Exo Labs Surpasses Crowdfunding Goal, Simultaneously Announces Series A Financing

Exo Labs, creator of the Focus Microscope Camera, recently launched a Kickstarter campaign to raise $29,000 to fund their Focus Microscope Camera.  As explained on the campaign page these funds would be used to;

… ignite curiosity in the next generation of scientists.  We hope backers who recognize the importance of Science Technology Engineering and Math (STEM) will lend a hand and help us improve on this great tool that transforms the learning experience.  One key step is getting the Focus Camera out into classrooms and getting valuable first hand feedback from students and teachers.  Our backers can help make that happen.  We will give 40 cameras to schools and collaborate with them to improve our offering. 

Children in the US are falling behind in STEM education.  We believe the right technology tools can help. The Focus Camera sits at the intersection of STEM and iPad adoption by offering a great solution for teachers looking for new and exciting ways to engage and inspire students.   It breathes new life into existing compound and stereo microscopes, and can dramatically improve the learning experience. 

The Focus Microscope Camera attaches to an iPad and allows images and videos to be streamed and shared.  After the crowdfunding goal was surpassed the project organizers announced stretch goals at $34,000 and $39,000.  The campaign closed at over $36,000 crowdfunded.

Almost simultaneously Exo Labs announced they have secured $836,000 in Series-A financing.  Exo Labs officially launched their first product, the Focus Microscope Camera, on April 11^th at the National Science Teachers’ Association conference in San Antonio.  They see K-12 and University life science classrooms as their first customers, and sit at the intersection of two major trends – the adoption of iPads in the classroom and the renewed focus on Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM).  They are also getting strong interest from private labs and manufacturing customers.

Co-founder and Exo Labs president/CEO Michael Baum notes: “The Focus Camera is a great innovation for students, teachers, and professionals.  It is the first product on the market that instantly and easily connects iPads to microscopes while allowing simultaneous internet connectivity.  It’s just as useful in a classroom as it is in a research lab, because it incorporates an extremely easy-to-use touchscreen interface with powerful measurement and annotation capabilities.  Our system frees the iPad’s wireless capability to share images or video via email, wirelessly connect to a TV or projector, and more.”

They are also are developing hardware and software to further extend their offering, like a variable focus lens option that enables the device to be used as a stand-alone camera to look at rocks, stamps, electronics, and anything else users might want to explore.

Exo Labs listened to teachers, students, and other key stakeholders to ensure that features and functionality align with classroom needs.

“We want to make a real impact.  I would love to have a hand inspiring the next generation of scientists,” says co-founder and VP of Engineering Jeff Stewart. 

Exo Labs also sees strong potential for use of the Focus Microscope Camera in life science labs and in manufacturing facilities where the ability to quickly and easily capture photos or video from any microscope or macro stand and readily share data is critical to daily workflow.