Early-stage venture capital fund focused on investments in technology companies within the supply chain, manufacturing and digital industrial sectors

Schematic Ventures

Lerer Hippeau is a seed-stage venture capital firm founded and operated in New York City. Since 2010, they have invested in entrepreneurs with great ideas who aren’t afraid to do hard things. Their portfolio includes more than 400 enterprise and consumer businesses including Guideline, MIRROR, Blockdaemon, K Health, Allbirds, ZenBusiness, and Thrive. They’re experienced operators who invest early and stay in their founders’ corners as they build iconic companies.

Lerer Hippeau

ff Venture Capital (ffVC) is a technology venture capital firm investing in some of the strongest growth areas to date, including cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, machine learning, drones, enterprise cloud software, and crowdfunding. The firm identifies and invests in technology and technology-enabled companies at its inception across geographies and emerging industries.  With three partners and an acceleration team of 20+ investment and operations professionals, ffVC actively participates with founders to develop products, target markets, and accelerate growth. Since 2008, ffVC has invested in over 100 companies and has helped to create companies with an aggregate market value exceeding $6 billion.

ff Venture Capital

First Star partners with entrepreneurs solving real-world problems using data and machine learning, focusing on applications of frontier technologies such as AI, computational biotech, connected sensors, AR/VR, and blockchain. We believe in investing with conviction in visionary, technical founders inventing the future. Drawing on our experience and network of strategic partners across industries and regions, we help startups think big and grow fast.

First Star Ventures

Dynamo is a seed-stage supply chain and mobility fund that supports founding teams building market-defining companies. The firm focuses on pre-seed and seed-stage opportunities and invests only in enterprise business models. Dynamo Ventures was founded in 2016 and is based in Chattanooga, Tennessee, United States.

Dynamo

Pritzker Group Venture Capital helps entrepreneurs build market-leading technology companies at every stage of their growth. Since its founding in 1996, the firm has worked side-by-side with entrepreneurs at more than 100 companies, building partnerships based on trust and integrity. Its proprietary capital structure allows for tremendous flexibility, and our experienced team of investment professionals and entrepreneurs offers companies a vast network of strategic relationships and guidance.  Successful exits in recent years include Fleetmatics (NYSE: FLTX), SinglePlatform (acquired by Constant Contact), Zinch (acquired by Chegg), Playdom (acquired by Disney), LeftHand Networks (acquired by Hewlett-Packard), and TicketsNow (acquired by Ticketmaster).

Pritzker Group Venture Capital

Zebra Ventures is the strategic investment arm of Zebra Technologies. Zebra Ventures brings the discipline of a financial investor and the value of a strategic partner. Zebra Ventures invests in early stage companies that represent a true partnership and extend Zebra's vision of Enterprise Asset Intelligence to improve productivity and the customer experience in the retail, transportation and logistics, warehousing and manufacturing, and healthcare verticals that the company serves.  Working closely with its portfolio companies, Zebra Ventures provides venture capital to sustain a business through the startup, growth, and expansion phases. Perhaps more importantly, Zebra Ventures brings deep domain expertise, unique access to its engineering resources, and a vast distribution network to help portfolio companies deliver on their growth initiatives.

Zebra Ventures

T Fund is a venture fund that began operation in 2018, with its headquarters in San Francisco in California. It seeks to invest in the deep tech, industrial solutions, digital media/consumer mobile and hardware tech sectors. It strives to help entrepreneurs build independent companies transforming the world by leveraging its and TCL's industrial distribution and partnership resources.

T Fund

For US-based startups, identifying and accessing strategic partners in Asia can sometimes seem like a daunting challenge. With TransLink Capital’s support, guidance, and relationships with the most significant companies in Asia, our portfolio companies can develop the necessary long-term partnerships to transform their businesses and expand in Asia and beyond.

Translink Capital

McRock Capital specializes in growth capital and later-stage investing in intelligent infrastructure companies. It focuses on power, water, oil and gas, transportation, and building efficiency sectors. It seeks to make investments in companies offering Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) software and sensor solutions for grid automation, digital oilfield, advanced manufacturing, and smart city markets. The firm targets large industrial and internet markets and the intersection of sensors and software in large industrial markets and seeks companies involved in innovative software, hardware, and device integrated solutions.  Scott McDonald and Whitney Rockley founded McRock Capital in March 2012. It has its headquarters in Toronto, Ontario with an additional office in Calgary therein.

