Robotics & Automation News

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investors

Outrider raises $65 million in Series B financing round

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Outrider, a provider of autonomous yard operations systems for logistics hubs, has closed $65 million in Series B funding, led by Koch Disruptive Technologies. Other existing investors increased their investments, including NEA, 8VC, and Prologis Ventures.

New investors included Evolv Ventures, the investment arm of Kraft Heinz, and Henry Crown and Company. With $118 million raised to date, Outrider is positioned to scale and support the rapid automation of distribution yards.

In supply-chain-intensive industries, distribution yard operations are necessary for transitioning goods between the road and the warehouse. [Read more…] about Outrider raises $65 million in Series B financing round

Mitsubishi and NTT take 30 per cent stake in HERE Technologies

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HERE Technologies says Mitsubishi Corporation and Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation have completed their joint acquisition of a 30 per cent ownership stake in the company, after receiving regulatory approvals.

HERE welcomes Mitsubishi and NTT as strategic investors. The two companies have co-invested in HERE via their recently established, jointly owned holding company COCO Tech Holding in the Netherlands.

As a result, HERE now has nine direct and indirect shareholders: Audi, Bosch, BMW Group, Continental, Intel Capital, Mitsubishi, Mercedes-Benz, NTT and Pioneer.​ [Read more…] about Mitsubishi and NTT take 30 per cent stake in HERE Technologies

Opinion: Disruption should bring passion into minds of investors

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By Deblieck Tommy, Managing Director / Partner, Zora Robotics

It is absolutely stunning to see how being disruptive makes you barely bankable.

When you become an entrepreneur, you’re first convinced that difference is an asset, that heading for a direction that no one follows is one of the keys. You with me? [Read more…] about Opinion: Disruption should bring passion into minds of investors

May Mobility raises $50 million in funding round led by Toyota

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May Mobility, an autonomous transportation-as-a-service provider, has closed a $50 million Series B funding round led by Toyota.

There was also participation from Sparx Group, alongside return investors Millennium Technology Value Partners, Cyrus Capital Partners, BMW iVentures, and Toyota AI Ventures.

The company says the round will help fund strategic hires across the engineering and operations functions, and expansion of the vehicle fleet to meet growing demand. [Read more…] about May Mobility raises $50 million in funding round led by Toyota

CMR Surgical raises $240 million in Series C financing

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CMR Surgical, the maker of the “Versius” robotic surgery system, has raised $240 million in its latest funding round.

The company says the new money will enable it to fully fund the global commercialisation of the business.

Since the last funding round in May 2018, CMR Surgical has further accelerated its growth in order to achieve its mission of bringing minimal access surgery to patients around the world. [Read more…] about CMR Surgical raises $240 million in Series C financing

Teralytics raises $17.5 million for ‘world’s first intelligent mobility operating system’

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Switzerland-based Teralytics has raised $17.5 million for what is described as “the world’s first intelligent mobility operating system”.

innogy Ventures, the venture capital investment arm of innogy Innovation Hub, has invested in Teralytics as part of a $17.5 million funding round. innogy Ventures and innogy Innovation Hub are backed by innogy SE, a leading German energy company.

The round was led by Robert Bosch Venture Capital, the corporate venture capital company of the Bosch Group. Other participants included Deutsche Bahn Digital Ventures, LBBW Venture Capital and Liil Ventures, as well as existing investors Atomico and Lakestar. [Read more…] about Teralytics raises $17.5 million for ‘world’s first intelligent mobility operating system’

BASF invests in quantum computing startup Zapata

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BASF Venture Capital is joining a group of prominent investors in the Series A investment round of Zapata Computing, Inc.

Headquartered in Cambridge, Massachusetts, Zapata is developing both a powerful software platform as well as specific applications for Global 1000 companies to effectively use a range of emerging quantum computing hardware.

By investing in Zapata, BASF Venture Capital supports BASF’s strategic goal to take advantage of the opportunities that digitalisation offers along the entire value chain.

[Read more…] about BASF invests in quantum computing startup Zapata

Denmark conference highlights high-growth robotics companies

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The biggest event for direct investment in Odense, home to the world-famous Danish robotics cluster, Odense Investor Summit 19, takes place June 26.

The event offers a unique opportunity to see the most promising and exciting technologies in the fields of robotics, drones and health tech plus access to fellow investors and investor networks.

With the prospect of an estimated 2-300 per cent growth by 2025, the Danish robotics cluster has a unique appeal to international investors.

[Read more…] about Denmark conference highlights high-growth robotics companies

Veo Robotics could make all industrial robots collaborative

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Traditional industrial robots tend to be very large and potentially dangerous, which is why they tend to be caged off and kept separate from human workers.

But a new company called Veo Robotics says it has the technology to transform traditional industrial robotic arms into safe machines that humans can work alongside, within close proximity.

Veo’s solution could make every industrial robot a collaborative robot. The term “collaborative” is recognized by international standards organizations and usually applies to much smaller, newer types of robots which are specifically designed to safe for humans to work with.  [Read more…] about Veo Robotics could make all industrial robots collaborative

Solar power revolution ‘unavoidable’ in Asia, says industry expert

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REC solar panel manufacturing plant in Singapore
A robot operates at a production line during a tour of an REC solar panel manufacturing plant in Singapore. Reuters / Edgar Su

By Henning Gloystein and Vera Eckert, Reuters

Investors are increasingly excited about the prospects for much faster growth in the solar power industry in Southeast Asia, which has until now been a backwater for renewable energy.

They say that the region is in a perfect position to benefit from rapidly declining prices in solar panels. It has strong economic growth, relatively high costs of electricity and a shortage from traditional sources, undeveloped infrastructure in more remote areas, plenty of sunshine, and backing for more renewable energy from many of Southeast Asia’s governments.

“Dramatically falling costs for solar energy technologies means businesses and governments are choosing renewable energy not for environmental reasons but for economic ones,” said Roberto De Vido, spokesman for Singapore-based Equis, one of Asia’s biggest green energy-focused investment firms with $2.7 billion in committed capital. “It simply makes good business sense. And that’s a trend that’s not going to change.”  [Read more…] about Solar power revolution ‘unavoidable’ in Asia, says industry expert

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