Articles tagged with "robotics-startups"
1X struck a deal to send its ‘home’ humanoids to factories and warehouses
1X, a robotics company known for its consumer-focused humanoid robot Neo, has struck a strategic partnership to supply up to 10,000 Neo robots between 2026 and 2030 to the portfolio companies of EQT, a major Swedish multi-asset investor and one of 1X’s backers. These portfolio companies, numbering over 300, primarily operate in manufacturing, warehousing, logistics, and other industrial sectors. While 1X also produces an industrial robot called Eve Industrial, this deal uniquely involves the Neo model, which was originally marketed as a $20,000 consumer-ready humanoid designed to assist with household chores and personal tasks. This shift from a home use case to industrial applications highlights the challenges of selling humanoid robots for personal use, including high cost, privacy concerns, and safety issues around pets and children. Industrial environments present a more straightforward market for humanoid robots, likely explaining the pivot. Although 1X declined to disclose exact pre-order numbers for Neo
roboticshumanoid-robotsindustrial-automationwarehouse-robotsmanufacturing-technologyrobotics-startupsventure-capital-in-roboticsSOSV hosts virtual matchmaking to connect robotics startups & investors
SOSV, an early-stage deep-tech investor, is launching its inaugural Robotics Matchup event from December 1–5, a fully virtual matchmaking platform designed to connect early-stage robotics startups with investors. Building on its successful matchmaking formats in climate, health, and industrial tech, SOSV aims to offer a more efficient alternative to traditional demo days and fundraising by facilitating curated 20-minute one-on-one meetings between founders and investors. The event has attracted over 200 investors and 100 startups, with a significant portion having participated in previous SOSV matchups that have proven effective in closing deals—43% of investors and 68% of startups from past events secured investments or funding from connections made during these matchups. The Robotics Matchup allows investors and founders to specify detailed criteria such as stage, geography, verticals, robotics categories, and check size, enabling targeted and meaningful interactions. SOSV also provides participants with sortable databases of all attendees, helping founders identify active investors in the robotics space, which
roboticsstartupsinvestmentdeep-techfundraisingvirtual-matchmakingrobotics-startupsFoxglove raises $40M to scale its data platform for roboticists
Foxglove, a San Francisco-based startup founded in 2021 by former Cruise engineers Adrian Macneil and Roman Shtylman, has raised $40 million in a Series B funding round, bringing its total funding to over $58 million. The company develops a data and observability platform designed to help robotics companies collect, analyze, and visualize sensor data from their robots, aiming to accelerate development and improve robot reliability. Foxglove’s platform provides robotics startups with infrastructure similar to that used internally by industry leaders like Waymo and Tesla, but without requiring large engineering teams. Its customers include Amazon, NVIDIA, Shield AI, and Dexterity, among others. Foxglove’s tools have demonstrated significant impact, such as helping Dexterity reduce tooling and development time by over 20%, saving $150,000 annually. Notably, Shield AI integrated Foxglove’s platform into its HiveMind autonomy stack, embedding it as part of its software development kit, highlighting Foxglove’s role
roboticsdata-platformrobotics-developmentmachine-learningautonomous-robotsrobotics-startupssoftware-development-kitPodcast recaps RoboBusiness 2025, chats with startups
In Episode 218 of The Robot Report Podcast, hosts Steve Crowe and Mike Oitzman provide a comprehensive recap of the latest robotics news and feature interviews with founders and executives from 10 startups that exhibited at RoboBusiness 2025 in Silicon Valley. Among these startups, Cerulion was highlighted as the winner of the Pitchfire annual startup competition. The episode includes detailed discussions with representatives from companies such as Roworks AI, Forge AI, Motogo, 4D1, Rotate8, Morelle AI, NuPort, R2 Labs, and Sensible Robotics, offering insights into their innovations and business developments. The news segment of the episode covers significant industry updates, including Unitree Robotics’ unveiling of the Unitree H2 humanoid robot. This next-generation model features a lifelike, bio-inspired face and sculpted calves, stands 180 cm tall, and weighs 70 kg—an increase from its predecessor. The H2 also boasts 31 functional joints, enhancing its movement
roboticshumanoid-robotsrobotaxiautonomous-vehiclesrobotics-startupsrobot-jointsAI-roboticsLessons from robotics successes and failures
The article, based on Dorota Shortell’s presentation at RoboBusiness 2025, distills key lessons from over 20 years of experience in robotics hardware and automated systems, supplemented by interviews with leaders from more than a dozen robotics companies. These lessons are organized into five main categories: product market fit, funding, development process, team, and scaling. The primary focus is on product market fit, which is emphasized as a critical factor distinguishing successful robotics ventures from failures. A central takeaway is that robotics companies should prioritize understanding and solving critical customer problems before developing new technology. Building a robot should follow only after confirming that it addresses a meaningful need, avoiding the pitfall of creating sophisticated but ultimately unwanted technology. Successful companies employ fast feedback cycles involving ideation, customer validation, and iterative design, often working closely with clients through co-development and service-based models. This approach, exemplified by firms like Intuitive and Dusty Robotics, involves engineers collaborating directly with customers to refine the product and uncover un
