$160 million for VC-Funded Robotic Projects in 2011

By Frank Tobe | March 6, 2012

One roboticist’s opinion why VC funding for robotics is a tough nut to crack: projects have large capital requirements, few potential acquirers and little “Google-scale” IPO prospects.

$160 million is a far cry from the $6.9 billion that went into 997 VC funded deals in web and Internet startup companies in 2011.

Most money went to a company that uses a robot to provide image-guided technology for hair follicle harvesting.

Read about all 14 companies here.

This list doesn’t mention the many acquisitions, strategic partnerships and mergers that occurred. The most recent two are the $18 million acquisition of French Cybernetix by Technip, an oil resources and ROV service provider to the industry, and the $100 million acquisition of Aldebaran Robotics by Softbanks (see preceding article).

About The Author

Frank Tobe

Frank Tobe is the founder of The Robot Report and co-founder of ROBO Global which has developed a tracking index for the robotics industry, the ROBO Global™ Robotics & Automation Index. The index of ~90 companies in 13 sub-sectors tracks and captures the entire economic value of this global opportunity in robotics, automation and enabling technologies.