Boulder-based tech startup Orbotix may have struck marketing gold via an apparently impromptu meeting with President Barack Obama.
During his visit to Boulder on Tuesday, Obama spent a few moments with Sphero, a robotic ball controlled via a smartphone app. Orbotix developed the orange-size toy and sells it for $130.
“How cool is that?” Obama said after seeing a quick demo of Sphero in action on the sidewalk.
He obliged when asked to take Sphero for a spin.
“Excuse me — give me some space to drive my ball,” Obama said to the crowd of onlookers before taking control of the ball via an iPhone.
The encounter was .
Though Obama hadn’t heard of Orbotix before the test drive, the company has indirect ties with his administration.
Orbotix is a graduate of TechStars, a Boulder-based incubator and mentorship program that participated in the White House’s unveiling of the Startup America Partnership last year. TechStars launched the national TechStars Network to be a part of the public-private partnership, which aims to bring together entrepreneurs, investors, top-level executives and educators to foster the growth of innovative companies.
