mObi robots rolled up the aisles to greet Martin Hitch, who was on stage presenting the company’s new and until-then secret project. Back then, we were calling Bossa Nova the oldest startup in robotics (2005). Back then, it was calling itself the oldest startup in robotics. Back then, mObi was mobbed by RoboBusiness attendees. That was back then. Since then, Bossa Nova and mObi have been rather silent, until now. With the sudden ka-ching of investor cash registers, mObi and the gang at Bossa Nova have been unexpectedly reanimated.

mObi at RoboBusiness 2012 (Pittsburgh)

Here’s the deal from a recent press release. Bossa Nova Robotics Holding Corp. just submitted form D about $16.11 million equity financing. This is a new filing. Bossa Nova Robotics Holding was able to raise $9.1 million so far. That is 56.55 percent of the offering. The total fundraising amount was $16.11 million.

The financing document was filed on 2015-08-05. The reason for the financing was: Total offering amount to be funded in two tranches. In the first tranche, $9,111,326 was sold, of which $5,999,065 was sold to cash investor(s) and $3,112,261 was sold to investor(s) for the conversion of indebtedness. Riverwood Capital took part in the deal. The fundraising still has about $7 million more and is not closed yet. We have to wait more to see if the offering will be fully taken.

Bossa Nova Robotics Holding is based in California. The firm’s business is Other Technology. The form D was submitted by Martin Hitch Chief Executive Officer. The company was incorporated in 2011. The filler’s address is: 2325 3Rd Street, Suite 329, San Francisco, Calif. 94107. Sarjoun Skaff is the related person in the form and it has address: C/O Bossa Nova Robotics, 2740 Smallman St., Ste. 400, Pittsburgh, Pa. 15222.

Here’s the filing: 000165004015000001