One of the priorities of Internet Initiatives Development Fund (IIDF) is financial and expert support to startups in their early development stages. IIDF has invested in 402 tech startups. The Fund invests between 2.5M and 324M rubles in tech companies at early stages, i.e. pre-seed, seed and series A.  The Fund also plans to launch a variety of educational programs and to perform a number of legislative initiatives. These steps will help to increase transparency and ensure effective cooperation between entrepreneurs, investors, and state agencies in the field of venture capital investments in Russian online-projects. IIDF's mission is to make Russia more attractive for tech enterpreneurs. They want to make the Russian venture market understandable and accessible to anyone who wants to begin or grow their Internet businesses.

Internet Initiatives Development Fund (IIDF)

MSP Bank

Promobot

Promobot company is a manufacturer of autonomous service robots for business. Production of Promobot robots includes the development of mechatronics, electronics and software, manufacturing of robot components and its complete assembly. Promobot robots work in places of increased concentration of people. The robot performs the real employee finctions. The robot answers questions about the company’s products and performs specific business tasks, as well as supports integration with external devices and systems. Promobot is the largest service robotics manufacturer in Europe. We work in the fields of mechatronics, AI, and neural networks. Our developments include autonomous navigation, dialogue systems, manufacturing of artificial skin and muscles. Promobot creates humanoid and service robots, while also engaging with human-machine interaction as a whole.

Promobot is a manufacturer of autonomous customer service robots used for helping with navigation, answering questions, and presenting promotional material. The robot is designed for retail, banking, hospitality, and entertainment venues. In a retail setting, Promobot can be integrated with databases of customer data to issue loyalty cards and offers and can read the barcodes of products to give additional information. Promobot is equipped with facial recognition, speech recognition, a moving body, and head, and integrates with external systems and devices.

Speeding up sales, cutting costs, and preparing for the future of retail—whether brick-and-mortar or online.

Retail Industry Robots

Promobot is a leading service robotics company specializing in the development and manufacturing of autonomous humanoid robots for businesses. Its flagship product, the Promobot V.4, is an advanced robot capable of interacting with customers, providing consultations, and performing various tasks autonomously without human intervention.

Promobot robots to appear in shopping malls in Mexico

PROMOBOT

Startup Promobot, offers $200,000 to create robots with your face and voice

Promobot Face Registration

Promotional Service Robots To Buy or Hire

10 Exciting Humanoid Robotic Companies To Watch in 2024

Revolutionizing efficiency by redefining human interactions

Humanoid Robots

Promobot is a manufacturer of autonomous customer service robots used for helping with navigation, answering questions, and presenting promotional material. The robot is designed for retail, banking, hospitality, and entertainment venues. In a retail setting, Promobot can be integrated with databases of customer data to issue loyalty cards and offers and can read the barcodes of products to give additional information. Promobot is equipped with facial recognition, speech recognition, a moving body, and head, and integrates with external systems and devices.Key customers and partnershipsThe company operates through a network of 50+ agents, dealers, and distributors and has deployed over 1,500 robots in 44+ countries as of August 2024. Customers include Ikea, the Dubai Mall, and Moscow metro.In June 2018, the company partnered with Intellitronix to give exclusive rights to market Promobot in the US. In March 2021, Promobot partnered with computer vision solution provider Smart Engines to develop a system that gathers data from ID documents. The company also partnered with emotion AI developer Neurodata Lab to enable the robot to better interact with humans (October 2018).

RADAR provides an integrated hardware and software solution powered by RFID with computer vision technology for automated inventory monitoring and autonomous checkout for retailers. The company’s technology was developed in-house, using proprietary signal processing technology and location algorithms.RADAR’s inventory monitoring solution provides real-time inventory insights and can reportedly track inventory location with slight movements. It enables retailers to track customer interactions with inventory, down to item levels.&nbsp;RADAR’s software also uses computer vision and RFID to monitor customer-product interactions within the stores and maintains a virtual cart of items picked up by customers, facilitating automated checkouts.&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;Key customers and partnershipsAs of August 2023, the company had implemented its platform across over 1,000 stores.

