Singaporean VC Vickers Venture Partners on Monday announced that it headed a USD 20 million Series A round in Chooch AI, a San Francisco-based computer vision AI platform that offers real-time facial and object identification. The US firm will spend the fresh capital on its engineering and data scientists, and to expand its sales force worldwide.
“AI startups and established players in artificial intelligence often focus on vertical applications,” said Vickers chairman Finian Tan. “Chooch has a bigger vision, a horizontal AI platform that provides flexible solutions for the common demands of many companies, regardless of industry.”
Founded in 2015, the firm differentiates itself by generating AI models in the cloud or onto edge devices that help detect objects, actions, processes, coordinates, and states, counting the US government as one of its clients. Its AI technology could be applied in tracking surgical procedures, mask detection, social distancing compliance, and facial authentication, among others, according to the company.
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US-based 212 Ventures, Streamlined Ventures, Alumni Ventures Group, Waterman Ventures and others also participated in the funding round.
The news came eight months after Vickers Venture Partners bagged USD 200 million for its USD 500 million fund, the sixth fund managed by the firm, which will focus on investments in companies with deep and disruptive technologies.