roboticsrobotics-industryproduct-market-fitrobotic-systemsautomated-robotsrobotics-developmentrobotics-startupsA guide to everything happening at RoboBusiness 2025 - The Robot Report
RoboBusiness 2025 is set to begin at the Santa Clara Convention Center, offering attendees a comprehensive program focused on robotics and AI advancements. The event features over 60 speakers, including industry leaders from NVIDIA and other key organizations, alongside a startup workshop, the annual Pitchfire competition, and extensive networking opportunities. More than 100 exhibitors will showcase the latest technologies and solutions aimed at addressing robotics development challenges. Attendees can utilize the RoboBusiness App to plan their schedules and connect with peers. The event opens with a ticketed Welcome Reception and includes keynote presentations such as Deepu Talla’s discussion on “Physical AI for the New Era of Robotics” and a panel on humanoid deployments. Day 1 includes breakout sessions, Engineering Theater presentations, and networking events, with the show floor open from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. The following day features a “State of Robotics” keynote panel addressing technical breakthroughs and industry trends, followed by a session on “
roboticsAIrobotics-conferencerobotics-industryhumanoid-robotsrobotics-technologyrobotics-startupsRethink Robotics shuts down -- again
Rethink Robotics, a pioneer in collaborative robots (cobots), has shut down for the second time. Originally founded in 2008 as Heartland Robotics by Rodney Brooks and Ann Whittaker, the company rebranded as Rethink Robotics in 2012 and gained attention with its Baxter and Sawyer cobots. Despite raising $150 million, the company struggled with issues related to precision and repeatability due to its use of series elastic actuators. After declaring bankruptcy in 2018, Rethink was acquired by Germany’s HAHN Group, which aimed to improve the technology. However, by 2024, after being relaunched under the United Robotics Group (URG) and returning to the U.S., Rethink faced new challenges with its latest products—Reacher robot arms, Ryder autonomous mobile robots, and Riser mobile manipulators—that were not market-ready, leading to poor sales. The financial difficulties culminated when URG’s investors withdrew funding, forcing
roboticscollaborative-robotscobotsautonomous-mobile-robotsindustrial-automationrobotics-startupsRethink-RoboticsWe are entering a golden age of robotics startups — and not just because of AI
The article highlights a significant shift in the robotics startup ecosystem, marking what many investors consider a "golden age" for the sector. Around 2015, early-stage robotics startups struggled to secure venture capital, as most funding favored mature software applications rather than hardware-focused robotics. However, over the past decade, the robotics market has matured substantially, driven by improvements in hardware and software that have become both more advanced and affordable. This maturation, coupled with growing investor interest, has led to a surge in funding—$6 billion poured into robotics startups in the first seven months of 2025 alone, with projections indicating funding will surpass 2024 levels, making robotics one of the few non-AI sectors experiencing such growth. The industry's momentum did not arise solely from recent AI advancements, though AI has played a role in enhancing robotic technologies. Instead, a pivotal moment was Amazon’s acquisition of Kiva Systems in 2013, which catalyzed a wave of robotics startups and attracted engineering talent to
roboticsrobotics-startupsventure-capitalAI-in-roboticsautomationrobotics-fundingrobotics-industry-trendsTessa Lau to speak at RoboBusiness' Women in Robotics Lunch - The Robot Report
The article highlights the upcoming Women in Robotics Lunch at RoboBusiness 2025, taking place October 15-16 in Santa Clara, California. This event, held for the second consecutive year, aims to foster networking, engagement, and mentorship among women in the robotics industry, where women currently represent only 19% of robotics engineers. The featured speaker is Tessa Lau, founder and CEO of Dusty Robotics, who will discuss her career journey and her company’s mission to transform the construction industry through automated layout and BIM-to-field processes. Lau’s background includes co-founding Savioke (Relay Robotics), contributing to hotel delivery automation, and working at Willow Garage, a pivotal robotics research lab responsible for the widely used open-source robot operating system. RoboBusiness, established in 2004 and produced by WTWH Media, is a leading event for commercial robotics developers and suppliers. The 2025 conference will feature over 60 speakers, a startup workshop, the Pitchfire competition, and more
roboticswomen-in-roboticsautomated-constructionrobot-operating-systemrobotics-startupscommercial-robotsrobotics-industry-eventsRobotics investments top $4.3B in July 2025
In July 2025, the robotics sector saw robust investment activity, with a total of at least $4.35 billion raised across 93 funding rounds globally. The United States and China were the leading contributors, securing approximately $1.8 billion and just over $1 billion respectively. Israel also made a notable impact with $825 million, primarily due to a post-IPO secondary round by autonomous vehicle developer Mobileye. A significant milestone was achieved when Geekplus, a Chinese company specializing in autonomous mobile robots (AMRs) for logistics, became the first warehouse AMR robotics firm to go public on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange, raising $281 million through its IPO. Investment interest was diverse, with aerial drones and drone-related services leading the number of individual rounds at 13. Other sectors attracting significant funding included humanoid robots, manufacturing robots, maritime robots, medical robots, sensors, and robotics software. The month also featured at least eight acquisitions, highlighted by Zimmer Biomet’s purchase of Mon
