Era Raises $11M to Power the Next Wave of AI Gadgets

A new player in the AI hardware space is betting big on software—not devices. Startup Era has raised $11 million to build a platform that helps others create smart, AI-powered gadgets, from wearable tech to everyday objects.

Earlier this month, the company hosted a small showcase in New York where artists experimented with its developer kit. The result? A mix of creative and quirky prototypes—like a travel souvenir that shares facts and jokes about France, a gadget that checks your stock portfolio and tells you if it’s time to quit your job, and even a device that monitors air quality.

While these ideas may sound experimental, they all run on the same foundation: Era’s AI orchestration platform.

A Software Layer for AI Devices

Instead of building hardware itself, Era is focused on creating the software backbone for future AI gadgets. The platform allows developers and hardware makers to integrate AI agents into devices and manage how those agents interact with users and environments.

Think of it as an intelligence layer that can power everything from smart headphones to AI-powered jewelry.

Unlike traditional systems that rely heavily on apps, Era wants to move beyond the app-based model altogether. CEO Liz Dorman believes modern AI models are advanced enough to replace apps with more intuitive, voice- and context-driven experiences.

Backed by Strong Investors

Era’s $11 million funding includes a $9 million seed round led by Abstract Ventures and BoxGroup, along with participation from Collaborative Fund and Mozilla Ventures. Earlier, the startup secured $2 million in pre-seed funding from Topology Ventures and Betaworks.

The company has also attracted notable angel investors, including Flickr co-founder Caterina Fake and iPhone keyboard creator Ken Kocienda.

Built by Experienced Founders

Founded in 2025, Era is led by CEO Liz Dorman, CTO Alex Ollman, and CPO Megan Gole. The team brings experience from major tech companies and projects, including work related to AI orchestration, enterprise frameworks, and experimental hardware initiatives.

This background plays a key role in shaping Era’s core product—an orchestration system that can manage multiple AI models and adapt to real-world challenges like connectivity and device limitations.

A Flexible AI Ecosystem

One of Era’s strengths is flexibility. The platform already supports over 130 large language models from more than 14 providers, allowing developers to build for a wide range of device types, including glasses, speakers, and wearables.

As new device formats emerge, Era aims to be the go-to platform that handles multimodal inputs, processing, and decision-making behind the scenes.

Dorman describes the future as a “Cambrian explosion” of AI devices, where innovation isn’t limited to big tech companies. Instead, creators, brands, and developers can experiment freely and build devices tailored to specific needs.

Looking Ahead

Era is also planning to open its platform to the broader developer and maker community, encouraging innovation through open-source collaboration. The company wants users to have more control over their AI experience, including choosing their preferred models and memory systems in a privacy-friendly way.

A Challenging Market

The AI hardware space is still finding its footing. Some startups have struggled to gain traction, while others are still in early stages. But Era believes that as more practical use cases emerge, adoption will follow.

Rather than betting on a single device, Era is positioning itself as the foundation for an entire ecosystem—one where intelligent gadgets become as common as smartphones once were.

If that vision plays out, this $11 million investment could be just the beginning.

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