20 Thriving Robotics Companies & Startups (2024)
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The global robotics industry is projected to reach a combined revenue of over $70.6 billion in 2028.
Robotics companies have been increasingly introducing advanced robotics systems that utilize machine learning and artificial intelligence. Meanwhile, improved mechanics, dexterity, and industrial automation have helped the robotics ecosystem grow exponentially.
We’ve rounded up some of the best robotics startups to keep an eye on.
1. Skydio
5-year search growth: 383%
Search growth status: Peaked
Year founded: 2014
Location: Redwood City, CA
Funding: $570M (Series E)
What they do: Skydio is a drone manufacturing company that leverages AI to make drones more intelligent and cognizant. According to the company, Skydio Autonomy helps the drones fly with the “skills of an expert pilot” that minimize the need for manual control. Based on preset parameters, the drones utilize their features to achieve the goals of the user. Skydio recently partnered with Axon Evidence to automate the uploading of pictures and videos shot through their drones.
2. Anduril Industries
5-year search growth: 319%
Search growth status: Exploding
Year founded: 2017
Location: Irvine, CA
Funding: $2.2B (Series E)
What they do: As an autonomous aerospace robotics company, Anduril helps mitigate national security challenges for the US and its allies. With multiple software and hardware products like the Lattice Platform and Sentry Tower, the company offers a robotics solution for oversight, scanning, and command management. After a $1.5B Series E financing round in December 2022, Anduril’s valuation soared to $8.5B.
3. Robust AI
5-year search growth: 4,100%
Search growth status: Exploding
Year founded: 2019
Location: San Carlos, CA
Funding: $42.5M (Series A)
What they do: Robust AI is a robotics technology startup that helps reduce the time it takes to set up robotics systems. They use a cognitive engine, along with common sense AI to develop robot software more efficiently. This helps the robotic systems become more reliable and robust in unpredictable environments. Robust AI raised $22.5M in Series A funding through JAZZ Venture Partners in 2020.
4. Voliro
5-year search growth: 400%
Search growth status: Regular
Year founded: 2019
Location: Zurich, Switzerland
Funding: $2.3M (Seed)
What they do: Improving how drones are utilized in construction, Voliro provides various advanced flying robots. Voliro’s unmanned flying robots can efficiently work at heights while protecting and maintaining site infrastructure. The company provides a robotics platform that is backed by various company-owned and third-party applications. In September 2021, Voliro partnered with Aerodyne Partners to increase the number of aerial inspection robots worldwide.
5. Saildrone
5-year search growth: 100%
Search growth status: Peaked
Year founded: 2012
Location: Alameda, CA
Funding: $189.5M (Series C)
What they do: Saildrone is an unscrewed surface vehicles (USV) company that designs, manufactures, and operates USVs. The company maps the ocean using single-beam and multibeam bathymetric data. Furthermore, their robots are powered by machine learning systems to improve marine identification. In October 2021, Saildrone closed a $100M Series C funding round led by BOND.
6. United Robots
5-year search growth: 125%
Search growth status: Exploding
Year founded: 2016
Location: London, England
Funding: Undisclosed (Seed Round)
What they do: United Robots is a London-based tech startup developing autonomous industrial cleaning and cargo transporting robots for large enterprise buildings. This company has developed three primary products, including the UR\ Cleaner, UR\ UV-C Disinfectant, and UR\ Carrier. On a single charge, these robots can cover an area equivalent to two football fields on a single charge and are designed to work harmoniously with humans in real time.
7. AMP Robotics
5-year search growth: 486%
Search growth status: Exploding
Year founded: 2015
Location: Louisville, CO
Funding: $175.1M (Series C)
What they do: AMP Robotics provides AI-powered powered robots to improve recycling operations. The robots use a smart vision system to identify waste material based on color, shape, opacity, and other parameters. This helps differentiate recyclable material from other waste. AMP Robotics deployed its first recycling robots in the UK and Ireland in September 2021 with the help of Recyco.
8. Simbe Robotics
5-year search growth: 15%
Search growth status: Exploding
Year founded: 2014
Location: San Francisco, CA
Funding: $54M (Series B)
What they do: Simbe Robotics is a robotics platform that automates repetitive tasks in the retail space. The company’s flagship product, Tally, is an autonomous power tool that uses advanced sensor systems to gather data and provide meaningful insights. Recently, St. Louis-based grocery giant Schnucks deployed Simbe Robotics’ technology across 111 stores.
9. Harvest Automation
5-year search growth: -100%
Search growth status: Peaked
Year founded: 2009
Location: Groton, MA
Funding: $33.6M (Debt Financing)
What they do: Harvest Automation is a robotics company that builds robots to solve material handling challenges in the agricultural industry. Specifically, their robots are used in nurseries, greenhouses, and for various e-commerce fulfillment applications. The company’s robots are designed to automate labor-intensive and physically demanding tasks with little need for human input.
10. Unbox Robotics
5-year search growth: 267%
Search growth status: Exploding
Year founded: 2019
Location: Bangalore, India
Funding: $9.1M (Series A)
What they do: Unbox Robotics is a startup that develops autonomous mobile robots for warehouses and distribution centers. Their robots can navigate through dynamic environments and perform tasks such as picking, packing, and sorting. By using AI and computer vision, Unbox Robotics aims to improve efficiency and accuracy in the logistics industry.
