Android Creator Andy Rubin Launching Playground Global

By Alistair Barr And Daisuke Wakabayashi 

The creator of Android, the world's largest mobile operating system, is returning to his roots in hardware.

Andy Rubin, who nurtured Android at Google Inc. from 2005 to 2013, is launching Playground Global LLC to provide support and advice to tech startups making devices for consumers or companies.

Mr. Rubin said Playground had raised $48 million from investors including Google, Hewlett-Packard Co., electronics manufacturer Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., and other tech companies. Playground won't invest in startups, but will take equity stakes in return for its support.

Playground also plans to help entrepreneurs with distribution, manufacturing, financing and ways to integrate their devices with remote computing resources known as the cloud.

This approach is common in Silicon Valley and is known as an incubator or accelerator. Mr. Rubin described Playground as a "studio," where inventors, tinkerers and entrepreneurs can focus on building new gadgets and not worry about other aspects of running a business.

"Our aim is to free the creators to create," he said in an interview. "By bringing these partners to the table we can remove many of the roadblocks of bringing a great idea to market."

Write to Alistair Barr at [e-mail] and Daisuke Wakabayashi at [e-mail]

Access Investor Kit for Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.

Visit http://www.companyspotlight.com/partner?cp_code=P479&isin=TW0002317005

Access Investor Kit for Google, Inc.

Visit http://www.companyspotlight.com/partner?cp_code=P479&isin=US38259P5089

Access Investor Kit for Google, Inc.

Visit http://www.companyspotlight.com/partner?cp_code=P479&isin=US38259P7069

Access Investor Kit for Hewlett-Packard Co.

Visit http://www.companyspotlight.com/partner?cp_code=P479&isin=US4282361033

Subscribe to WSJ: http://online.wsj.com?mod=djnwires