As the race to define the future of AI hardware intensifies, a new reality is emerging: the real opportunity may not lie in the devices themselves—but in the intelligence layer that powers them.
That’s the space Era is targeting. The startup has raised a total of $11 million to build a software platform designed to enable developers and hardware makers to create and scale AI-powered gadgets.
Building the “Operating System” for AI Gadgets
Rather than competing in the crowded hardware market, Era is taking a different approach—positioning itself as the software backbone for AI devices.
Its platform allows creators to design AI agents and orchestrate how different models interact within a device. This includes capabilities such as:
- Custom voice generation
- Multimodal input processing
- Intelligent task execution across environments
- Integration with multiple large language models (LLMs)
The goal is to remove the complexity of building AI-native hardware, enabling developers to focus on creativity and user experience.
From Experimental Gadgets to Scalable Infrastructure
Earlier this month, Era showcased its developer kit through a hands-on event in New York, where artists and builders demonstrated early prototypes. These ranged from novelty devices delivering travel facts and humor to financial assistants and environmental monitors.
While experimental, these projects highlight a broader trend: AI devices are becoming more personalized, contextual, and use-case driven.
Era’s platform currently supports over 130 LLMs across more than 14 providers, allowing developers to experiment with different models depending on the device’s function. This flexibility is critical as AI hardware expands into new form factors—from wearables like smart glasses and jewelry to home-based assistants.
Backed by Investors Betting on the AI Device Layer
The company’s funding includes a $9 million seed round led by Abstract Ventures and BoxGroup, with participation from Collaborative Fund and Mozilla Ventures. Earlier, Era raised a $2 million pre-seed round from Topology Ventures and Betaworks.
Notable angel investors include Caterina Fake and Ken Kocienda, reflecting strong backing from experienced operators in consumer technology.
Leadership with Deep AI and Product Roots
Era was founded by Liz Dorman, Alex Ollman, and Megan Gole—a team with backgrounds spanning AI orchestration, enterprise frameworks, and product strategy.
Dorman previously worked on AI orchestration initiatives at Humane before transitioning to HP following its acquisition. Meanwhile, Ollman brings experience in building agentic frameworks for enterprise environments, and Gole has worked on high-profile AI product initiatives linked to industry leaders like Jony Ive and Sam Altman.
Rethinking the App Model
At the core of Era’s vision is a fundamental shift: moving beyond traditional apps toward AI-native interactions.
Instead of navigating multiple applications, users could interact with intelligent devices that understand context, execute tasks, and adapt in real time. Era aims to provide the infrastructure that makes this possible—essentially replacing the app layer with an intelligence layer.
This approach also introduces new possibilities around personalization and privacy, including allowing users to choose their preferred models and memory systems.
A Market Still Searching for Breakthrough Success
The AI hardware space remains highly experimental. Companies like Humane have struggled to scale, while others such as Rabbit have gone quiet after initial hype. Meanwhile, emerging players like Plaud are finding niche traction in specific use cases.
Era’s bet is that as the number of AI-enabled devices grows, the ecosystem will need a standardized, scalable software layer to support them.
Positioning for the Next Wave of AI Innovation
As AI moves beyond screens into physical environments, the industry could see a surge in new device categories—a “Cambrian explosion” of AI form factors.
By focusing on orchestration, flexibility, and scalability, Era is positioning itself at the center of this shift—enabling others to build the next generation of intelligent devices w