Paul Copioli. Photo credit: VEX Robotics, under Creative Commons license

Sphero, a well-known Colorado-based startup that makes educational robots, has named a new CEO by the name of Paul Copioli, who is himself a veteran of the robotics industry. Copioli previously served as the president of VEX Robotics, a division of robotics company Innovation First that itself also makes educational robots. Copioli stepped down from VEX in 2018. He is replacing Sphero’s chief executive, Paul Berberian, who is transiting into the role of chairman.

Sphero’s CEO change also coincides with its formation of a new spin-off company that’ll focus on developing robotics and software solutions for first responders, government, defense, or in general high-risk situations. The spin-off company, named Company Six, stems from the backgrounds of Sphero’s two top executives, now chairman Paul Berberian and chief operating officer (COO) Jim Booth, in military service. Company Six aims to harness Sphero’s experience of developing educational robots in order to do the same for military and related applications. As a new spin-off, it’s already closed a $3 million seed investment led by venture capital firm Spider Capital, with participation from the likes of Foundry Group, Techstars, and GAN Ventures.

Berberian will concurrently serve as chairman at both Sphero and Company Six. His replacement, Copioli, notably joined Sphero after its acquisition of littleBits, another startup that makes educational robots. Prior to the acquisition, Copioli served as littleBits’ chief operating officer and President. He became Sphero’s president after the acquisition and has now taken up the chief executive role.