McRock Capital

Kensington Capital Partners Limited is a leading Canadian private equity investor, founded in 1996.  To date, Kensington has committed over $825 million to private equity investments through its private equity programs.  Institutional investors such as pension funds and professional asset managers, as well as high net-worth individuals and retail investors, hold Kensington funds in their portfolios.

Kensington Capital Partners Limited

BMW i Ventures invests in cutting-edge solutions focusing on BMW’s current and future business in the technology and customer and service space. BMW i Ventures invests in high-performance companies and helps them execute quickly by delivering agile precision—ensuring real-world impact on hardware, software, sustainability across manufacturing, transportation, and services.

BMW i Ventures

CEAS Investments is a single-family office that makes long term investments with a capital of a top venture firm. Its portfolio companies include Fivetran, FourKites, SqlDBM, Marqii, and Dataminr. It was founded in 2013 and is based in Delray Beach, Florida.

CEAS Investments

Perot Jain, L.P. is a Dallas-based venture capital firm focused on seed and early stage investments. Their firm was founded by long-term business partners, Ross Perot Jr. and Anurag Jain, in 2014. They not only set out to understand how technology would shape the business landscape over the next 20 years, but they also wanted to take an active role in building these industry transforming companies. Their mission is to provide timely capital and resources while delivering the highest quality strategic advice to assist their portfolio companies in achieving their maximum potential. Their unique ability to leverage their affiliated operating entities differentiates us from their peers and helps drive early customer traction and accelerated growth for their partners. Their goal is to become the premier early stage focused venture capital firm in the Southwest.

Perot Jain

Based in Austin, TX, the fund leads and co-leads early stage investments across four core focus areas: construction, manufacturing, transport & logistics, and alternative energy. Ironspring Ventures is committed to partnering with world-class founders who are changing the way we design, build, distribute, and operate across the industrial supply chain and adds differentiated value through its network of premier industrial operating companies and subject matter experts.

Ironspring Ventures

Scale Venture Partners is a seed-stage venture capital firm focused on intelligent business software with a Scaling Platform that has helped companies like Box, Bill.com, Hubspot, Docusign, JFrog, and WalkMe move from founder-led growth to a repeatable go-to-market machine. ScaleVP partners with entrepreneurs to support accelerated growth from the first customer to market leadership.

Scale Venture Partners

Top Tier Capital Partners is a venture capital specialist managing niche-focused funds of funds, secondaries, and co-investment strategies. The firm makes primary and secondary investments in venture capital funds and co-invest in select portfolio companies.

Top Tier Capital Partners

Tyche Partners is a venture capital firm that focuses on investments in early and early growth stage companies with disruptive technologies. We thrive to invest in and work with entrepreneurs with big dreams and drive to change the world. We look for companies with products that can achieve 10X performance improvement and have the potential of redefine the industry landscape. We invest primarily in HardTech sectors. Some of the sectors where we have invested include: * Cloud and enterprise infrastructure * Internet of Things (IoT) and wearable devices * 3D printing and robotics * Autonomous driving and AR/VR * Semiconductors * SpaceTech We invest and collaborate with tier-one VCs. Our team work closely with entrepreneurs offering strategic and operational support and guidance and helping them to building great and exciting companies.

Tyche Partners

ROBO Global is a robotics, artificial intelligence and healthcare technology company.

ROBO Global

Leonis Capital focus on seeding intelligent economy companies that are powered by AI and Web3 protocols.

Leonis Capital

Plus One Robotics

Plus One Robotics develops a parcel-handling robotics platform for logistics applications. Plus One's intelligent solutions combine computer vision, AI, and supervised autonomy to pick parcels for the Global 100's leading logistics and e-commerce companies. Plus One's AI-powered software determines the precise movement of millions of SKUs in routine tasks like sortation and depalletizing. Plus One focuses on logistics application development and logistics robot deployment for material handling tasks in warehouses and distribution centers.

<div>Plus One Robotics develops a parcel-handling robotics platform powered by computer vision, AI, and supervised autonomy. Plus One Robotics&rsquo; product offering includes,</div>

AI, robotics, and IoT to streamline the flow of goods and information

Logistics Tech

Plus One Robotics Accelerates Market Expansion with New Leadership and Strategic Focus

FANUC Corporation

To deploy on e-commerce fulfillment automation ( this fulfillment system incorporates a FANUC robot and Plus One’s AI-powered PickOne perception system to identify, singulate, and sort a wide range of conveyable items without the need for traditional vision training)

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

Retail Industry Robots

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

<div>
 
 Plus One Robotics develops a parcel-handling robotics platform powered by computer vision, AI, and supervised autonomy. Plus One Robotics&rsquo; product offering includes,
 
