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Robotics investments recap: June 2019

By Eugene Demaitre | July 10, 2019

Robotics investments recap: June 2019

June 2019 robotics investments included Hyundai’s funding for self-driving cars. Source: Aurora Innovation

The summer doldrums may be affecting robotics investments, even as funding continued to flow to robotics, autonomous vehicles, and artificial intelligence and machine learning companies last month. The Robot Report tracked more than $1.1 billion in robotics investments in June 2019, continuing a strong first half of the year.

In comparison, there was $1.5 billion in reported transactions in May 2019. The Robot Report recorded $2.1 billion in June 2018, but that figure included a single large item: Rockwell’s $1 billion equity investment in PTC. Uncertainty around the U.S. trade conflict with China and upcoming elections could be inhibiting some investment.

However, the number of fundings rose, with at least 42 robotics investments, compared with about 26 such deals last month and 27 fundings last year. Robotics startups can also take encouragement from a lack of failures or shutdowns this past month.

Venture capitalists continued their focus on transportation, including autonomous vehicles and supporting technologies. AI and robotics software, industrial automation for manufacturing, and service robots also did well. There were fewer transactions in supply chain, logistics, and healthcare than in the past few months, but interest in robots for e-commerce order fulfillment could increase as the next school year and holiday shopping season approach.

The table of robotics investments below lists amounts in millions of U.S. dollars where they were available:

CompanyAmt. (M$)TypeLead investor, partnerDateTechnology
Akribis Systems Pte. Ltd.equity stakeMitsubishi Electric Corp.June 17, 2019linear servo motors
Alias Robotics0.849pre-seedBaron Capital, AsiderJune 12, 2019robot cybersecurity
AnyVision Interactive Technologies Ltd.74Series AM12, DFJ Growth, OG Technology PartnersJune 18, 2019computer vision
Aurora Innovation Inc.600Series BHyundai Motor Group, Baillie GiffordJune 12, 2019self-driving cars
BlueRidge.AI1.9investmentDataTribeJune 25, 2019predictive analytics
Boxbot7.5seedArtiman Ventures, Toyota AI VenturesJune 4, 2019driverless delivery
BrightWay Vision Ltd.25investmentKoito Manufacturing Co., Israeli Magenta Venture PartnersJune 27, 2019sensors for self-driving cars
C2 Medical Robotics Inc.0.02investmentElevate Purdue Foundry FundJune 5, 2019spinal surgical system
Clustar.aiSeries ASequoia Capital ChinaJune 4, 2019AI, service robots
Cobalt Robotics35Series BCoatue, Toyota AI VenturesJune 25, 2019security robots
Deptrum15Series ASoftbank China, Wu CapitalJune 4, 20193D vision
Dishcraft Robotics25investmentBaseline Ventures, First Round Capital, LemnosJune 18, 2019dishwashing robots
Edge Case Research7investmentAurora, ANSYSJune 13, 2019autonomous vehicle safety software
EKIM/PAZZI11.2Series AQualgroJune 17, 2019pizza robots
Enflame43.39investmentRedpoint China VenturesJune 6, 2019AI chips
Everactive (formerly PsiKick)30investmentFuture Fund, Blue Bear Capital, ABB Technology VenturesJune 19, 2019IoT sensors
Fusion RoboticsinvestmentLukpartners LLCJune 25, 2019spinal surgical system
Gamaya SA4.3investmentMahindra & Mahindra Farm Equipment SectorJune 17, 2019precision agriculture
Gatik4.5seedInnovation EndeavorsJune 6, 2019autonomous vehicle software
Greenzie LLC0.5seedJune 6, 2019robotic lawnmower
Inno TechnologySeries A+June 13, 2019drone inspections
Innoviz Technologies Ltd.38investmentChina Merchants Capital, Shenzhen Capital Group, New Alliance CapitalJune 10, 2019lidar, self-driving software
Kaiyi Technology14.47Series A+June 4, 2019self-driving cars
Leju Robotics36.21Series BAplus Capital, Shenzhen Press Group, TencentJune 20, 2019humanoid robot
Linkwiz8.3Series BINCJ Ltd.June 18, 2019control software
MegaRoboinvestmentRobert Bosch Venture Capital GmbHJune 29, 2019machine vision, AI
Monet Technologies Inc.2.6investmentSoftBank Group, Toyota Motor Corp.June 27, 2019self-driving cars
Mythic30Series B-1Valor Equity PartnersJune 12, 2019AI inference processors
NeuroBlade Ltd.23investmentCheck Point Software TechnologiesJune 26, 2019AI processors
Perceptual Robotics0.75seedMetavallon VCJune 19, 2019drone inspections
Q-Bot3.82investment EMV Capital, Foundamental, Wealth ClubJune 7, 2019construction
QBIT Robotics Corp.1.1investmentToyoda Gosei Co.June 11, 2019robotic grippers
ReWalk Robotics Ltd.5share saleJune 10, 2019exoskeletons
Rogo0.02investmentElevate Purdue Foundry FundJune 5, 2019precision agriculture
RootCloud72Series BHejun CapitalJune 17, 2019IIoT
RSVP.ai10Series AShenzhen Capital GroupJune 4, 2019AI
SafeAI5investmentAutotech VenturesJune 18, 2019autonomous mining, construction vehicles
Sense Photonics Inc.26Series AAcadia Woods, Congruent VenturesJune 12, 2019lidar for robots, cars
Skilancer SolarinvestmentAlfa VenturesJune 10, 2019solar panel cleaning robot
SwtichOn1seedpi VenturesJune 17, 2019applied AI, IoT
SyookinvestmentInflection Point VenturesJune 10, 2019IIoT

