Indian Startup Times’ Post

Report: Figure AI to Raise $675 Million for Human-Like Robots "...Figure AI, a startup developing human-like robots, is reportedly in the process of raising $675 million in funding, with a pre-money valuation of roughly $2 billion. Among the investors are Jeff Bezos’ Explore Investments, Microsoft, NVIDIA and an Amazon-affiliated fund, Bloomberg reported Friday (Feb. 23), citing unnamed sources. Other backers include Intel’s venture capital arm, LG Innotek, Samsung’s investment group, Parkway Venture Capital, Align Ventures, Ark Ventures Fund, Aliya Capital Partners, Tamarack Global, Boscolo Intervest and BOLD Capital Partners, according to the report. Another investor is OpenAI, which once considered acquiring Figure AI, the report said..." #robotics #humanoidrobots #humanlike PYMNTS Brett Adcock

🚀 Groundbreaking News from Skild AI! 🚀 Skild AI, an innovative AI robotics startup, has raised a staggering $300 million in a Series A funding round led by Lightspeed Venture Partners, Coatue , SoftBank Group International, and Jeff Bezos Ama (through Bezos Expeditions). This funding round also saw participation from prominent investors such as Felicis Ventures, Sequoia Capital, Menlo Ventures, General Catalyst, CRV , Amazon, SV Angel, and Carnegie Mellon University. 🏦🤖 About Skild AI: Founded in 2023 by former Carnegie Mellon University professors Abhinav Gupta and Deepak Pathak, Skild AI is revolutionizing the field of robotics by developing AI-powered brains for robots. With a focus on creating a general-purpose AI model, Skild AI’s technology can be integrated into various robots and scenarios, enabling tasks related to locomotion and navigation. Funding Details: The $300 million raised will be used to scale Skild AI’s business model, expand its training datasets, and support hiring across AI, robotics, engineering, operations, and security teams. This significant investment brings the Pittsburgh-based startup's valuation to $1.5 billion. Technological Breakthroughs: Skild AI claims its model is trained on significantly more data points than competing models—at least 1,000 times more. Unlike robots designed for specific applications, Skild AI’s model is a general-purpose AI that can be deployed across various industries, from handling tough conditions to performing complex tasks in homes and factories. Aspirants Space Encouragement: At Aspirants Space ( https://lnkd.in/gYkc-Ni8 ) , we are inspired by Skild AI’s vision to redefine the capabilities of machines. We encourage Skild AI to leverage our services to hire top aspirants who can help drive their groundbreaking innovations forward. Congratulations to Abhinav Gupta, Deepak Pathak, and the entire Skild AI team on this remarkable achievement! Source : https://lnkd.in/emjDznsw #AspirantsNews #FundingSuccess #AI #Robotics #Investment #Innovation #TechRevolution

Skild AI raises $300M to build a general-purpose, AI-powered brain for any robot TL;DR: - 🤖 The AI startup Skild AI, valued at $1.5 billion, is developing a versatile 'general purpose brain' for robots. - 💰 The company has secured $300 million in Series A funding to advance this technology, with investments from prominent venture capital firms like Lightspeed Venture Partners and Softbank, as well as individual investors such as Jeff Bezos. - 🧠 Skild AI's innovative AI brain is designed to be incorporated into a wide range of robots, improving their ability to handle various tasks across different environments, and aims to tackle labour shortages in sectors such as healthcare and manufacturing. Pretty cool idea if it works. This could be called "The Wizard of Oz" business strategy 😆. You heard it here first!

