- VCs are excited to invest in a new wave of robotics startups that use AI and spatial intelligence.
- BI compiled a list of startups to watch in the space that have raised $75 to $150 million from VCs.
- These startups are building robots to operate autonomously in healthcare, logistics, and elsewhere.
Thanks to AI, the robotics industry is getting a makeover, and VCs are clamoring to back startups in the space industry that are building robots that autonomously complete tasks for their human counterparts.
If 2023 was the year of generative AI, and 2024 was the year of LLMs, VCs are expecting 2025 to be the year of AI agents: AI-powered tools that can take over tasks for humans, such as software development, customer support, and drafting legal documents.
AI agents are now coming to robotics, thanks to a new tech called spatial intelligence that lets robots navigate their environment more efficiently, process data, and react in real time — all without needing a roboticist to painstakingly calibrate their every move.
“As AI advances enable robots to move from structured, repetitive tasks to more complex and dynamic real-world applications, we’ll see rapid progress in robotic perception, manipulation, and decision-making capabilities,” IVP’s Yuri Lee told Business Insider recently.
Today, startups are developing AI robots that can autonomously organize a warehouse, unload a delivery truck, or assist with a surgical procedure.
Business Insider analyzed PitchBook data to identify US-based AI robotics startups that closed funding rounds in 2024 and overall have raised between $75 million and $150 million from VCs. The 11 startups are ranked from most to least money raised.