Failed 2018

    Jibo

    A $900 social robot can't compete with a $50 Amazon Echo that does more. Emotional connection doesn't justify 18x the price.

    Founded → Closed

    2012 → 2018

    Funding Raised

    $73M

    Industry

    Robotics/Consumer

    Country

    USA

    IdeaProof AI Failure Score

    58/100
    Market Fit RiskBurn Rate RiskFounder Risk
    Market Fit Risk
    25
    Burn Rate Risk
    70
    Founder Risk
    20

    Full Analysis

    Jibo was pitched as the "first social robot for the home" after a record-breaking Indiegogo campaign. The $900 device could tell jokes, take photos, and display emotive animations. But Amazon Echo ($50-100) and Google Home offered more functionality at a fraction of the price. Jibo shipped late, under-delivered on promises, and shut down its servers in 2018, bricking all devices.

    Could This Failure Have Been Prevented?

    IdeaProof's AI validates market demand, competitive positioning, and business model viability in minutes — catching the exact issues that sank Jibo.

    Related Failures