Ingka Investments has made a minority investment in Ori, a US-based company that is creating living spaces for the next generation through the application of robotics.
The name “Ori” derives from “origami,” the Japanese art of folding paper to create beautiful and remarkable objects that take many kinds of elegant forms. Ori ’s technology and systems are used to design products that allow for the elegant and effortless transformation of space.
Ingka Group sees potential opportunities to, together with Ori, explore new ways of building more flexible and responsive spaces that may allow the creation of innovative meeting places as well as coming closer to the customers, both in city centres and in Ingka Centres. In addition, it may support new inspirational retail experiences for IKEA customers in the future.
“This investment aligns closely with the direction of Ingka Group, where we want to be a partner in life at home for our customers by offering affordable, convenient and more sustainable small-space solutions – especially as more and more people move towards big cities.” says Krister Mattsson, Managing Director, Ingka Investments.
The funding will allow Ori to broaden its focus beyond creating products and systems to partnering with architects and builders on designing urban housing and spaces that are more flexible, intelligent, sustainable and affordable.
Ori’s investment press release
Photo and video courtesy of Ori.
