Milpitas-based RoboForce, an AI robotics startup building the world’s most advanced Robo-Labor system, has grabbed $10 million in early-stage funding. The investment came from Nobel Laureate Myron Scholes, co-founder of Softbank VC (SBVC) Gary Rieschel, and Carnegie Mellon University.
With this funding, RoboForce has emerged from stealth. Also, the company will deploy its Robo-Labor this year for early customers, for whom robots can fulfill labour shortages in harsh outdoor conditions, complete the most hazardous tasks in dangerous work environments, and maximise project efficiency and cost savings.
Who is behind the company?
RoboForce was founded in 2023 by Leo Ma, previously a co-founder of the Nasdaq-listed company Cyngn and worked at Baidu USA. The team comprises top tech leaders from CMU Robotics, Michigan Robotics, Amazon Robotics, Tesla Robotics, Google, Waymo, Apple and Microsoft.
First-of-its-kind AI robotic workforce system
With 1mm accuracy in performing fine motor skills like picking, placing, pressing, twisting and connecting, the Robo-Labor has all-terrain mobility, precise manipulation, learning, communication, and safety compliance capabilities. The company’s robots are unparalleled in the emerging field of AI robotics.
As per the company, these systems deliver $300K worth of value at only $100K, operating 24/7 with the same or higher efficiency as human labour. Deployed in just four weeks, compared to the 52-week recruitment and training process that delays 43% of projects, these systems save 90% of the time.
Use cases
The end use applications for RoboForce are diverse. The startup’s target industries include solar, space, manufacturing and mining, sectors which the U.S. Bureau of Labor found were among the most impacted by injuries and loss of labour due to unsafe summer temperatures and other work-related hazards.
RoboForce’s first customers are developing commercial and utility-scale solar projects and are struggling to hire and retain skilled workers, due to extreme temperatures in remote locations where most large scale solar projects are being developed.
By providing robots that can withstand harsh and extreme environmental conditions throughout a years-long project duration, the company is helping solar developers complete the construction and installation of large-scale projects faster or on schedule, and at a reduced cost. This way, it pushes critical sustainability and renewable energy developments across the finish line faster than ever for immediate impact.
“At RoboForce, our mission is to create robotics for humanity to boost the world’s economy with the power of Robo-Labor. We are building the most advanced Robo-Labor system to take on the most tedious, physically demanding, and dangerous jobs that humans shouldn’t have to do. We are dedicated to creating the leading high-intelligence ‘super worker’ system to redefine the future of industrial labour, making it safer, efficient, and more sustainable,” said Leo Ma, founder and CEO, RoboForce.
“Labour shortages and decarbonisation are the two largest trends that are happening at a global scale, and RoboForce is uniquely positioned to address both,” said Myron Scholes, Nobel Laureate for Economic Science, investor, and the Frank E. Buck Professor of Finance, Emeritus at Stanford’s Graduate School of Business. “RoboForce has a great team working on innovation very valuable for the world.”
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