Having successfully secured funding under the exist Research Transfer Phase II program, the team will receive targeted support for research, product development, and the next validation phase of its screen-free, parent-controlled AI buddy for children. The official start of the funding phase is scheduled for October 2026.
From Concept to the Next Development Step
COBY is initially aimed at families with children between the ages of 4 and 12. It focuses particularly on everyday situations in which routines, transitions, or intense emotions regularly pose challenges—including in families dealing with ADHD and other neurodivergent conditions.
The idea: COBY is designed to support children in small steps and relieve parents in co-regulation as well as in recurring stressful situations in everyday family life. In doing so, the team has a clear goal: not to rush another AI toy to market as quickly as possible, but to develop a safe, scientifically validated product that’s suitable for everyday use.
An important next step is therefore a planned study involving about 30 families in real-life home settings. Together with scientific experts, the team aims to examine, in particular, the system’s safety, usability, suitability for everyday use, and perceived effectiveness. The findings will be directly incorporated into further product development, the safety architecture, and the preparation for certification.
A Journey Through the SCE Ecosystem
For COBY, the new funding also marks another milestone on an already remarkable startup journey. This journey began within the SCE ecosystem with the team winning the Strascheg Award. The team then went through the SCE Incubation program, received support through AI Nation, and was guided in further developing the idea via the exist startup grant.
With the exist Research Transfer Phase II, the next stage now follows: moving from the funded startup and development phase toward in-depth scientific validation and further preparation for market launch.
The development of COBY thus exemplifies how an early idea can gradually evolve into a concrete project—and how different support programs can work together when founders consistently develop their idea further.
We warmly congratulate the entire COBY team on this next major step and wish them every success for the upcoming research and development phase!
COBY Launches Crowdfunding Campaign on Startnext
And there are even more exciting weeks ahead for COBY: On August 28, the crowdfunding campaign for COBY will launch on Startnext. With the crowdfunding, the team aims, among other things, to advance further product development and product certification. At the same time, the first 300 COBYs will be available for pre-order. If you don’t want to miss the launch and would like to get to know COBY now, you can sign up for the waitlist on the landing page.