#keyprinciplesmarketingstrategy &"The Wizard of Oz" Plot Overview: #Dorothy, a young girl from #Kansas, is transported to the magical land of Oz. She meets three companions: the Scarecrow (seeking #brains), the Tin Man (seeking a #heart), and the Cowardly Lion (seeking #courage). Together, they journey to the #EmeraldCity to meet the #Wizard, hoping he can grant their wishes. Along the way, they face various #challenges and #learn valuable lessons. Ultimately, they #discover that they had the qualities they sought all along. //Is this about internal scholarship? 1. #Identifying Core Values (Dorothy’s #Realization): Dorothy realizes that "there's no place like home" and that she had the power to return all along: Companies often have untapped potential within their existing resources and values. Identifying and leveraging these core strengths can be more effective than seeking external solutions. For example, a business might find that its #strongcustomerrelationships and #brandloyalty are its greatest assets. 2. Teamwork and #Collaboration (The Journey with #Companions): Dorothy and her companions work together, each contributing unique strengths: Successful businesses harness the power of #diverseteams. Different perspectives and skills can solve problems more effectively. Collaboration fosters innovation and resilience, as demonstrated by companies like #Google and #Apple, where teamwork is a cornerstone of their corporate culture. 3. Facing Challenges and #Adaptability (The Obstacles Along the #Way): The group faces numerous obstacles, from the Wicked Witch to the dark forest: Businesses must navigate challenges and adapt to changing environments. Companies like #Netflix have thrived by adapting their business models to changing market conditions. 4. The Illusion of External Solutions (The Wizard’s #Revelation): The Wizard is revealed to be an ordinary man, and the characters realize they had what they needed all along: Businesses often look for quick fixes or external solutions (like consultants or new technologies) without recognizing their internal capabilities. Real growth comes from within, through continuous improvement and innovation. Companies should focus on developing internal talent and fostering a culture of learning. 5. Customer-Centric Approach (Listening to the Needs): The Wizard listens to the characters’ desires and helps them see their own potential: A customer-centric approach is vital in marketing. Understanding and addressing customer needs can drive loyalty and growth. Brands like #Amazon and #Zappos have built their success on prioritizing #customersatisfaction. #Navigate the complex landscape of the modern market. This #imaginative framework not only makes strategic concepts more accessible but also highlights the timeless nature of these principles. Catalina Kothe@IMAGINATIVE in Europe, Author 2024, July 11th.

Figure, a humanoid robotics startup, revealed that it has raised $675 million in a funding round led by an all-star cast of Big Tech investors. The business, which plans to commercialize a humanoid robot, has a $2.6 billion valuation. Microsoft, the OpenAI Startup Fund, Nvidia, Jeff Bezos' Bezos Expeditions, Parkway Venture Capital, Intel Capital, Align Ventures, and ARK Invest are among the investors in the most recent round of funding. With all of these high-profile investors, Figure is now Big Tech's preferred humanoid robotics firm. The industrial industry is also taking notice. In January, Figure announced a business arrangement with BMW to have robots operate on its production line. "In conjunction with this investment," the press release reads, "Figure and OpenAI have entered into a collaboration agreement to develop next generation AI models for humanoid robots, combining OpenAI's research with Figure's deep understanding of robotics hardware and software. The collaboration aims to help accelerate Figure's commercial timeline by enhancing the capabilities of humanoid robots to process and reason from language." #openai #figure #robotics #ai

Tencent-backed robot-maker UBTech Robotics share price has increased +39% in 3 days after being added to the Hong Long Stock Connect program, allowing China Mainland investors to buy Hong Kong stocks directly.  UBTech robotics market value is currently at $11.7 billion.  In 2023 December, UBTech Robotics IPO in Hong Kong with $4.8 billion market value. Founder & CEO James Zhou Jian became a billionaire with the IPO. Read - https://lnkd.in/g-g5Aw7t follow Caproasia | Driving the future of Asia Tencent-backed robot-maker UBTech Robotics share price has increased +39% in 3 days (12/3/24 to 15/3/24) after being added to the Hong Long Stock Connect program, allowing China Mainland investors to buy Hong Kong stocks directly.  UBTech robotics market value is currently at $11.7 billion (15/3/24).  In 2023 December, UBTech Robotics IPO (29/12/23) in Hong Kong with $4.8 billion market value (HKD 90, HKD 37.6 billion market value), with founder & CEO James Zhou Jian becoming a billionaire with the IPO.  UBTech Robotics was founded by CEO James Zhou Jian with 78% shareholding and RMB 10 million registered capital.  UBTech Robotics: “Many shareholder representatives of UBTECH Robotics also attended the listing ceremony, including Xia Zuoquan, Co-founder of BYD, Kuang Ziping, Founding Managing Partner of Qiming Venture Partners, and Ying Wei, Managing Partner of CDH Investments, among other prominent investors. After the IPO, Zhou Jian, CTO Xiong Youjun, angel investor Xia Zuoquan and others jointly held 51.17% of the shares as persons acting in concert. Xia Zuoquan is still the largest individual shareholder of UBTECH Robotics apart from the Founder. Tencent is the largest institutional shareholder with holding 6.15% of the shares, while Qiming Venture Partners holds 5.67% of the shares and remains the second largest institutional shareholder.”  James Zhou, founder, Chairman & CEO of Ubtech: “Since our inception, Ubtech has been committed to the vision of ‘introducing intelligent robots into every household’. Over the past decade, we’ve evolved into a trailblazer in humanoid robots and a leader in smart service robots. Following the listing, our dedication to innovation and technology will remain unwavering. We aim to continually enhance our full-stack humanoid robot technological capabilities, using innovation to address critical societal challenges and fulfill essential societal needs, thereby creating sustainable long-term societal value.”

