miros, a Lausanne-based provider of connected workpods for on-demand private workspaces in public areas, has raised €1.1M ($1.3M) in pre-seed funding from business angels including Neil Chennoufi and Luc Ducommun. The startup uses IoT, AI, and robotics to transform underutilized spaces like stations and airports into bookable productivity hubs via its app and management platform. The capital will fund deployment of 200 workpods nationwide by year-end.
Framery IPO Validates Pods Surge
The raise aligns with heating investor interest in workspace pods. Framery, a pod leader, plans a Helsinki IPO to raise €20M as of November 2025. Flexible workspace platforms like Hubble ($22.7M raised) and LiquidSpace ($34M raised) aggregate third-party spaces per Crunchbase. miros differentiates by owning its pod network for consistent quality in high-traffic spots.
Hybrid Work Exposes Privacy Gaps
Remote professionals struggle with noisy cafes and public areas lacking quiet zones for calls. Hybrid models demand flexible privacy solutions beyond fixed offices. Current marketplaces rely on available inventory, often inconsistent for deep work.
App-Unlocked Pods Fill Public Void
miros deploys acoustic workpods with BLE access, app booking, and sensors for optimization. Unlike aggregators, it guarantees enclosed, connected spaces in venues like hospitals and events. Early tests logged nearly 350 usage hours across 15 pods in Switzerland and France.
Network Scales Real Estate Vision
As Dr. Fabio Zuliani, founder and CEO, noted:
"We start with pods, but the ambition goes far beyond that. We are looking at how commercial real estate itself can become flexible, modular and on-demand. The pod is just the first building block. Seeing it already used throughout Switzerland and beyond makes that vision feel very real."
The EPFL robotics spinout eyes API ecosystems and modular expansions like EvoWall desks.
Angels Back Swiss Pod Expansion
Strategic angels signal conviction in miros' infrastructure play. Investors like co-founder Neil Chennoufi and Ducommun Menuisiers' Luc Ducommun bring manufacturing and ecosystem ties. This mission capital supports pilots-to-scale transition amid hybrid tailwinds.
Pods Market Doubles by 2034
The office pods sector stands at $0.56B in 2025, projected to reach $1.33B by 2034 at 10.06% CAGR per Fortune Business Insights. Broader flexible workspaces hit $56B with 16% CAGR via Stratview Research. miros targets public deployments where competitors focus on offices.
EPFL Roots Drive Robotics Edge
An EPFL robotics lab spinout, miros leverages founder Dr. Fabio Zuliani's expertise in AI and embodied intelligence. Partnerships with Innovaud, Ducommun Menuisiers, and SwissTech validate Swiss craftsmanship. Six-person team has secured permanent installs at Hôpital Riviera-Chablais and Toulouse.
200 Pods Target Nationwide Rollout
Post-funding, miros aims for 200 workpods by year-end, building on 117 bookings from 90+ users in five days at EPFL Forum. International push includes France, with app live for seamless access. Plans extend to events, hospitals, and mobility hubs.