The Californian chip manufacturer Nvidia is acquiring Animatico according to an announcement from the Zurich-based startup on its website. The acquisition has also been confirmed by Animatico’s CEO, Pascal Bérard, on startupticker.ch.
Animatico was founded by former PhD students at the ETH and researchers at DisneyResearch|Studios in Zurich. It provides interactive avatars for brands and companies that can react to a user’s voice, gestures, and facial expressions. The startup uses speech technology and machine learning to make this possible.
Animatico avatars can be used in retail, the hospitality industry, or at events, for example. Among other projects, the company has developed a virtual taxi intermediary that operates at Hotel CitizenM in Zurich.
Nvidia primarily develops graphic processors and chipsets for computers and games consoles. Founded in 1993, it employs more than 22,470 individuals and its headquarters are located in Santa Clara.
Related news
Meet with an expansion expert
Is Greater Zurich on your expansion radar? We support you on every step of your expansion journey - from location evaluation to fact finding visits.
Our services are free of charge and include:
- Introduction to key contacts in industry, academia, and government
- Location evaluation support to find the ideal base for your business
- Advice on regulatory framework, taxes, labor, market, and setting up a company
- Custom-made fact-finding visits, including office and co-working space
- And much more, customized to meet your needs.