Rotimatic

Rotimatic is an automated kitchen appliance that makes flatbread. It was invented by Indian-origin couple Pranoti Nagarkar and Rishi Israni in 2008.

Rotimatic
Rotimatic logo
TypeKitchen appliance, robot
InventorPranoti Nagarkar-Israni
Rishi Israni
InceptionJune 28, 2008 (2008-06-28)
ManufacturerZimplistic Pte. Ltd.
AvailableUnited States
UK
Singapore
Canada
Australia
New Zealand
Middle East
Germany
Websiterotimatic.com

Rotimatic uses machine learning to make bread and takes about a minute to make one roti. It was first shipped in 2016, and is currently available in seven markets. The worldwide retail price of Rotimatic is US$999. As of October 2018, it has generated a revenue of US$40 million.

History

Rotimatic was invented by Indian-born Pranoti Nagarkar and Rishi Israni. Nagarkar is a mechanical engineer and Israni studied computer science.[1] The couple's company, Zimplistic Pte Ltd., was incubated in Singapore, and won a business plan competition there in 2009.[1] Rotimatic is the flagship product of their company, which is headquartered in Mountain View, California.

Rotimatic was initially planned to launch in 2012, but was shipped in 2016 in United States and Singapore. As of April 2018, it is available in a total of seven markets including the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and the United Arab Emirates.[2][3]

As of April 2018, Zimplistic had raised around US$45 million through four rounds of venture funding. According to Zimplistic, Rotimatic generated a revenue of US$40 million in the fiscal year 2017-2018 by selling nearly 40,000 machines,[3][4][5] with pre-order sales generating US$5 million.[6]

Concept and design

To make roti (or other types of flatbread such as tortillas and puris), the user adds portions of flour, water, oil, and any additional ingredients into designated compartments. After selecting the thickness, softness, and oiliness, the user presses a button, and the machine then makes dough, flattens it, and cooks the roti. Rotimatic can bake around 20 rotis starting from full compartments.[7][8]

Rotimatic uses machine learning so each machine takes some time to make good bread; they are also connected to the internet for software upgrades.[9][3] It takes about a minute to make one roti after the machine has been fully heated up which takes more than five minutes.[10] Weighing around 18 kilograms and measuring 16 by 16 inches, it has 15 sensors, 10 motors, and 300 parts.[11][12]

The worldwide retail price of Rotimatic as of April 2018 is US$999; a high end bread machine cost around $170 at that time.[9][13] Rotimatic is manufactured in Malaysia.[1]

Reception

Mashable called Rotimatic the first robotic roti maker. It further added that Zimplistic claims that one Rotimatic roti costs roughly five cents. A store-bought roti would cost around 40 to 50 cents.[14] Engadget reviewed it as "the world's most expensive flatbread maker".[15]

See also

References
  1. hermes (28 August 2016). "Singaporean couple invents roti-making robot, Rotimatic". Straits Times.
  2. Fannin, Rebecca A. (26 September 2011). Startup Asia: Top Strategies for Cashing in on Asia's Innovation Boom. John Wiley & Sons. ISBN 9780470829936 – via Google Books.
  3. Marinova, Polina (2 March 2017). "Watch This Smart Kitchen Robot Make a Flatbread In Minutes". Fortune.
  4. www.ETtech.com. "Rotimatic maker Zimplistic raises $30M in Series C funding - ETtech". ETtech.com. Retrieved 24 October 2018.
  5. Albrecht, Chris (5 October 2018). "Zimplistic has Sold Roughly 40,000 Rotimatics". The Spoon. Retrieved 24 October 2018.
  6. "Rotimatic Revolutionizes Kitchen Technology, Reaches $5 Million Pre-Orders in First Week". Retrieved 24 October 2018.
  7. Liszewski, Andrew. "Forget a Bread Maker, This Machine Churns Out Fresh Roti Every Minute".
  8. Biggs, John. "I, for one, welcome our new robotic roti-making overlords".
  9. Patel, Atish (26 June 2014). "Best Thing Since Sliced Bread: A Roti-Making Machine". Wall Street Journal.
  10. Liszewski, Andrew. "Forget a Bread Maker, This Machine Churns Out Fresh Roti Every Minute". Gizmodo. Retrieved 24 October 2018.
  11. Feinberg, Ashley. "Rotimatic Hands-On: Yep, The Roti-a-Minute Magic Machine Is Awesome". Gizmodo. Retrieved 24 October 2018.
  12. Rotimatic, Rotimatic, Togetherness and rotis. #GarmaGaram, retrieved 10 January 2019
  13. "Order - Rotimatic". Rotimatic. Retrieved 24 October 2018.
  14. Ulanoff, Lance. "Hands On With Rotimatic: the World's First Robot Roti Maker". Mashable. Retrieved 24 October 2018.
  15. "This robot bakes the world's most expensive flatbread". Engadget. Retrieved 24 October 2018.
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