Israeli Startup Nimble Raises $10M For Autonomous Manicure Robot

Israeli startup Nimble, a company that developed a machine that offers an automatic manicure for nails based on 3D image processing technologies, has raised $10 million in a seed funding round led by venture capital firms Entrée Capital and LionBird, the company announced this week.

IBI Tech fund, Aristagora VC and private investors, including Allot founder Yigal Yaacobi, InnerActive founder Ziv Elul, and Moovit co-founder Nir Erez also participated in the round.

Nimble claims to be the world’s first device that uses artificial intelligence to paint and dry nails in 10 minutes per hand. The machine scans the user’s hand and identifies the unique position and structure of each nail, after which a series of algorithms activates a tiny robotic arm that autonomously paints the nails in four coats: base, two coats of paint, and a top coat, as flowing hot air dries them completely.

All the user has to do is select a color, insert the nail polish capsules into the dedicated compartment in the machine, insert the palm and press the power button. The device operates in full autonomy, and its use can be shared with friends or family. Even after the purchase, the device continues to receive software updates at customers’ homes.

Founded in 2016 by Omri Moran, CEO, Ron Miller, VP of Technology, and Avichai Mor-Yosef, VP of R&D, the idea for Nimble “came from a long wait for a date with the woman who would become my life,” Moran explained, “When I asked her why she was delayed for so long, she explained that the reason was her manicure. Even the delay was not enough time to complete the manicure and she had to give it up.”

The company currently employs 12 people in its offices in Israel and New York and is recruiting additional employees to increase product marketing and development processes.

Nimble launched its Kickstarter campaign on April 12, with the goal of raising at least $25,000 for production and growth. In 12 days, the company had exceeded the $1 million in funding after 3 weeks and had over 4,2000 backers.

The Kickstarter campaign will be live through May. Afterward, the product will go into production and
be available to consumers at the end of the year, the company says