 
 1. 
 &ldquo;PickOne,''
 an AI-powered vision software developed to deliver precise hand-eye coordination for logistics robots. PickOne enables the automation of tasks such as induction, singulation, depalletizing, and packing in warehouse and distribution environments
 
 
 2. 
 &ldquo;Yonder,&rdquo;
 a &ldquo;Human-in-the-Loop&rdquo; remote supervisor software suite that enables employees to supervise the robotic fleet even from a remote setting, enhancing the capability of exception handling
 
 
 3. 
 <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/27446">
 &ldquo;
 Individual Cup Control Gripper&rdquo; (ICC Gripper),
 </a>
 pitched as an induction solution and uses AI-powered software to pick and separate parcels using the optimal arrangement of suction cups
 
 
 4. 
 <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/29177">
 &ldquo;InductOne,&rdquo;
 </a>
 an automated dual-arm robotic solution for optimizing the handling and induction of parcels in high-volume distribution centers and warehouses
 
 
 
 
 The company offers its products on a subscription-based robotics-as-a-service (RaaS) business model.
 
 
 
 
 Key customers and partnerships
 
 
 Plus One's customers are largely in the parcel post, logistics, and general merchandise industries, and include companies such as FedEx and MSC Industrial.&nbsp;
 
 
 
 
 Plus One has a network of technology partners that includes system integrators as well as developers of fulfillment solutions and robotic automation solutions such as AWL, Applied Manufacturing Technologies, BOWE Intralogistics, BWDG, Calvary Robotics, Dero Group, EuroSort, Fameccanica, Fanuc, JR Automation, Locus Robots, MDCI Automation, Mission, Motion Control Robotics, NPSG Global, PSA Systems, Pearson Packaging Systems, Robex, Shape Technologies Group, Thompkins Robots, Yasakawa, and Zebra Technologies.
 
 
 
 
 Funding and financials
 
 
 In March 2023, Plus One raised USD 50 million in a Series C funding round, led by Scale Venture Partners, to invest in enhancing the capacity, scaling deployment, and increasing the company&rsquo;s sales and marketing efforts.
 
 
 
</div>

<div>
 
 Boxbot develops automated sorting and storage solutions for warehouses. The company, which previously focused on developing autonomous delivery vehicles (ADVs) for 
 <a href="https://sp-edge.com/industry/1">
 last-mile delivery automation,
 </a>
 announced the shift in focus to develop warehouse robots 
 <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/22292">
 in September 2023.
 </a>
 It offers intelligent 3D parcel handling conveyor systems, specifically designed to increase storage density within a smaller footprint. Its platform can store, sort, and sequence high-throughput payloads while requiring minimal physical space. The company claims the system can handle up to 4,000 parcels per hour. The system is powered by &ldquo;Boxbot OS,&rdquo; which provides advanced analytics, systems controls, and predictive maintenance features.
 
 
 Key customers and partnerships
 
 
 Boxbot was in discussions with partners and had identified several sites for testing its warehouse automation technology as of September 2023. The company has conducted pilot tests in various use cases and notes the technology can be deployed at last-mile delivery centers, bonded storage warehouses, and customer pickup locations.
 
 
 Funding and financials
 
 
 <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/22292">
 In September 2023,
 </a>
 Boxbot raised USD 12 million in a Series A funding round led by Playground Global to strengthen its engineering and business operations and accelerate its go-to-market approach.
 
