Anki shutters its toy robot business

We never want to hear about businesses closing but here’s one that is closing its doors. Robotics startup Anki announced it will be shutting down its business and will be terminating nearly 200 employees effective Wednesday, May 1^st. According to CEO Boris Sofman, “A significant financial deal at a late stage fell through with a strategic investor and we were not able to reach an agreement.” The company is known for developing toy robots that helped teach children how to code, among other things. But perhaps its toy-like appearance made them seem less sophisticated than they were. According to Engadget, Microsoft, Amazon, and Comcast have reportedly expressed interest in acquiring the company. Anki also told Engadget they pursued every financial avenue to fund future product development and they continues to explore all available options. For now, employees will get one-week severance pay.