The number of mergers and acquisitions rose slightly in June 2019. Only one listed an amount — $25.7 million for AeroVironment’s purchase of Pulse Aerospace, whose drones have vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) capabilities.

CompanyAmt. (M$)Acquirer, partnerDateTechnology
AutoStoreThomas H. Lee Partners LPJune 20, 2019warehouse automation
BrainlabSmith & NephewJune 3, 2019surgical robots
Drive.aiApple Inc.June 26, 2019autonomous vehicles
kVAULJune 13, 2019self-driving car safety
Mighty AI Inc.Uber Technologies Inc.June 26, 2019AI data annotation, machine vision
Pulse Aerospace LLC25.7AeroVironment Inc.June 17, 2019VTOL drones
Riptide Autonomous SolutionsBAE Systems Inc.June 3, 2019unmanned underwater vehicle
Root RoboticsiRobot Corp.June 20, 2019educational

Self-driving cars get money for guidance

The biggest reported transaction in June 2019 was the $600 million funding of Aurora Innovation Inc. by Hyundai Motor Group, Kia Motors Corp., and investment management firm Baillie Gifford. Palo Alto, Calif.-based Aurora is developing the Driver hardware and software platform for autonomous vehicles.

While Aurora ended its relationship with Volkswagen Group, it raised $530 million from Amazon.com Inc. and Sequoia Capital in February and acquired Doppler lidar provider Blackmore Sensors and Analytics Inc. in May.

Speaking of lidar, other noteworthy investments into self-driving cars from last month include $38 million for Israel-based Innoviz Technologies Ltd. (which raised $132 million in March), $26 million for Sense Photonics Inc., and $25 million for BrightWay Vision Ltd. Whether it’s lidar or cameras, getting enough good data cheaply continues to be a challenge for automakers and tech firms.

Robotics investments Innoviz

Innoviz says its InnovizPro aftermarket lidar system is cheaper than alternatives. Source: PRNewsfoto/Innoviz

Boxbot raised $7.5 million in seed funding rom Artiman Ventures and Toyota AI Ventures for its self-driving delivery vehicles.

Safety was also a concern for robotics investors, with $7 million going to Edge Case Research (including from Aurora) and UL acquiring kVA. Equally important was software for self-driving cars, as demonstrated by $14.4 million for Kaiyi Technology, $4.5 million in seed funding and a Walmart partnership for Gatik, and Apple Inc.’s acquisition of Drive.ai.

Monet Technologies Inc., a joint venture of six Japanese automakers and SoftBank Corp., has raised a total of $2.6 million so far. Not one to be left behind, Uber Technologies Inc. acquired Mighty AI Inc., which is working on data annotation for training machine learning and self-driving vehicles.

Software, AI robotics investments

While we don’t cover business process automation or non-industrial applications of AI, there were several AI transactions in June in addition to those related to self-driving cars.

AI isn’t just hardware. AI processor makers Enflame and NeuroBlade Ltd. raised $43.39 million and $23 million, respectively. Mythic raised $30 million for embedded inference processors that it said promise to make vehicles and robots smarter and “deliver on the promise” of the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT).

In machine vision, AnyVision Interactive Technologies raised $74 million for its facial recognition systems, Deptrum raised $15 million for 3D vision, and MegaRobo raised an unspecified amount.

Clustar.ai raised Series A funding for AI and service robots, and RSVP.ai, which is applying deep natural language processing to medicine and a robotic toy, raised $10 million.

