Era raises $11 million to build an AI software platform for gadgets

Era, a startup founded last year, has raised $11 million in total funding to build a software platform that enables hardware makers to create AI agents and orchestrations. In this context, AI orchestration refers to the management of multiple AI models and inputs. The company’s total capital includes a $9 million seed round and $2 million in pre-seed funding.

The startup’s financial backing is structured as follows:

• Seed Round ($9 million): Led by Abstract Ventures and BoxGroup, with participation from Collaborative Fund and Mozilla Ventures.
• Pre-seed Funding ($2 million): Participated in by Topology Ventures and Betaworks.

The platform provides access to over 130 Large Language Models (LLMs)—types of AI models that process and generate text—from more than 14 providers. This setup acts as an “intelligence layer” that could power the next generation of devices, which might ditch the traditional app model entirely. According to CEO and founder Liz Dorman, the startup’s platform is set to scale across millions of devices. Dorman envisions a shift away from centralized tech hubs, stating: “I think one of the incredible things that we can do with these AI models today is that you can replace that app layer. So what we’re building is the intelligence layer to allow anyone to create these types of intelligent objects, intelligent devices. And what we really believe is that the future of tech should not be made by people in San Francisco…It should not be people in their high fortresses who are so out of touch with reality, making devices and forcing them onto everyone. I want a choice over my devices again.”

Era was founded last year by CEO Liz Dorman, CTO Alex Ollman, and CPO Megan Gole. The founders bring experience from companies like Humane and HP. Earlier in April, the startup held a gathering in New York to demonstrate how its platform can power different kinds of devices. The company’s approach comes at a challenging time for the AI hardware sector, where finding a successful business model remains difficult. While Humane was sold to HP and Rabbit has been silent, Plaud has found some success, and startups like Sandbar and Taya remain in their early stages. Dorman believes this intelligence layer will go to many different types of hardware, predicting a massive expansion of possibilities because technology has become commoditized.

Why it matters

Era is building a software platform to enable hardware makers to create AI agents and orchestrations, aiming to power the next generation of devices that might replace the traditional app model. If successful, this intelligence layer could decentralize device creation away from San Francisco.