Robotics Investments Recap: August 2018

View original at www.therobotreport.com

Robotics investments in August 2018 totaled at least $921.13 million worldwide with a total of 29 investments. Unverifiable robotics investments, including several in China, have been excluded from this recap. There also are several robotics investments in which the amounts were not disclosed. If we verify those amounts, we will update these figures. In July 2018, 34 robotics companies raised $1.6B worldwide , while 27 robotics startups raised $2.1 billion in June . As has often been the case in 2018, the bulk of robotics investments ($698.13 million) in August was made into companies developing hardware, services, and software for self-driving vehicles. As you see below, three of the five largest robotics investments in August were made into the self-driving sector. The logistics market was second with three robotics investments that totaled $144.5 million. More than half of the robotics investments total came from Toyota’s $500 million investment into Uber to jointly develop self-driving vehicles. Both companies are lagging behind in the self-driving race, so this partnership could be a boost for both parties. Uber plans to retrofit Toyota Sienna minivans with its autonomous technology and begin real-world testing in 2021. The USA was home to 17 robotics investments that totaled $823.4 million. China had the second-most robotics investments (4) for a total of at least $87 million, while Germany had three robotics investments, the UK had two robotics investments, and Austria, Denmark and South Africa each had one investment to round out the list. Below, in alphabetical order, are the verified robotics investments for August 2018. 5×5 Technologies (USA) – $4.4M Equity Round 5×5 Technologies, a St. Petersburg, Fla.-based startup, raised $4.4 millio n for its drone software and technology. Its system “expands the capabilities and improves the deliverables of commercial applications, while allowing for the full integration […]