While there has been some pullback in investment into the supply chain and industrial-focused startups 👨🏭 amid the broader #VC investment slowdown, startups developing the #AI brains behind robotics 🤖 have remained 🔥 , bolstering an otherwise slow dealmaking landscape. According to PitchBook data, #warehousing-tech startups raised $298M in the 1H of 2024, compared to $451M in the 1H of 2023. But a major % of that nearly $300M has gone into the practical application for #generativeAI in industrial settings. Covariant, co-founded by OpenAI research veterans, raised $220M for its warehouse robotics picking technology. Then, earlier this month, Standard Bots, a developer of #robotic arms for #manufacturing, raised a $63M Series B led by General Catalyst, and yesterday, Tesla's former head of humanoid robotics came out of stealth to launch Mytra with $78M in funding. More here in PitchBook ➡ #deeptech

𝐒𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐭𝐮𝐚𝐫𝐲 𝐀𝐈 𝐒𝐞𝐜𝐮𝐫𝐞𝐬 𝐂𝐚𝐧𝐚𝐝𝐢𝐚𝐧 𝐅𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐕𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐥𝐞 𝐇𝐮𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐨𝐢𝐝 𝐃𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐨𝐩𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 🤖 A company that has caught my eye this month with its impressive investment strides is Sanctuary AI. Recently, this Vancouver-based innovator secured a significant funding milestone, totalling $140 million, which includes $30 million contribution from the Strategic Innovation Fund (SIF) by the government of Canada in November 2022. Founded in 2018, Sanctuary AI is making advancements in embedded AI, dual-arm functionality, hand-eye coordination, perception, and task planning. Led by co-founder Olivia Norton and a team with expertise from tech giants like Amazon, Microsoft, and SoftBank Robotics, the company is leading the charge in integrating AGI into practical applications. Their recent collaboration with Magna International resulted in the seventh-generation Phoenix robot, which completed 110 tasks during a successful pilot deployment at a Mark’s retail store in British Columbia. Sanctuary AI aims to revolutionize industries by enhancing safety, efficiency, and sustainability through AGI, serving a diverse client base across North America and beyond. 💡 𝘓𝘰𝘰𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘸𝘢𝘳𝘥, 𝘩𝘰𝘸 𝘥𝘰 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘢𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘤𝘪𝘱𝘢𝘵𝘦 𝘈𝘎𝘐 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘪𝘮𝘱𝘢𝘤𝘵 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘪𝘯𝘥𝘶𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘺, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘰𝘱𝘱𝘰𝘳𝘵𝘶𝘯𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘦𝘴 𝘰𝘳 𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘯𝘨𝘦𝘴 𝘥𝘰 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘦𝘦? #SanctuaryAI #AIinnovation #TechInvestments #RobotRevolution #CanadianTech

Snapshot of the last quarter in robotics VC - generalist tech getting more involved, larger and later-stage rounds building momentum for future robotics exits, and an interesting parallel between humanoids and past hype cycles for autonomous vehicles and drones. We’ll be diving into it all at Robotics Invest !

Investing in Robotics Startups: Trends and Insights https://lnkd.in/dSj-JJBa Dive into the future of innovation as we unpack the trends and insights driving investment in robotics startups. From artificial intelligence advancements to sustainable solutions, our guide empowers you to navigate the dynamic landscape of those projects of this changing landscape and choose products that have expertise in cutting-edge automation. #RoboticsInvesting #TechInnovation #StartupTrends #AIandRobotics #VentureCapital #IW #IWNews #IndustryWired