Since the start of our adventure in 2025, every Ato was assembled by hand in our garage in San Francisco, California. And while that was a stage full of learning, it also meant that it often took longer than we'd like to send a device to each family.
That's why, in a few weeks, we are taking a major step: the next version of Ato is launching on Kickstarter.
What is Kickstarter and How Does It Work?
Kickstarter is the world’s largest crowdfunding platform. Crowdfunding literally means collective financing: many people support a project with their purchase before it reaches mass production.
How does it work in practice? We present the new Ato on the platform. Those who wish to support the project can pre-order it at a special price. With that collective support, we finance production at scale. Once the units are ready, they are shipped to every person who participated.
Thousands of successful tech products today started exactly this way.
What Are We Launching?
In a few weeks, we will reveal the new version of Ato. It’s a complete redesign of the device and an evolution of what Ato can do.
A new device, from the inside out: Ato looks and feels different. More polished, nicer, warmer. Better WiFi connectivity, better microphones, and more reliability.
New functionalities that will change the experience: The launch is not just new hardware. We are going to reveal new functionalities that take Ato far beyond companionship.
Our vision has always been for Ato to not only be a device for the older adult to stay active, but also what keeps the family connected, even from a distance. The Ato Care Hub (our mobile app) is becoming a center for family care: a place where the family can have peace of mind, understand how their loved one is doing, and be present without being invasive.
We will share much more about this at the launch, but what we can reveal now is that Ato will understand more, provide better companionship, and give families real care tools — without the older adult feeling monitored.
Everything that makes Ato, Ato — the warmth, the conversations, and the respect for autonomy, remains intact. It’s just much bigger now.
Why Kickstarter?
Because we need to make the leap from our initial phase to a real production line. Kickstarter allows us to finance that transition without losing independence. It lets us grow at our own pace, with the direct support of the people who use and love Ato.
What about the current Ato model?
If you already have an Ato at home or are thinking of getting one, there are three things we want you to know:
Your device will not become obsolete: It will continue to receive software updates as always. Ato will continue learning, improving, and providing companionship.
If you have an active membership, the upgrade is free: When the new version is ready to ship, you will be able to receive the new device at no additional cost.
The current device continues to ship: The new version will take a few months to reach mass production. If someone needs an Ato today, they can have one today.
How Can You Help?
This launch does not depend only on us. Kickstarter works with collective momentum: the more people join, the further we go.
If you believe that older adults deserve better technology and better companionship, we ask for just one thing: follow us on Kickstarter, and be the first to know when we launch.
We will share more details as the date approaches. For now, thank you for being here. Thank you for believing in what we are building.
— The Ato Team
Founder & CEO @ Ato