RADAR

Based in France, Exotec develops an automated order picking system named “Skypod” for retailers, which is capable of prioritizing orders for optimum responsiveness by automating the movement of goods from bin storage to workstation.The company’s Deepsky software uses mathematical models to control its fleet of bin-carrying robots to ensure continuous activity. Deepsky software can be integrated with Exotec’s software and third-party automation equipment. It can also collect data for improved performance visibility. The Skypod system can be integrated with the rest of the warehouse logistics chain or used as a standalone fulfillment system.Key customers and partnershipsExotec’s retail customer partnerships include retailers such as Carrefour, Ariat, Supplyweb, Cdiscount, and Monoprix. As of April 2023, Exotec had deployed 5,000 Skypod robots.Exotec partnered with Advanced Handling Systems (AHS), a system integrator and provider of material handling and storage systems, to deploy Exotec’s solution in North America. AHS has deployed Exotec’s solutions for Ariat International, Comoto Holdings, and Gymshark.

Exotec 

Chile-based Zippedi provides autonomous mobile robots for inventory fulfillment and store management via its robot Bruno. The robot is 70 centimeters tall, weighs 30 kilos, and uses&nbsp; AI to detect insufficient inventory, incorrect price labels, and misplaced items. Bruno is equipped with high-resolution cameras and various sensors for generating real-time information.&nbsp;In July 2020, the company introduced more features to help retailers better manage their inventory by adding a mapping feature for third-party platforms enabling them to identify the specific aisle to pick up items using their app. Zippedi also allows integration with third-party platforms. In January 2023, Zippedi launched Bruno App to enable retail employees to manage Bruno using their mobile devices.Key customers and partnershipsAs of January 2023, Zippedi’s Robots were available in 200 stores across North and South America, with plans to expand deployment to Australia and Germany. Bruno was initially deployed in five supermarkets in Chile in October 2019, including Cencosud,&nbsp; Tottus, Home Center, and Walmart.In <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/29105">April 2024</a>, Zippedi teamed up with supermarket chain SMU to deploy autonomous mobile robots (AMR) at Unimarc supermarkets. Zippedi planned to roll out the technology in six Unimarc stores across Chile.

Zippedi

BrainCorp is a software development company that specializes in AI systems for the autonomous robotic industry. The company develops specialized operating systems for autonomous robots, integrated with advanced machine learning and computer vision systems. The company’s pre-product work was doing R&amp;D for Qualcomm Inc. and the US Defense Advanced Research Project Agency (DARPA).&nbsp;&nbsp;Brain Corp’s key product offerings solutions include autonomous inventory management, which utilizes computer vision and RFID technology to monitor shelf inventory and generate inventory insights; “BrainOS Inventory Insights,” the company’s proprietary in-store inventory analytics solution; and inventory scanning robots to generate actionable inventory insights such as shelf-restock alerting, price tag compliance alerting, planogram compliance, and task management automation. The comapny’s solution utilizes Google Cloud's Vertex AI Vision models. In <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/26301">January 2024</a>, Brain Corp announced the launch of its “BrainOS InventoryAI Suite,” a suite of AI-powered inventory analytics solutions that enables retailers to integrate inventory intelligence into their operations.Brain Corp’s Floor Care solutions utilize advanced cameras and LiDAR sensors to manage fleets of floor cleaning autonomous mobile robots. Brain Corp’s technology also powers Inventory Scan, a floor-scrubber robot integrated with shelf analytics technology developed in partnership with Tennant. In January 2022, the company introduced BrainOS Mobile, which directly connects operators and managers with their BrainOS-powered robotic fleets. In September 2023, it launched <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/21622">Site Maps,</a> a feature that provides visual representations of a facility's environment and insights into site operations.Key customers and partnershipsAs of March 2024, BrainCorp had over 32,000 robots subscribed to the company’s BrainOS platform across autonomous floor scrubbing, autonomous vacuuming, and autonomous inventory scanning segments. In October 2022, Sam’s Club deployed floor-scrubber robots integrated with Brain Corp’s inventory scanner technology across 600 stores.&nbsp;BrainCorp’s operating systems power 1) Whiz, an autonomous vacuum cleaner sold by Softbank robotics and ICE Robotics, 2) Inventory Scan, and 3) <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/26301">Dane AIR</a>; an autonomous inventory scanning robot developed by Dane Technologies.&nbsp;It also announced the adoption of <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/10838?industryIds=17">Google Cloud</a> in May 2022 as the core technical infrastructure to manage its autonomous mobile robot (AMR) fleets to offer data integration and reporting capabilities to users. The company also has a partnership with JRTech Solutions, Canada's largest Electronic Shelf Labels (ESL) provider, to distribute BrainOS Sense Suite in Canada (<a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/35635">October 2024</a>).

