How much funding has Iyo, Inc. raised?

Iyo, Inc. has raised $62.2 million in total funding. Their latest funding round was Venture Round. Key investors include Alphabet, Lockheed Martin Ventures, Horizons Ventures, Cleo Capital, Think +.

Where is Iyo, Inc. headquartered?

Iyo, Inc. is headquartered in Redwood City, California, USA. The company has a team of 39 people.

When was Iyo, Inc. founded?

Iyo, Inc. was founded in 2021. It is based in Redwood City, California, USA.

Who is the CEO of Iyo, Inc.?

Jason Rugolo is the CEO of Iyo, Inc.. The company was founded in 2021.

Where is Iyo, Inc. located?

Iyo, Inc. is headquartered in Redwood City, California, USA.

What funding stage is Iyo, Inc. at?

Iyo, Inc. is currently at the Early Stage stage.

How many employees does Iyo, Inc. have?

Iyo, Inc. has approximately 39 employees.

Iyo, Inc.

Category: AI Agents

A screenless, AI-powered generative audio computer in the form of custom-fit earbuds that augment and respond to real-world sounds via natural language interaction. Iyo, Inc. was founded in 2021. The company is led by Jason Rugolo. Based in Redwood City, California, USA. Team size: 39. Total funding raised: $62.2 million. Latest round: Venture Round. Key investors include Alphabet, Lockheed Martin Ventures, Horizons Ventures, Cleo Capital, Think +.

Founded: 2021
Headquarters: Redwood City, California, USA
Team size: 39
Total funding: $62.2 million

Value proposition

To provide a natural, immersive, and screen-free computing experience that enhances hearing clarity, offers seamless live translation, and enables ambient AI interaction, all within a comfortable, custom-fit form factor that can be worn all day.

Products and solutions

iyO One (Wi-Fi / optional LTE ear-worn agentic computer), iyO yO (pocketable agentic computer), iyO Wand, VAD Pro (pro Virtual Auditory Display / spatial headphones), iyO Caps, Agent Studio / Audio Computer Dev Kit

Unique value

Iyo introduces a new 'audio computing' paradigm, functioning as a complete, screenless computer for the ear. Its custom-molded fit, advanced microphone array, and ability to process and augment real-world sounds in real-time set it apart from other wearable devices.

Target customer

Tech-savvy early adopters, professionals seeking productivity and focus, consumers with mild hearing loss who need hearing augmentation, and audio professionals.

Industries served

Consumer Electronics, Wearable Technology, Assistive Technology, Augmented Reality, Professional Audio

Technology advantage

Iyo's core advantage is its mature technology, developed over six years with the resources of Alphabet's X. Its partnership with The Ear Project for a custom, medical-grade silicone fit provides superior comfort and audio isolation. The iyO One pair has 20 microphones, supporting audio processing and noise cancellation.

How they differentiate

iyO's differentiator is a family of screenless agentic computers (ear-worn iyO One, pocket iyO yO, iyO Wand) plus pro VAD spatial audio, with custom-molded medical-grade tips and multi-mic hearing augmentation. Versus phone-tethered gadgets (e.g. Rabbit) or OpenAI/io-style general AI hardware, iyO is audio-first with all-day wear and developer agents. Incubated ~6 years inside Alphabet X; actively litigating trademark/trade secrets against OpenAI/io.

Main competitors

OpenAI / io Products (Jony Ive) — $6.5B acquisition; active trademark/trade-secret dispute with iyO, Rabbit Inc. (R1), Apple (AirPods + on-device AI / audio wearables)

Key partnerships

Alphabet X (as the originating entity and investor), The Ear Project (for custom-molding technology)

Major milestones

Spun out of Alphabet's X division in 2021., Publicly debuted iyO One at TED (Apr 2024)., Jun 2025: filed trademark suit vs OpenAI, Sam Altman, Jony Ive / io Products over 'io' mark., Jun–Dec 2025: TRO against OpenAI/io use of 'io'; 9th Circuit affirmed TRO., Mar 2026: amended complaint adding trade-secret claims vs OpenAI hardware chief Tang Tan and others., Apr 23, 2026: N.D. Cal. preliminary injunction barring defendants from 'io' hardware branding (iyO PR Apr 27, 2026)., Expanded product line: iyO yO, iyO Wand (recently announced as of Apr 2026).

Growth metrics

iyO One and iyO yO remain available for pre-order deposits (custom-fit process); VAD Pro is sold as Buy Now with software download. Winter 2024 first-ship goal is no longer the current public timeline; products still not mass-shipped as general retail.

Market positioning

Positioned as a premium, next-generation innovator in the emerging category of AI-native hardware. It bridges the gap between high-end consumer audio, assistive hearing technology, and wearable computing.

Geographic focus

Primarily targeting the U.S. market at launch, with plans for global expansion into other major tech markets.

Patents and IP

Iyo holds intellectual property related to audio computing. Public patents assigned to Iyo Inc. include U.S. design patent D1,153,143, issued October 13, 2026, for a pair of acoustic packages for ear-worn devices. Iyo has also litigated trademark and trade-secret claims.

About Jason Rugolo

Jason Rugolo is a deeptech inventor and designer with a background in applied physics. He is the founder and CEO of Iyo, Inc., a startup that spun out of Google's moonshot factory, X. Before founding Iyo, he was a General Manager at X and a Program Director at ARPA-E, focusing on high-impact energy technologies. His work is centered on creating advanced audio computing platforms and sustainable energy solutions.

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Official website: https://www.iyo.ai/