11. HYPR
5-year search growth: 110%
Search growth status: Regular
Year founded: 2020
Location: Alameda, CA
Funding: $92.1M (Series C)
What they do: As an AI robotics company, HYPR builds intelligent autonomous mobility robots that improve in-house efficiency. Their robots continuously learn as they go, building upon previous versions. Rather than replacing prior data, new data is adjusted to maximize productivity by learning about dynamic conditions. In 2020, HYPR received $10M in seed funding and a $190M pre-money valuation.
12. Tailos
5-year search growth: 175%
Search growth status: Exploding
Year founded: 2015
Location: Austin, Texas
Funding: Undisclosed (Series B)
What they do: Tailos, formerly known as Maidbot, provides commercial robot vacuums for hotels and residential buildings. Their flagship product, Rosie, is a robotic vacuum cleaner that utilizes AI technology to autonomously operate in complex indoor environments, such as hallways, guest rooms, and meeting spaces. Tailos products have cleaned more than 1.5 million square feet inside customer properties.
13. Zipline
5-year search growth: 4%
Search growth status: Peaked
Year founded: 2011
Location: San Francisco, CA
Funding: $821M (Series F)
What they do: A drone shipment company, Zipline allows companies to deliver global shipments using autonomous aircraft. The company provides inventory management, fulfillment, and customer management services. Currently, Zipline is using its fleet of autonomous vehicles to deliver blood and medical supplies to needy patients. They’re also moving into the retail and e-commerce space, starting with a partnership with Walmart.
14. FORT Robotics
5-year search growth: 600%
Search growth status: Regular
Year founded: 2017
Location: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Funding: $38M (Series B)
What they do: FORT Robotics company provides a safety and security platform for smart machines and autonomous systems. Smart machine operators can increase productivity and safety because of the platform's wireless emergency stopping and dynamic controls. Currently, FORT Robotics has 300+ customers, including many Fortune 500 industry leaders.
15. Vecna Robotics
5-year search growth: 800%
Search growth status: Regular
Year founded: 2018
Location: Waltham, MA
Funding: $128.5M (Series C)
What they do: Vecna Robotics provides logistical automation and workflow optimization using autonomous mobile robots. Their robots learn and adapt in real-time to adjust to workplace changes and challenges. Self-driving vehicles require little to no human interaction and come with learning capabilities to consistently improve productivity over time. Vecna Robotics’ latest release earned them the title of the fastest autonomous mobile robots in the industry.
16. Energy Robotics
5-year search growth: 171%
Search growth status: Exploding
Year founded: 2019
Location: Darmstadt, Germany
Funding: $4.9M (Grant)
What they do: As a “RaaS” company, Energy Robotics provides fleets or robots to improve inspection, cloud systems, and management. The robots are designed to offer predictive maintenance and smooth integration in operation management systems. With multiple onboard sensors, their robots work autonomously in all sorts of environments. Energy Robotics has worked closely with Boston Dynamics and Merck to launch a pilot program.
17. Rapid Robotics
5-year search growth: 6,567%
Search growth status: Regular
Year founded: 2019
Location: San Francisco, CA
Funding: $54.2M (Series B)
What they do: Rapid Robotics helps companies automate common machine operator tasks to solve labor shortages. They provide robotic arms that can automate tasks like heat staking, pad printing, and injection molding, among others. The robots are used by companies that are facing labor shortages and need 24/7 production. In August 2021, Rapid Robotics raised another $36.7M in Series B financing, led by Tiger Global and Kleiner Perkins.
18. ANYbotics
5-year search growth: 514%
Search growth status: Exploding
Year founded: 2016
Location: Zurich, Switzerland
Funding: $80M (Series B)
What they do: ANYbotics develops four-legged robots that help improve reliability in automated routine industrial inspections. They’re mostly used by companies that deal with hazardous work, materials, and infrastructure. ANYbotics recently upgraded their robots with Velodyne Lidar sensors, improving inspection capabilities.
19. Bedrock Ocean Exploration
5-year search growth: 50%
Search growth status: Regular
Year founded: 2020
Location: Brooklyn, NY
Funding: $33.5M (Series A)
What they do: Bedrock provides smart robots to map the ocean floor and collect and manage seafloor data. Their portable autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs) provide high-resolution marine surveys, including hydrographic and geophysical surveys. A mix of survey services and a well-designed data platform allow the company to accurately collect seafloor data. In March 2021, Bedrock raised $8M in seed funding in a round led by Eniac Ventures, R7, Quiet Capital, and Primary Venture Partners.
20. Company Six
5-year search growth: 79%
Search growth status: Exploding
Year founded: 2019
Location: Boulder, CO
Funding: $6.9M (Series Unknown)
What they do: A drone technology company, Company Six develops small reconnaissance drones that let users scout their surroundings. The portable robots are designed to cross most terrains, have unlimited range due to LTE capabilities, and have a powerful battery. They are designed for first responders and professionals working in high-risk environments. Company Six received $4.6M in funding in July 2020.
Conclusion
That concludes our list of the top robotics startups with strong potential for growth in 2024 and beyond.
With an abundance of artificial intelligence companies and robotics companies, we’ll be seeing a lot more robotics startups. Most of them will target specific industries, such as the e-commerce and healthcare industries.
Meanwhile, there has been a steady improvement in industrial robots and unmanned autonomous mobility robots.
We’ll be seeing similar innovations in the robotics industry as new technologies and software are developed over the next decade.