Brain Corp

Cosmose offers a customer analytics platform that helps in analyzing and predicting customer off-line shopping behavior. The company keeps track of the offline shopping behavior of over 1 billion people, using artificial neural networks to predict who is likely to visit a store. The platform provides insights on customers that did not make a purchase, window shoppers, and the customers that went into the fitting room (in fashion retail) but did not buy anything. Users can also connect with competitors’ customers as well to analyze their behavior. In order to protect the privacy of consumers, the company uses alphanumeric IDs named OMNIcookies which do not collect personal information. The company has offices in Europe and Asia.Key customers and partnershipsThe majority of the company’s customers are from China and Japan which includes Walmart, Marriott, Samsung, LVMH, and Shu Uemura. As of April 2023, Cosmose’s technology was used in over 20 million venues in Asia.In April 2023, Cosmose announced plans to apply Web3 principles to advance the company’s retail ecosystem as part of a strategic partnership with NEAR Foundation, a Web3 technology company.

Cosmose

Companies developing robots that offer directions, assist with queries, and provide in-store entertainment to customers while providing insights on customer behavior. 

Companies that develop autonomous cleaning and sanitation robots for use in retail floors. 

Companies developing stock counting, price tagging, and consumer data aggregation robots mainly targeted for use in supermarkets and department stores.  

Companies developing robotic technology for automated online order preparation solutions and micro-warehousing centers designed to assist SME retailers with order fulfillment.

Companies in “customer analytics” and “inventory management” often use technologies such as AI and ML

Almost all companies operating in micro fulfillment and floor cleaning segments use robotics

Companies in "customer analytics" and "inventory management" often makes use of technologies such as IoT

Compared with 4G, 5G is better suited for heavy density of professional service robots

Promobot is a leading service robotics company specializing in the development and manufacturing of autonomous humanoid robots for businesses. Its flagship product, the Promobot V.4, is an advanced robot capable of interacting with customers, providing consultations, and performing various tasks autonomously without human intervention.
Promobot's robots leverage cutting-edge technologies such as artificial intelligence, speech recognition, facial recognition, and autonomous navigation to deliver seamless and efficient service. They are designed to replace human staff in roles such as promoters, advisors, guides, and concierges, offering businesses a cost-effective and innovative solution.
Promobot's business model revolves around manufacturing and supplying humanoid robots to clients across various industries. The company's robots are equipped with advanced AI capabilities, enabling them to engage in natural conversations, understand queries, and provide relevant information to customers.
Key customers and partnerships
In March 2023, Promobot secured a partnership with Dinero Operado, a Mexican event operator, to supply service robots for use in shopping malls and promotional events in Mexico City. This marked the company's entry into the North American market, with plans to potentially deploy 10 more robots in the country by the end of 2023, contingent on the recovery of the offline events market.
Promobot's robots have found widespread adoption across various industries, serving customers from diverse sectors. As of 2024, the company's robots are operational in over 40 countries, catering to clients in retail, hospitality, education, healthcare, and tourism, among others.

UBTech Robotics is a Shenzhen-based company that manufactures humanoid robots for various applications. UBTech's product lineup includes educational robots, logistics robots, and intelligent service robots customized for specific industries like manufacturing and healthcare.Their humanoid robots are equipped with capabilities like sensing, voice interaction, navigation, greeting visitors, and performing tasks such as walking and grasping objects. Key products include the Alpha small humanoid launched in 2014, the Walker humanoid service robot introduced in 2018 for general services, and the upgraded Walker X released in 2021.

UBTech Robotics

Figure is a robotics startup founded with the goal of developing the world's first commercially viable general-purpose humanoid robot called Figure 01. The company is led by CEO Brett Adcock and CTO Jerry Pratt, a renowned roboticist who previously worked at the Florida Institute for Human and Machine Cognition (IHMC).
Figure one is designed to mimic the human form, standing five feet six inches tall, weighing 130 pounds, and capable of lifting up to 44 pounds. It features 41 degrees of freedom, including seven in each arm, six in each leg, and a six degree-of-freedom hand with an opposable thumb. The robot is fully electric, running for five hours on a single charge.
Figure one aims to address labor shortages by assisting human workers in manufacturing, logistics, warehousing, and retail settings. It leverages advanced AI and machine learning capabilities to perform tasks autonomously, enabling it to navigate complex environments, grasp objects, and manipulate tools. In March 2024, Figure demonstrated the robot handling warehouse tasks such as picking up bins and placing them on a conveyor belt.
Key customers and partnerships
In January 2024, Figure announced a commercial agreement with BMW to deploy its robots on the automaker's production lines.
Figure has also entered a collaboration with OpenAI to develop next-generation AI models specifically for humanoid robots. This partnership aims to enhance Figure 01's ability to process and reason from language, accelerating its commercial deployment timeline.

