Sphero to lay off 45 employees globally

BOULDER — Sphero Inc. is laying off 45 employees globally as the Boulder-based robotics company turns to focusing on its own intellectual property.

Most of the layoffs will take place at its Colorado headquarters, although a spokesperson for the company could not specify how many of the 45 employees being laid off were in Boulder. In December, the company had about 170 employees globally, most based in Colorado.

Although Sphero has risen to fame making Star Wars-themed app-enabled droids, like its functional BB-8, the company’s plan for 2018 is to focus on its educational…