Alias Robotics raised $849,000 for cybersecurity software for robotic arms. Speaking of security, Cobalt Robotics raised $35 million for autonomous security robots, and BAE Systems Inc. acquired the unmanned underwater vehicle (UUV) unit of Riptide Autonomous Solutions.

Money for industrial automation

IIoT received funding this past month, with service provider RootCloud raising $72 million, battery-less sensor maker Everactive getting $30 million, and microlocation platform firm Syook raising an unspecified amount.

BlueRidge.AI received $1.8 million in seed funding led by DataTribe for its IIoT sensors and software for predictive maintenance. SwitchOn raised $1 million for its platform to help improve factory efficiency. Mitsubishi Electric Corp. took an equity stake in linear servo motor provider Akribis Systems Pte. Ltd.

Japan-based Linkwiz Inc., which makes control software for industrial robots, raised $8.3 million. EQT sold AutoStore, a provider of warehouse automation, to Thomas K. Lee Partners LP and other investors.

The energy industry also had a couple of robotics investments. SafeAI raised $5 million for autonomous vehicles for mining and construction, and Skilancer Solar got funding for its robot for cleaning solar panels.

U.K.-based Perceptual Robotics garnered $750,000 in seed funding as it develops autonomous aerial drones and computer vision algorithms for inspecting infrastructure such as wind turbines. On the construction side, Q-Bot raised $3.82 million for its insulation-spraying robot.

Out in the field, two precision agriculture companies got funding: $4.3 million for Gamaya SA and $20,000 for Rogo Ag LLC. Inno Technology closed a Series A round of financing for its drone inspection services.

Healthcare and service robotics investments roundup

Although the companies involved provided few figures, there was new funding for healthcare robotics in June 2019. Exoskeleton maker ReWalk Robotics Ltd. raised $5 million in a share sale.

Robot-assisted surgery was the focus of a few transactions, including $20,000 for C2 Medical Robotics Inc., an unspecified investment in Fusion Robotics, and Smith & Nephew’s acquisition of Brainlab.

Many people still think of humanoids when they think of service robots, and a duo of transactions could help realize those expectations. Leju Robotics raised $36.21 million for its high-end humanoid, QBIT Robotics Corp. raised $1.1 million for grippers intended to be like the human hand.

One area of expected demand for service robots is in restaurants. PAZZI, formerly known as EKIM, raised $11.2 million for its pizza-making robots. Dishcraft Robotics received $25 million for dishwashing robots.

iRobot acquired Root Robotics to add its STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) educational robots to its product line. On the heels of iRobot’s Terra, Greenzie LLC raised $500,000 for its robotic lawnmower.


Editors’ note: What defines robotics investments? The answer to this simple question is central in any attempt to quantify them with some degree of rigor. To make investment analyses consistent, repeatable, and valuable, it is critical to wring out as much subjectivity as possible during the evaluation process. This begins with a definition of terms and a description of assumptions.

Investors and investing
Investment should come from venture capital firms, corporate investment groups, angel investors, and other sources. Friends-and-family investments, government/non-governmental agency grants, and crowd-sourced funding are excluded.

Robotics and intelligent systems companies
Robotics companies must generate or expect to generate revenue from the production of robotics products (that sense, analyze, and act in the physical world), hardware or software subsystems and enabling technologies for robots, or services supporting robotics devices. For this analysis, autonomous vehicles (including technologies that support autonomous driving) and drones are considered robots, while 3D printers, CNC systems, and various types of “hard” automation are not.

Companies that are “robotic” in name only, or use the term “robot” to describe products and services that that do not enable or support devices acting in the physical world, are excluded. For example, this includes “software robots” and robotic process automation. Many firms have multiple locations in different countries. Company locations given in the analysis are based on the publicly listed headquarters in legal documents, press releases, etc.

Verification
Funding information is collected from a number of public and private sources. These include press releases from corporations and investment groups, corporate briefings, and association and industry publications. In addition, information comes from sessions at conferences and seminars, as well as during private interviews with industry representatives, investors, and others. Unverifiable investments are excluded.

About The Author

Eugene Demaitre

Eugene Demaitre is editorial director of the robotics group at WTWH Media. He was senior editor of The Robot Report from 2019 to 2020 and editorial director of Robotics 24/7 from 2020 to 2023. Prior to working at WTWH Media, Demaitre was an editor at BNA (now part of Bloomberg), Computerworld, TechTarget, and Robotics Business Review.

Demaitre has participated in robotics webcasts, podcasts, and conferences worldwide. He has a master's from the George Washington University and lives in the Boston area.

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