VLC Dev's Kyber: Real-Time Control for Millions

Kyber, a startup founded by Jean-Baptiste Kempf, the lead developer of VLC Media Player, has successfully raised $5 million in a funding round led by Lightspeed. The company is developing an infrastructure layer for real-time control of remote devices, envisioning widespread use of robots and drones in the coming years. The core technology is an SDK designed to synchronize video, audio, sensor data, and control inputs with extremely low latency.

This platform is particularly relevant for the rise of physical AI and addresses scenarios where computation and action occur remotely from the operator. Kempf highlighted the critical need for speed in controlling real-world devices, inspiring the company's name, Kyber, a nod to Star Wars. The technology draws from video-streaming expertise, honed during Kempf's time at cloud gaming startup Shadow, and IoT optimization.

Kyber's ambition is to manage fleets of millions of devices, a scale far exceeding current capabilities in sectors like remote driving. This scale necessitates robust observability and management. The company offers an open-source version of its core project and a productized enterprise solution, complemented by forward-deployed engineers for custom deployments. The team, comprising 25 staff, operates from Paris, with offices in San Francisco and Singapore.

The startup is currently prioritizing segments such as robotics, drones, and remote IT access. Kempf aims for Kyber to significantly challenge existing solutions in remote IT, positioning it as an accessible alternative to costly custom-built systems. Kyber's commercial deployments are already active within the defense, telco, robotics, and AI industries.