roboticsautonomous-mobile-robotsdrone-technologyrobotics-investmentsmanufacturing-robotsmedical-robotsrobotics-startupsJ.P. Morgan reports on U.S. investment trends in applied tech - The Robot Report
J.P. Morgan’s recent “Applied Tech Report” highlights ongoing investment growth in U.S. sectors such as robotics, semiconductors, space, and defense, despite macroeconomic challenges like higher interest rates and market pressures. While IPOs and early-stage investments have remained steady or declined, market consolidation and strategic partnerships underscore confidence in the long-term potential of applied technologies. Government funding plays a significant role, with U.S. federal spending reaching $338 billion in fiscal year 2024, driven by programs like the CHIPS Act and Department of Defense contracts to startups. Venture funding has decreased since 2021, but federal support, especially for AI research and development, is expected to increase. Capital investment in robotics startups has notably increased from about $7 billion in 2020 to over $12 billion in 2024, largely due to advances in AI and rising demand for automation to address labor shortages and productivity needs. Robotics investments tend to focus on later-stage companies requiring substantial capital to scale,
robotrobotics-startupsautonomous-systemssemiconductor-manufacturingdefense-technologyartificial-intelligenceautomationThe search is on: Help us find the most promising robotics startups - The Robot Report
The Robot Report has launched the Robotics Startup Radar, a new program designed to spotlight promising early-stage robotics startups with innovative full systems, enabling technologies, or business models across any industry. The initiative aims to identify and showcase companies that could become influential players in the robotics sector in the coming years. Submissions for the inaugural 2025 list are open until August 29, 2025, and will be reviewed by the editorial team, though submission does not guarantee inclusion. Selected startups will gain significant exposure through digital promotional assets, press releases distributed to major newswires, and coverage on The Robot Report and Automated Warehouse websites, as well as WTWH Media’s social channels. This program offers robotics founders a valuable opportunity to attract attention from investors, engineers, and industry peers. For inquiries, Brianna Wessling, Associate Editor at WTWH Media, is the contact for the 2025 Robotics Startup Radar, while Courtney Nagle handles sponsorship information.
roboticsstartupsrobotics-industryautonomous-vehiclesrobotics-technologyrobotics-innovationrobotics-startupsEx-Waymo engineers launch Bedrock Robotics with $80M to automate construction
Bedrock Robotics, a startup founded by former Waymo and Segment engineers, has emerged publicly after more than a year of quiet development, announcing an $80 million funding round led by Eclipse and 8VC. The company is developing a retrofit self-driving kit designed to automate construction and other worksite vehicles by upgrading existing fleets with sensors, computing power, and AI that can understand project goals, adapt to changing conditions, and operate continuously. The leadership team includes CEO Stefan Sofman, known for his previous roles at Waymo’s self-driving trucks program and as co-founder of Anki Robotics, alongside CTO Kevin Petersen and VPs Ajay Gummalla and Tom Eliaz. Bedrock Robotics joins a growing field of startups applying autonomous vehicle technology to off-road environments such as construction, mining, and industrial sites. The company is currently testing its technology in multiple states—Arkansas, Arizona, Texas, and California—with five construction firms including Sundt Construction and Zachry Construction Corporation. This move reflects a
roboticsautonomous-vehiclesconstruction-automationself-driving-technologyAI-in-constructionoff-road-autonomyrobotics-startupsFigure AI CEO skips live demo, sidesteps BMW deal questions onstage at tech conference
Brett Adcock, CEO of humanoid robotics startup Figure AI, appeared at the Bloomberg Tech conference amid scrutiny over the company’s progress with BMW, a marquee customer. Adcock avoided providing specifics about the nature or commercial value of the BMW contract, instead emphasizing the technical insights gained from deploying robots on factory floors. Figure AI had previously released videos showing its robots operating in a BMW factory but has not conducted any live demonstrations, citing a company philosophy against attending many events and preferring to showcase via videos. Adcock also revealed that Figure AI has signed a contract with a second, unnamed customer—reported by Bloomberg to be UPS—for initial deployment. Despite the skepticism surrounding Figure AI’s commercial relationships, the company claims its AI-powered robots have human-like fine motor skills and precise object manipulation capabilities. Adcock confirmed plans to manufacture and deploy approximately 100,000 robot units within four years. The company is currently attempting to raise $1.5 billion at a valuation reportedly fifteen times higher than its February 2024 valuation. Additionally, Figure AI has taken steps to restrict unauthorized secondary market trading of its shares, signaling efforts to control its stock distribution amid this fundraising phase.
roboticshumanoid-robotsAI-roboticsfactory-automationindustrial-robotsrobot-deploymentrobotics-startups