Robotics & Automation News

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Venture capital and private equity in robotics: Where is the smart money going?

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Analyzing investment trends, hot sectors, and notable funding rounds in the robotics industry

In 2025, the robotics industry stands at a pivotal moment – not just technologically, but financially. After years of steady interest from deep-tech enthusiasts and industrial backers, venture capital (VC) and private equity (PE) firms are rediscovering robotics with renewed enthusiasm.

Accelerated by advances in artificial intelligence, machine learning, and automation platforms – and influenced by broader startup funding dynamics – robotics is emerging as one of the most compelling arenas for private capital this decade. [Read more…] about Venture capital and private equity in robotics: Where is the smart money going?

Beyond Silicon Valley: The cities and regions around the world emerging as leading hubs for robotics technology and finance

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For much of the past half-century, Silicon Valley has been shorthand for technological innovation. Its influence on computing, semiconductors, software and, more recently, artificial intelligence is undisputed. Robotics, however, has always been a more complicated case.

While Silicon Valley has played an important role in shaping the software, sensing – that is, sensor technologies – and the investment side of robotics, it has never dominated robot manufacturing or deployment in the way that Japan or Germany have.

As robotics matures into an industrial sector rather than a purely experimental one, innovation is becoming increasingly distributed. Today, some of the most important advances are emerging far from Northern California. [Read more…] about Beyond Silicon Valley: The cities and regions around the world emerging as leading hubs for robotics technology and finance

US startup Antioch raises $4.25 million to build simulation infrastructure to the robotics industry

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A team of Stanford alumni led by former Tesla Autopilot engineer Harry Mellsop, former Deep Grey Research head of product Alex Langshur, former Google Deepmind engineer Colton Swingle, and former Meta Reality Labs researcher Collin Schlager, has raised $4.25 million to democratise access to advanced robotics development. 

The pre-seed round was led by A*, with support from Abstract Ventures, MaC Venture Capital, Box Group, as well as angels Adrian Macneil, the CEO of AI robotics company, Foxglove, Shyam Sankar, the CTO of Palantir, and NZ investment firm Icehouse Ventures.

Founded in early 2025 and headquartered in New York, Antioch is solving one of autonomy’s hardest problems: safely validating AI-driven systems that operate in the physical world. [Read more…] about US startup Antioch raises $4.25 million to build simulation infrastructure to the robotics industry

MassRobotics partners with Amazon and Nvidia to launch second competition for ‘Physical AI Fellowship’

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MassRobotics, together with Amazon Web Services and Nvidia Inception, opened applications for the second cohort of the Physical AI Fellowship, an 8-week virtual program designed to help robotics and physical AI startups from around the world scale faster and smarter.

The Physical AI Fellowship empowers founders and technology leaders building AI-powered robotic systems that understand, reason, learn and interact with the physical world – the domain known as physical AI.

Selected companies receive: hands-on technical guidance from AWS Generative AI Innovation Center scientists, access to AWS’s AI stack and Nvidia’s robotics software stack and 1:1 mentoring opportunities from Nvidia experts, and the opportunity to leverage MassRobotics’ extensive global network of robotics partners, investors, and customers.

Fellows are eligible for up to $200,000 in AWS credits and dedicated support channels. [Read more…] about MassRobotics partners with Amazon and Nvidia to launch second competition for ‘Physical AI Fellowship’

Partner Robotics raises $14 million funding to develop its construction robotics business

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Partner Robotics has raised $14 million in a Series A funding round led by China Growth Capital, with participation from existing investors Cowin Capital and Redpoint China Ventures.

Index Capital served as the financial advisor. Including its angel round completed at the end of 2024, the company has raised about RMB 100 million ($14 million) to date.

Founded in 2023 by Kecheng Wang, former CEO of Bright Dream Robotics, Partner Robotics is built by a team with years of experience in construction robotics and international expansion. [Read more…] about Partner Robotics raises $14 million funding to develop its construction robotics business

Nebius launches Nebius Robotics and Physical AI Awards

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Data center technology company Nebius has announced the Nebius Robotics and Physical AI Awards, a new global initiative to find “the next big thing” among startups and scale-ups building the future of robotics and vision AI systems.

The awards, which are accepting applications through October 30, 2025, aim to showcase companies advancing the frontier of physical AI, from embodied robotics and autonomous systems to streaming video analytics – technologies that are redefining how the physical world is observed, understood, and automated.

The winners will be announced at the Nebius Robotics and Physical AI Summit & Awards Ceremony at the Computer History Museum in Mountain View, California, on December 9, 2025. [Read more…] about Nebius launches Nebius Robotics and Physical AI Awards

Top robotics stories today: Nike unveils robot shoe, AutoStore expands, and more

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Robotics and Automation News brings you a quick look at the latest developments from across the world of intelligent machines and automation.

This edition includes Nike’s new motor-powered “robot shoe”, AutoStore’s latest warehouse innovations, and Nauto’s AI-driven fleet safety system.

Also featured are new breakthroughs in space robotics, industrial safety, and autonomous science. Here are the top stories now on RoboticsAndAutomationNews.com.  [Read more…] about Top robotics stories today: Nike unveils robot shoe, AutoStore expands, and more

Starship Technologies raises $50 million Series C to scale autonomous delivery across US cities

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Starship Technologies, one of the world’s largest autonomous delivery companies with over 9 million deliveries across seven nations, has announced the successful completion of a $50 million funding round led by Plural.

The company, founded by Skype co-founders Ahti Heinla and Janus Friis, has now raised more than $280 million in total funding to replicate its success in European cities and US university campuses across American urban markets.

Starship operates at absolute commercial scale with a track record no competitor can match. Having proven autonomous delivery works across multiple European urban markets and US university campuses, the company is now positioned to transform American urban logistics. [Read more…] about Starship Technologies raises $50 million Series C to scale autonomous delivery across US cities

MassRobotics opens applications for healthcare robotics startup catalyst

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MassRobotics has announced the call for applicants for Cohort 5 of its Healthcare Robotics Startup Catalyst Program, a five-month, non-equity initiative that helps robotics and automation teams accelerate clinical readiness, technical validation, and go-to-market in healthcare and life sciences.

Applications are open now and close on December 1, 2025. The cohort will run January through May 2026, concluding with company showcases at the Robotics Summit and Expo in Boston.

MassRobotics is expanding its Medical Advisory Board for Cohort 5 with additional advisors from Mass General Brigham and others, adding depth in perioperative care, patient safety, and clinical workflow integration. [Read more…] about MassRobotics opens applications for healthcare robotics startup catalyst

MassRobotics, AWS, and Nvidia launch first-of-its-kind physical AI fellowship

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The program aims at accelerating research and development of startups building at the intersection of physical AI and robotics

MassRobotics has announced the Physical AI Fellowship, a virtual program powered by Amazon Web Services Startups and Nvidia Inception to help high-potential robotics startups build, refine, and scale physical AI solutions.

The inaugural Fall 2025 cohort includes some of the most promising startups working within physical AI and serving a multitude of industries. Throughout the program, fellows will work one-on-one with scientists and engineers from the AWS Generative AI Innovation Center to refine their physical AI solutions.

Physical AI is increasingly critical to the development of complex hardware, especially robotics. Delivering advanced tools and support to startups will help the AI-powered robotics industry grow exponentially. [Read more…] about MassRobotics, AWS, and Nvidia launch first-of-its-kind physical AI fellowship