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Employee management software provider Rippling raises $500 million in Series E financing

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By Parker Conrad, CEO, Rippling

Rippling, a provider of automated software for employee management, has raised $500 million in a round led by Greenoaks. The round values the company at $11.25 billion, the same as the company’s Series D financing in May 2022.

This was an unusual round, raised in record time and for a purpose that ultimately resolved on its own. It all started on Friday, March 10th at 5.30 am PST.

Rippling’s primary banking partner, Silicon Valley Bank (SVB), collapsed with dizzying speed on Thursday, March 9, and entered FDIC receivership on Friday, March 10. [Read more…] about Employee management software provider Rippling raises $500 million in Series E financing

Plus One Robotics raises $50 million in new funding

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Plus One Robotics, a provider of advanced AI vision software and solutions for robotic parcel handling, has raised $50 million in Series C funding.

The round was led by Scale Venture Partners, with Partner Rory O’Driscoll joining the board of directors. Top Tier Capital Partners, Tyche Partners, ROBO Global Ventures, Translink, McRock, and Pritzker Group Venture Capital also participated in the round alongside existing investors, which brings the company’s total funding to date to nearly $100 million.

Plus One’s technology helps to alleviate the persistent shortage of manual labor through robotic solutions, dramatically streamlining the parcel picking and depalletizing processes. [Read more…] about Plus One Robotics raises $50 million in new funding

Volvo invests in Waabi to strengthen autonomous truck offering

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Volvo Group Venture Capital has invested in the Canadian-founded company Waabi Innovation, which developing “next generation” autonomous trucking technology.

The companies says the investment highlights their shared commitment to “redefine the way we move goods and to accelerate the deployment of future transport solutions”.

Martin Witt, president of Volvo Group Venture Capital, says: “The company Waabi is using advanced artificial intelligence technology to test, assess skills, and ultimately teach a virtual driver to maneuver safely and efficiently in a commercial-ready autonomous trucking solution. [Read more…] about Volvo invests in Waabi to strengthen autonomous truck offering

Ronovo Surgical raises $50 million to commercialize robotic laparoscopy system

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One of the fastest growing companies in the global robotic and digital surgery space, Ronovo Surgical, recently raised new financing to accelerate its vision of broad, cross-specialty adoption of robotic-assisted surgery.

The latest round of financing arms Ronovo with more than $50 million raised since 2020. Led by LongRiver Investments (LRI), this round garnered continued support from existing investors – Lilly Asia Ventures, Vivo Capital, Matrix Partners China and GGV Capital – with CEC Capital acting as exclusive financial advisor.

Exiting stealth mode, Ronovo unveils its inaugural robotic platform – Carina, an innovative modular system built on proprietary technology to enable configurable robotic assistance for laparoscopic surgeries across multiple specialties. [Read more…] about Ronovo Surgical raises $50 million to commercialize robotic laparoscopy system

Electric Future: Siemens providing software platform to support nascent electric airplane market

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Swedish electric airplane maker Heart Aerospace has selected the Capital product lifecycle management suite from the Siemens Xcelerator portfolio of software and services to support its design, development, and certification of zero emission electric aircraft.

Siemens’ Capital will provide electrical and electronic (E/E) system design and support as Heart Aerospace addresses the market and regulatory demands of escalating performance and commercial certification requirements.

As part of the extensive electrification in these aircraft, Heart Aerospace must address the complexity of the Electrical Wiring Interconnect System (EWIS) while also addressing electrical system compliance risk. [Read more…] about Electric Future: Siemens providing software platform to support nascent electric airplane market

2023 Predictions & Forecasts: Berkshire Grey expects RaaS to get bigger

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Insights from Chris Geyer, VP at Berkshire Grey

Since Berkshire Grey designs and deploys AI and robotics technology to Fortune100 customers like FedEx, Target and Walmart, they have an expansive view of what’s happening across retail, e-commerce, grocery, package handling and logistics industries.

Chris Geyer, vice president at Berkshire Grey, works closely with these customers on product development and implementation and is well-equipped to see what the new year has in store. [Read more…] about 2023 Predictions & Forecasts: Berkshire Grey expects RaaS to get bigger

Nvidia and Abu Dhabi join $73 million Outrider funding round

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Outrider, a startup developing autonomous yard operations for logistics hubs, has closed $73 million in Series C financing led by FM Capital. 

New investors include a wholly owned subsidiary of the Abu Dhabi Investment Authority (ADIA) and NVentures, Nvidia’s venture capital arm.

Existing investors participating in the round include Koch Disruptive Technologies (KDT) and New Enterprise Associates (NEA). Outrider has raised $191 million in financing to date based on its technical leadership in autonomous systems for distribution yards. [Read more…] about Nvidia and Abu Dhabi join $73 million Outrider funding round

Photoneo Brightpick raises additional $19 million to complete $40 million in Series B funding

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Photoneo Brightpick Group, the parent company of Photoneo, a provider of robotic vision sensors and intelligence software, and Brightpick, a provider of warehouse automation solutions for ecommerce and grocery order fulfillment, has raised an additional $19 million to complete a $40 million Series B.

Taiwania Capital led this most recent round, which also included follow-on investments by prior Series B lead investors IPM Group and Alpha Intelligence Capital.

Additional investors in this round include H&D Asset Management, Venture to Future Fund and Kolowrat Group. This round brings the company’s total capital raised since inception to $53 million. [Read more…] about Photoneo Brightpick raises additional $19 million to complete $40 million in Series B funding

Aerones raises $30 million to develop wind turbine maintenance robot

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Aerones, a Latvia-based company specializing in robot-enabled wind turbine maintenance and inspection, has secured $30 million in growth capital to scale its business globally.

The capital will be used to help the Company meet surging demand in a market which is expected to reach $50 billion in value by 2028.

The funding round was co-led by Lightrock, the global growth equity investor, and Haniel, the European family-owned purpose-driven investor. [Read more…] about Aerones raises $30 million to develop wind turbine maintenance robot

Avidbots raises $70 million in latest funding round

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Avidbots, one of the world’s leading robotics companies, today announced it has raised $70 million in Series C funding.

The financing was led by Jeneration Capital, with strong participation from existing investors True Ventures, Next 47, SOSV, GGV Capital, BDC Capital, Golden Ventures, and Kensington Capital Partners.

New investors – BMO Capital Partners, Golden Vision Capital and Nicola Wealth – also joined in the latest funding round. With this financing, Avidbots has raised more than $107 million to date. [Read more…] about Avidbots raises $70 million in latest funding round