I.am+
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Technology, Consumer electronics |
| Founded | 2013 |
| Founder | will.i.am |
| Headquarters | Los Angeles , United States |
| Products | Wearable devices, Bluetooth headphones, Smartwatch, Voice assistant software |
i.am+ is a technology firm headquartered in Los Angeles, California, United States. Established in 2013 by entrepreneur and musician will.i.am, the company specializes in developing wearable devices that integrate style with advanced technology. In 2016, i.am+ expanded its capabilities by acquiring Sensiya, an Israeli machine learning software firm now operating under the name over.ai.
i.am+ camera for iPhone 4
In 2012, i.am+ introduced a camera attachment for the iPhone 4 aimed at improving the quality of smartphone photography.
dial
dial was a SIM-compatible smartwatch marketed exclusively in the UK via Three UK. It incorporated AneedA, a voice-activated AI featuring a conversational OS. This watch functioned independently from mobile phones, allowing users to make calls and send SMS messages. Additionally, it provided access to a music streaming platform boasting over 20 million tracks.
EPs
The i.am+ EPs are high-end Bluetooth headphones crafted to mimic the shape of vinyl records. They include woven fabric cords and magnetic clasps for easy wearing around the neck when not in use.
BUTTONS
Launched in November 2016, the second-generation Bluetooth headphones named i.am+ BUTTONS succeeded the EPs.
over.ai
i.am+ acquired Israeli company Sensiya, rebranded as over.ai, in July 2016 to enhance its machine learning and natural language processing technologies.
Wink
In July 2017, i.am+ purchased Wink, a smart home hardware and software provider, from Flex for $38.7 million.
Earin
In January 2018, i.am+ sought to acquire Swedish earbud startup Earin; however, the transaction was ultimately not completed due to undisclosed factors.
Omega Voice Assistant
October 2018 saw the launch of Omega, a voice assistant compatible across multiple platforms by i.am+. That same year, Majid Al Futtaim collaborated with i.am+ to implement Omega technology throughout regions including the Middle East, Asia, and Africa.
Funding
In November 2017, i.am+ raised $117 million in funding, following an earlier $89 million round which featured investors such as Salesforce.
Controversy
Towards the end of 2019, i.am+ encountered several tax-related issues. The California Franchise Tax Board reported claims exceeding $500,000 in unpaid taxes while the IRS asserted liabilities amounting to $1.78 million including taxes and interest.