Figure

Agile Robots AG is a robotics company founded as a spin-off from the German Aerospace Center (DLR). The company's mission is to bridge the gap between artificial intelligence (AI) and robotics by developing systems that combine state-of-the-art force-moment sensing and world-leading image processing technology. This unique combination enables Agile Robots to provide intelligent, user-friendly, and affordable robotic solutions that facilitate safe human-robot interaction.
Agile Robots offers a range of robotic arms for industrial applications as well as research and educational purposes. Their product portfolio includes industrial robot arms, collaborative robot (cobot) arms, robotic software, an anthropomorphic robotic hand, and an educational platform called Aini that teaches foundational concepts in logic, computer science, mathematics, and physics by enabling students aged eight to 15 to program and operate robots.
In November 2023, Agile Robots acquired Franka Emika GmbH, a German robotics company known for its Panda collaborative robot arm. The acquisition, valued at over 30 million euros, allowed Agile Robots to expand its operations, retain Franka Emika's 100-person workforce, and strengthen its position in the robotics industry.
As of November 2022, Agile Robots had over 1,000 employees worldwide. The company established a production facility in Kaufbeuren, Germany, with plans to hire an additional 60 employees and manufacture 2,500 robots per year within a few years.
Key customers and partnerships
In October 2023, Agile Robots gained idealworks, a subsidiary of the BMW Group focused on industrial automation, as a majority shareholder through a Series A financing round. This strategic partnership enables the joint development of new solutions and technologies, as well as access to further branches and markets. Agile Robots and idealworks complement each other in their industry expertise and range of solutions, with idealworks bringing in the BMW Group as one of its largest customers and its industrial know-how.

Agile Robots

SoftBank Robotics is a leading provider of robotic solutions for various industries, including food service, cleaning, and logistics. The company's core offerings include autonomous cleaning robots like the Whiz series and Scrubber 50 Pro, tray delivery robots such as Servi, Keenbot T5, and Delivery X1, as well as logistics automation solutions leveraging technologies like AutoStore's high-density automated warehousing system.
SoftBank Robotics' cleaning robots, powered by artificial intelligence, can efficiently clean and disinfect floors while detecting and removing stains. The tray delivery robots are designed to optimize operations in the food service industry, reducing staff workload by autonomously transporting food and drinks between tables and the kitchen. The company's logistics solutions aim to optimize warehouse operations by maximizing space utilization and enabling efficient storage and retrieval of goods.

SoftBank Robotics

Agility Robotics is a company that develops and manufactures bipedal robots for industrial and commercial applications. Its flagship product is Digit, a human-sized bipedal robot designed to perform tasks such as moving heavy materials, picking up and putting down objects, and navigating through human-centric environments like warehouses and factories.
Digit is built on the principles of the spring-mass model, which replicates the dynamics of animal gaits to achieve efficient and natural bipedal locomotion. The robot's legs are modeled after an ostrich's, with a short thigh segment and long lower legs, enabling it to walk and run with remarkable energy economy. Digit is equipped with sensors and perception systems that allow it to operate autonomously or with human guidance.
Agility Robotics' technology has its roots in research conducted at Oregon State University, where the company was spun out in 2015. The company's early work focused on developing the ATRIAS and Cassie robots, which demonstrated the feasibility of using the spring-mass model for bipedal locomotion. Building on this research, Agility Robotics has commercialized the technology through Digit, which it began mass-producing in 2023.

Agility Robotics

Companies that develop full humanoid robots for research and education purposes in various fields such as science, technology, and academia

Companies that develop full humanoid robots for personal support and caregiving to assist individuals in their homes with tasks like cleaning, cooking, and providing companionship; includes applications in the medical and healthcare industry, such as assisting with surgeries, rehabilitation, or acting as companions for patients

Companies that develop full humanoid robots for entertainment purposes and social interaction. They can be used in public spaces, events, or as personal companions

Companies that develop full humanoid robots for commercial services across various industries such as retail, hospitality, and customer service

Companies that develop full humanoid robots for industrial and manufacturing settings to perform tasks such as assembly, material handling, and quality control

Companies that develop software and hardware that enable humanoid robot technology (e.g., sensors, grippers, cognitive architecture, robotic applications/software, etc.)

Uses IoT, AI/ML, and robotics to mimic human actions, kinesthetics, and mental state

Most of the companies in the industry use robotics technology to develop humanoid robots

Promobot

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