Familiar Machines & Magic

About Familiar Machines & Magic

Familiar Machines & Magic is a robotics and artificial intelligence startup founded in 2024 by iRobot alumni Colin Angle, Chris Jones, and Ira Renfrew. Angle, the former CEO and co-founder of iRobot, leads the new venture as CEO, bringing decades of experience from creating the consumer robot industry. He is joined by Chris Jones, iRobot's former CTO, and Ira Renfrew, a veteran of both iRobot and Amazon's robotics division. The company is currently in stealth mode, developing what it describes as an "EQ-first Physical AI platform." The firm's vision is to create a new category of home robots focused on health, wellness, and companionship. This platform aims to blend personality, memory, and motion, enabling machines to relate to, remember, and support their users. While specific product details remain confidential, the company's focus is on human-robot interaction and embodied AI, with reports suggesting the development of AI-powered "furry pet"-like companions to alleviate loneliness and assist with health management. This represents a strategic shift from the practical, task-oriented robots of iRobot to more personal, emotionally intelligent machines. Based in Woburn, Massachusetts, with plans for a Los Angeles presence, Familiar Machines & Magic is a well-funded private company. As of late 2024, the startup had secured $15 million from eight investors and was seeking to raise an additional $15 million to reach a $30 million goal. The company is actively hiring robotics scientists, AI researchers, and engineers to build out its team and advance its product vision.