It was in the spirit of innovation and a passion for Brazilian music that
Bossa Nova Concepts was born, a company on the brink of turning Pittsburgh into a robotic toy town.
Sarjoun Skaff, David Palmer and John Feghali met through Carnegie Mellon University. Prototypes are underway and in the fall of 2009 Bossa Nova plans to launch the first of three robot toys on the domestic and international market, a foray into the hearts and minds of tech savvy youngsters.
“There’s nothing else like this on the marketplace,” says David Palmer, CEO. “It will take robots to the next level, adding all the rich features of interaction and expression, action and movement, speed and pace. It’s more than just a remote control toy, it’s a friend and companion.”
Bossa Nova’s ultimate plan is to develop its own brand and line of robots, putting a new product on the market every year. Its distinctive niche is the mobility, agility and speed of its designs.
Although mum on the specifics, Palmer will reveal that the battery-operated playmates include a tough, high-energy action robot for boys of about 10, a lovable and cuddly animal robot for young girls that performs a funny dance routine and a highly mobile expressive robot, rich in sound with a variety of expressions.
Bossa Nova also plans to launch a robotic virtual world for children, an online, self-contained place where youngsters who don’t own a robot can meander and interact in a highly entertaining environment, meet robot avatars and learn how to build their own.
Bossa Nova plans to add to its team of three plus a handful of contract employees when the toys takeoff. Last month they won $33,000 in three phases of the Pittsburgh Technology Council’s EnterPrize Business Plan Competition.
Toys will be manufactured in China and sold by well-known retail stores and online. Just call us toy town!
Writer:
Debra SmitSource: David Palmer, Bossa Nova Concepts
Image courtesy Bossa Nova Concepts