VLC Creator's Startup Kyber Raises $5 Million for Remote Robot Control Platform
Jean-Baptiste Kempf, the lead developer behind the widely used VLC Media Player, is now focusing on a new venture aimed at enabling real-time control of robots and drones from anywhere in the world. His startup, Kyber, has raised $5 million in a funding round led by Lightspeed Venture Partners.
Based in Paris, Kyber is building an infrastructure layer that synchronises video, audio, sensor data, and control inputs with minimal latency. This technology is designed to allow operators to remotely manage robots, drones, and other AI-powered machines with greater efficiency and reliability.
Kempf is best known for his work on VLC, a free and open-source media player that has become a household name for its ability to play almost any video format. With Kyber, he is applying his expertise in low-latency video processing to the field of robotics and autonomous systems.
The $5 million funding will be used to develop Kyber's platform further and expand its team. The company aims to serve industries such as logistics, surveillance, and industrial automation, where remote operation of devices is critical.
Kyber's approach addresses a key challenge in remote device control: the need for near-instantaneous data transmission to ensure smooth and safe operation. By optimising the flow of data between devices and operators, Kyber hopes to make remote control as seamless as local operation.
The investment from Lightspeed Venture Partners signals confidence in Kempf's vision and the potential market for real-time device control. As robotics and AI continue to grow, infrastructure like Kyber's could become essential for a wide range of applications.
