The lead developer behind VLC Media Player, Jean-Baptiste Kempf, has launched a new startup called Kyber that aims to control remote devices in real-time. The company has raised $5 million from Lightspeed Venture Partners and is building an infrastructure layer for robots and drones.

From Video Streaming to Robot Control

Kyber's core software is an SDK that synchronizes video, audio, sensor data, and control inputs with minimal latency. This problem-solving approach is rooted in video-streaming technology, which Kempf knows well from his years optimizing VLC for smooth playback. The company started as a side project while he was CTO at cloud gaming startup Shadow, and its early focus on streaming makes the VLC connection an easy one to draw.

But IoT expertise matters just as much for optimization – tuning performance to a device's available compute at scale is the other core piece of what Kyber does. Kempf told TechCrunch that the platform is built for "all the use cases where the person who's operating is not in the same place as the compute, which is not in the same place as the action." This means that Kyber can be used to control robots and drones remotely, with minimal latency.

Why Latency Matters for Physical AI

The startup's name is a nod to the lightsaber crystals in Star Wars – a reference to speed. "If you control things in the real world, every millisecond matters," Kempf said. This emphasis on speed and low latency is crucial for physical AI, which relies on real-time data processing and control.

The rise of physical AI has led to increased demand for infrastructure that can handle large amounts of data and provide low-latency control. Kyber's solution addresses this need by providing a scalable and efficient platform for controlling remote devices in real-time.

Open Source Roots, Enterprise Reach

Kyber's core project is open source, while the company sells a productized version to enterprise customers. This approach allows companies to use Kyber's technology without having to pay licensing fees or commit to long-term contracts. The company also offers hands-on, custom deployment through forward-deployed engineers (FDEs), similar to Palantir's model.

FDEs make up a large part of Kyber's team of 25 full-time staffers. The startup is headquartered in Paris with offices in San Francisco and Singapore to support its global client base across various industries, including defense, telco, robotics, and AI.

Key Facts

  • Kyber has raised $5 million from Lightspeed Venture Partners.
  • The company's core software is an SDK that synchronizes video, audio, sensor data, and control inputs with minimal latency.
  • Kyber's platform is built for "all the use cases where the person who's operating is not in the same place as the compute, which is not in the same place as the action."
  • The startup's name is a nod to the lightsaber crystals in Star Wars – a reference to speed.
  • Kyber's core project is open source, while the company sells a productized version to enterprise customers.

What Comes Next?

Kyber plans to continue developing its infrastructure layer for controlling remote devices in real-time. The company will focus on expanding its user base and improving its platform's scalability and efficiency. With its open-source roots and productized version, Kyber is well-positioned to become a leading player in the physical AI market.