Munich Startup: What does Coby do? What problem do you solve?
David Cañadas Link: Coby is developing an AI-powered plush companion for children with special challenges and their families. Many children—for example, those with chronic illnesses, ADHD, or separated parents—feel overwhelmed, misunderstood, or alone in everyday life. Coby offers practical tips, emotional support, and playful routines—data protection-compliant, child-friendly, and available at any time. Coby actively involves parents in the process.
The origin story of Coby: personal experience as a driving force
Munich Startup: But that's been around for a long time!?
David Cañadas Link: No. There are toys that entertain and apps that impart knowledge. But a true coping buddy that understands children, listens to them, and simultaneously relieves parents' stress – that doesn't exist yet. Coby combines play, empathy, and AI-supported coping strategies in a new category: "Emotional Tech for Children."
Munich Startup: What is your founding story?
David Cañadas Link: The idea was born in 2020 when I was diagnosed with Stargardt's disease—an incurable eye disease. What was missing wasn't medical answers, but everyday support: How do I adapt, how do I communicate my limitations, how do I live with them? Together with the patient association ProRetina and inspired by my experience, it became clear: children and families need a companion who is always available. That's how Coby was born.
Challenges for Coby: Data protection, clinical requirements and design
Munich Startup: What have been your biggest challenges so far?
David Cañadas Link: One of the biggest challenges was balancing clinical requirements with data protection and child-friendly design—especially with regard to the application of new AI technologies. We had to create a system that was secure, locally compliant with data protection regulations, and at the same time engaging and engaging for children. Furthermore, we had to strike a balance between rapid prototyping and high quality standards.
Munich Startup: Wo would you like to be in one year, where in five years?
David Cañadas Link: We have already received over 170,000 euros in equity-free funding through EXIST and AI+Munich and won several awards such as the Strascheg Award, Digicon Award, and the Munich Impact Startup Award. Our community on TikTok already includes over 13,000 parentswho actively use our coping tips.
In one year, we plan to conduct extensive tests with our first 20 to 30 prototypes with experts, families, and schools, who will actively test the prototypes in everyday life and use them as a support system.
We then plan to conduct a comprehensive clinical study on its use in a clinical context together with the Hauner Children's Hospital at LMU Munich – with the aim of testing Coby as a medical product and further optimizing the AI.
In five years, we want to support thousands of families in their everyday lives with Coby – at home, in schools and in hospitals, across Europe.
Munich as a funding environment and startup location
Munich Startup: How have you experienced Munich as a startup location so far?
David Cañadas Link: Munich offers us a strong environment: With the launch and consultation on the Strascheg Center for Entrepreneurship, the joint development of the EXIST application with the Munich University of Applied Sciences, the valuable support of the Munich Impact Incubators With the additional funding from AI+Munich, we have received tremendously valuable support and mentoring (including from Professor Sebastian Dünnebeil). Furthermore, we have a strong network of funding programs and investors.
Munich Startup: Outsource or do it yourself?
David Cañadas Link: We develop the core technology and AI models, as well as the underlying interaction design and software architecture, ourselves to guarantee quality and security. For hardware and plush development, we work with specialized partners where expertise and production capacity are crucial.