</div>

Boxbot

Based in France, Exotec Solutions (Exotec) develops warehouse automation solutions. Its main offering “Skypod,” is an automated storage and retrieval system (ASRS) with the ability to prioritize orders by automating the movement of goods from bin storage to workstations. Skypod units are powered by autonomous mobile robot (AMR) technology and have the ability to travel at high speeds and move in 3D environments.Skypod system is supported by Exotec’s end-to-end warehouse software, “Deepsky,” which uses technologies such as Webservices, RESTful API, and nodeRed to control elements of the Skypod system. Exotec can be integrated with warehouse management and warehouse control systems and enables Skypod to be integrated with third-party automation equipment. It also collects real-time data for performance visibility.Exotec’s other warehouse solutions include “Skypicker, ” an automated picking arm that uses machine learning-based vision to pick items from the Skypod robots and place them into fulfillment containers, and “Skypath,” an API-based modular plug-and-play conveyor system. It also builds stations made up of a ramp, a screen, and scanners for smaller warehouse spaces that use Skypod robots.The company offers its products on a robotics-as-a-service (RaaS) basis and has a presence in multiple countries in the Asia-Pacific, Europe, and North America.Key customers and partnershipsAs of February 2022, Exotec served over 50 companies. Its customers include Decathlon, Carrefour, Cdiscount, Uniqlo, Gap, Monoprix, Logilec, and <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/26080">Lane Automotive.</a>The company also has partnerships with system integrators such as 1) <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/24045">Bastian Solutions </a>and Advanced Handling Systems (AHS) to deploy Skypod systems in North America for retailers such as Gap, Ariat International, and GEODIS; 2) Korea-based engineering and IT service provider POSCO DX to expand its presence in South Korea. Its other integrator partnerships include Hy-Tek Intralogistics, Bastian Solutions, Klinkhammer Intralogistics, Unitechnik Systems GmbH, A1Sorter, LAC Conveyors &amp; Automation, Dexter Intralogistics, POSCO DX, Okura Yusoki, and IHI.Funding and financialsExotec reportedly generated USD 120 million in revenue in 2021. In January 2022, the company raised USD 335 million in Series D funding led by Goldman Sachs at a valuation of USD 2 billion. The funds were earmarked for hiring 500 engineers by 2025 and continuing its expansion drive in North America.

Exotec

Berkshire Grey provides AI-powered robotic solutions for ecommerce fulfillment automaton, smart store replenishment, package sortation, and micro-fulfillment solutions, targeting retail, ecommerce, and third-party logistics (3PL). Its product portfolio includes robotic pick-and-pack solutions, robotic induction stations, robotic pick-and-sort solutions, and mobile robotic fulfillment solutions. Berkshire Grey specializes in configuring, installing, commissioning, and servicing these solutions for customers. It also provides additional professional services, such as system maintenance, system operation, and cloud-based monitoring and analytics.The company offers its product with a variety of purchase options, including outright sale and robotics-as-a-service (RaaS), which allows customers to use the offerings without incurring large, up-front capital expenses.Berkshire Grey generated revenue of US 65.9 million in 2022; however, it was yet to turn profitable, as its operating loss amounted to USD 113.8 million. The company has been listed on the Nasdaq since August 2021 via a merger with a special purpose acquisition company (SPAC), which valued the combined entity at USD 2.7 billion (February 2021). However, the company entered a definitive merger agreement with its investor SoftBank Group in March 2023, which also took the company private (transaction closed in July 2023).Key customers and partnershipsBerkshire Grey’s customers include Global 100 retailers and logistics service providers, such as Walmart, FedEx, Ceva Logistics, Target, Maersk, and Bealls.The company also has partnerships with system integrator of fulfillment and distribution solutions AHS (September 2021), technology service provider Atos (October 2021), data-driven robotic solutions provider Swisslog (March 2022), autonomous mobile robot developer Locus Robotics (January 2023), and intralogistics solution company Kardex <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/33225">(September 2024)</a> to expand markets by combining technologies.

Berkshire Grey

ShipBob is a cloud-based third-party logistics (3PL) platform that offers a fulfillment order platform for small and medium-sized ecommerce businesses. ShipBob's proprietary technology covers the entire fulfillment process, including order and inventory management, warehouse management, predictive data and analytics, and optimized shipping (package delivery within 1–2 business days) for ecommerce companies. The company operates as a B2B software-as-a-service (SaaS) company.ShipBob operated a network of 50+ fulfillment centers across the US, Canada, Mexico, Europe, and Australia (as of April 2024). These centers serve as storage and distribution hubs for ShipBob's customers. ShipBob also <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/32676">facilitates Section 321-compliant order fulfillment</a> from Canada and Mexico, which allows merchants to reduce paperwork, speed up delivery times, and save on transportation and duties for high-tariff goods shipped to US consumers.The company also provides a merchant application that enables users to monitor inventory levels and facilitates communication with the warehouses for selecting items to fulfill orders and arrange their shipment. ShipBob then integrates with various shipping companies to ensure the delivery of orders to customers.Key customers and partnershipsThe company had 7,000+ customers as of April 2024. Its customers include PetLab, Bloom Nutrition, Storelli, zBiotics, Semaine Health, Postal, Bruce Bolt, Baby Doppler, Earthley, Spikeball, Pit Viper, Oxford Healthspan, RIFRUF, Food Huggers, NutriPaw, FlutterHabit, Quadrant, Juspy, and SuperSpeed Golf.The company has integrations with multiple platforms to ensure a smooth fulfillment process. Such integrations include the following:1) Ecommerce platforms and marketplaces such as Shopify, Amazon, BigCommerce, eBay, Magneto, Squarespace, Walmart, Wix, WooCommerce, Netsuite, <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/22208">TikTok Shop,</a> and <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/30330">Adobe Commerce</a> integrations2) Ecommerce operations, inventory, and order management platforms such as Brightpearl, Birj, Cogsy, PackageBee, SPS Commerce, Zentail, Shipyard, Logicbroker, Order Desk, Fulfil.io, and Cin73) Returns management platforms such as HappyReturns, Loop returns, ReturnLogic, and Returnly4) Freight and shipping solutions such as DHL, FedEx, UPS, Flexport, Freightos, Route, Rush, Shippo, ShipStation, Anvyl, AfterShip, and Echo Global LogisticsIts other integrations include ecommerce marketing and customer support providers; custom packaging and design solutions providers; branding, marketing, and web development agencies; and accounting, tax, and financing service providers.

