Glacier

Glacier is a San Francisco-based developer of AI-based sorting robots. The company’s robots use AI and robotics technology to sort over 30 different item types. The company claims that its robot has proven to be able to pick 45 items in a minute in real recycling facilities. The robots are also stated to cost 60% less than other robots, with a payback period of less than a year compared to the usual period of around 10 years its peers offer. In addition, Glacier notes that its robot requires minimal facility space to install, as the robot is less than half the size of the robots offered by competitors.

The company was operating in stealth mode until April 2022, when it unveiled its robotic system making the system available for purchase on a preorder basis. During the time, the company also reported that it installed its first commercial robot at a large recycling facility in California, sorting eight target materials across two conveyor belts simultaneously. Glacier states that it has more installations underway and is planning to scale production to meet demand.

In April 2022, the company raised USD 4.5 million in a seed funding round led by New Enterprise Associates (NEA) to primarily accelerate the commercial deployment of its AI-based robots.