Dote, a technology and lifestyle brand that’s bringing AI-driven technology and innovation to parents for the first time as an integrated in-and-out of home ecosystem, has secured £1.15m in seed funding. The funding round follows an initial £600k secured in pre-seed funding, with additional investment this time led by an investment group based in Dubai and further business and technology investors including Luke Pilfold-Thomas and Dominic Miller.
Dote, formerly Aibytech, was founded in 2018 by Ste Senior, whose vision to take on archaic design and a lack of innovation in the category hopes to be able to minimise stress for modern-day parents and make their lives that little bit happier and easier.
Dote’s ecosystem of products includes an AI-powered in-and-out of home smart baby monitor, an app, three advanced strollers and travel system, a car seat and a cot, all of which function seamlessly together to support parents on a more confident parenting journey. It is designed so that Dote Buddy, the AI-powered monitor, can be switched from the cot to the hood of the pram, into the car and back again in seconds, all the while providing parents with real-time personalised data on their baby wherever they are and helping them to make well-informed decisions without the guesswork. Meanwhile, Dote’s standout advanced stroller – the B-Evolv Pushchair and travel system – is designed with a patented ball and dynamic steering system that brings genuine innovation to the wheeled goods category for the first time in decades, delivering better manoeuvrability and comfort on any terrain, helping parents navigate even the tightest spots with absolute ease.
Set to launch across UK retail and to consumers in 2025, Dote has used its seed investment to help support the development of its product range and technology as well as bringing on board and strengthening its leadership and product development teams ready for launch and a phase of high-speed growth for the business. That includes the appointment of Joe Swanston as Sales Director in October 2024 whose focus will be to help Dote strengthen its retailer and distributor relationships and footprint, following various growth-focused roles including Former Head of Ecommerce at Tommee Tippee. Joe joins Dote’s pioneering senior team which already includes COO Ralph Wood (former Dyson engineer and product development lead), CTO George Goudie (software, website and app engineering veteran) and CMO Denise Namakando (former Dyson, Unilever and Owlet Baby Care marketing lead).
Dote also has its eyes set on the future in how it can play its part in shaping better health outcomes for babies and children. Every parent that uses Dote’s technology will be part of an AI-driven solution that will help pave the way for better infant research and healthcare. As part of the academic partnerships it’s currently establishing in universities up and down the country, Dote will provide paediatric research institutions with the infant data they so desperately need to identify ways in which babies and their parents can be better supported from the very beginning of their story. And those same academics and researchers will provide their counsel and input to the content, guidance and advice parents will see brought to life in the app, giving parents more credible and helpful information whenever they want it.
