Until now, 2024 has been prompts as a year not so Shabby for the financing of robotics startups.
Developers of workshop robots, robotic surgery technologies and even humanoid models have all increased large towers in the last six months. The boom in the financing of artificial intelligence has also contributed to stimulating space, investors supporting major cases at the intersection of AI and robotics.
In total, robotics startups have carried out more than $ 4.2 billion in seeds thanks to funding at the growth stage this year, By Crunchbase data. This puts funding on the right track to exceed the silent levels of last year, although still below its cyclic peak, as illustrated below.
Workplace robots
Where is the money going? According to Crunchbase Data, Workplace Robotics still explains the greatest number of laps, startups seeking to compensate for the need for human work for tasks such as meal delivery, weed draw and the displacement of stuff in warehouses.
Among the largest beneficiaries of this vein are Light machinesA developer of software and robotics technologies for factory manufacturing. The company has raised $ 106 million in series C financing, plus $ 20 million in debt, in a Blackrock-The funding announced on Tuesday.
Another big tour went to Silicon Valley Collaborative roboticswhich won $ 100 million General catalyst-Meled series B this spring. Its commercial model focuses on the construction of “cobots” or robots that can work alongside humans performing tasks such as transport of boxes and the movement of industrial trolleys.
On the Agtech front, based in Seattle Carbon robotics Harves a total of $ 85 million to date, with its latest funding collected in a MAI series C. Its main offer is a AI-compatible weeding robot which offers farmers a less with a high intensity of labor work to reduce dependence on herbicides.
Redwood City, California Bear roboticsAs for him, hung $ 60 million in a LG Electronics-In funding was directed in March. The company manufactures a mobile robot capable of transporting sets or packages, that IT markets customers of hospitality, assisted life, warehouse operations and other industries.
Here are the humanoids
We also note important investments in startups developing humanoid robots – an essential of science fiction which has not yet penetrated daily reality.
Sunnyvale, in California Figurewho describes himself as a “company of robotics of AI giving life to the general humanoid”, was the biggest draw here, which increased $ 675 million in a series of February B. It aroused intense interest business investors, with Nvidia,, Microsoft And Amazon Among its donors.
1xA startup with double seat in Norway and Silicon Valley, collected $ 98 million in January to continue the development of its initial humanoid models. This includes Neo, whose body in human shape is designed with a muscular anatomy, and Eve, a robot that looks like a human but with wheels instead of the feet.
In 1x, the humanoid robot represents the most logical form factor to integrate advanced treatment and AI deeper into the physical world. A research note on its website postulates that: “Basically, our world is designed by and for humans, which makes the human form the most effective means of interfaced with it.”
On the whole, he is still very early imagining what these humanoids fueled by IA could really accomplish. The startup plans to make contributions to industries, including agriculture, construction and health care, with a particular emphasis on taking on dangerous and repetitive jobs.
Surgical robotics
Surgical robotics has also been a major area for start -up investment linked to robots over the years, and 2024 is no exception.
The biggest turn went to MMIA developer of the technology of microsurgical procedures assisted by Robot who raised $ 110 million in a February C series led by Loyalty. The company says its technology allows surgeons to reproduce the movements of the human hand on a micro scale and can extend the treatment options for patients with soft tissue, open surgical procedures.
More recently, based in Shanghai Ronovo surgery Raised $ 44 million in financing for the B series announced this month. The company is developing a robot assisted system for laparoscopic surgeries.
Easy to call, more difficult to prove
Unlike many other start -up sectors, the founders of robotics companies generally have no trouble selling us why we would like their products. After all, who does not want a robot to boring boring, exhausting, dangerous and long for humans?
In addition, as we are faced with lower global growth rates – especially in developed economies – there will not necessarily be enough people arranged and capable of doing the work required to provide and maintain the level of services and infrastructure we are used to.
The challenge concerns execution. Will the financed startups today be able to deliver their visions with robotic technologies that are capable of their assigned, evolving and affordable tasks?
It would certainly be pleasant to respond to the affirmative. The story of startups, however, tells us that for each enormous success, there are generally many others that do not.
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Illustration: Dom Guzman
Clarification: This story has changed since its original publication.
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