Syncere lands US$11 million to bring robot lamp into homes
Lume starts at US$2,699 and combines household lighting with a mobile robot designed to perform chores.
Robot-lamp developer Syncere has raised US$11 million in a pre-seed round headed by a16z Speedrun. The Palo Alto startup intends to finance initial Lume deliveries, increase its manufacturing capacity and develop commercial applications for its robotics technology.
The round also attracted investment from Sequel, Draper Associates, SeaX Ventures and Physical World. Syncere was established less than a year ago by robotics researchers Angus Fung and Aaron Tan, who serves as chief executive.
Lume functions as a floor lamp but can travel through the home and carry out chores, including folding clothes, straightening rooms and making beds. Prices begin at US$2,699. Users can demonstrate how they prefer tasks to be performed, and Syncere is working on an onboarding system to learn their preferences and accommodate different home layouts.
Syncere hopes that offering lighting as an initial use will help it place robots in homes and collect operating data. It plans to use software updates to improve their abilities, saying owners should gain capabilities without needing new hardware.
The company reports pre-orders valued at millions of dollars. Lume was also selected for TIME’s Best Inventions of 2026.