ShipBob

Locus Robotics develops autonomous mobile robots (AMR) for warehousing and manufacturing operations. It offers three main AMR solutions: 1) “Locus Origin,” an AMR designed for collaborative, high-volume order fulfillment; 2) “Locus Vector,” designed to handle small to medium payloads; and 3) “Locus Max,” designed for larger payloads. The AMR solutions are backed by “LocusONE,” a warehouse automation platform that uses AI and data science to deploy and manage the AMRs. LocusONE also generates real-time actionable insights to support operational decisions. The AMRs allow integration with warehouse management systems and warehouse control systems. The company also offers warehouse automation solution “LocusEmpower,” which supports a range of fulfillment types including zone-picking, discrete order picking, batch picking, and wave picking. It also offers <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/27481">"LocusHub,"</a> an AI/ML-powered cloud-based business intelligence engine grounded with LocusONE for advanced analytics.The company offers its products on a robotics-as-a-service (RaaS) basis. In April 2024, Locus’s AMRs achieved the landmark of completing more than 3 billion unit picks.In September 2021, Locus Robotics acquired AMR provider Waypoint Robotics, which offers AMRs that are industrial-strength with omnidirectional mobility features, enabling Locus Robotics to gain access to new market segments. Key customers and partnershipsAs of May 2023, the company had deployed its technology at 250+ locations in partnership with 100+ brands. Its global customers include Ceva Logistics, Boots, Cardinal Health, <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/27443">GEODIS, </a>DHL, DSV, JAS, Ryder, UniPharma, UnitedDrug, Go Retail Group, Bluegrass Supply Chain, FM Logistics, UPS, UPS Healthcare, VF Corporation, <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/27275">Booktopia, </a>and <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/27659">John Lewis &amp; Partners.</a>In <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/30676">June 2024</a>, Locus Robotics entered a strategic partnership with Zion Solutions Group to integrate Locus's robotic solutions with Zion's supply chain solutions.Funding and financialsAs of November 2022, the company reported having USD 100 million+ in contracted recurring revenue.In November 2022, Locus Robotics <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/14949?industryIds=6">raised USD 117 million </a>in Series F funding co-led by Goldman Sachs Asset Management and G2 Venture Partners, valuing the company at “close to” USD 2 billion. The funds were to be used to facilitate the company’s continued growth and further expand global operations.

Locus Robotics

Companies developing automation technology for warehouses like robots (including inventory drones), cobots, automated storage and retrieval systems (ASRS), and related software.

Include companies providing automated ecommerce fulfillment, store replenishment, and package sortation solutions.

Companies offering automated vendor evaluation and management, demand forecasting, and inventory management.

Companies that offer warehousing and ecommerce fulfillment with technology developed in-house.

Uses connected devices and sensors to gather information—mainly relevant for the visibility segment

Uses robotics solutions for warehouse operations and fulfillment

Automated fulfilment solutions and warehouse automation broadly fall under industry 4.0

ANALYST_QUICK_TAKE

PROMINENT_CATEGORY

<div>
 AI-based parcel handling robotics company, Plus One Robotics, has introduced "InductOne," an automated dual-arm robotic solution for better handling and induction of parcels in distribution centers and warehouses with high volumes.
 InductOne claims to pick rates up to 2,300 per hour and on its peak, it can reach 3,300 picks per hour, stating to be 10% faster than similar offerings. The system employs advanced gripper technology to manage various parcel shapes and sizes, and evades non-conveyable items to increase operational reliability.
 Featuring a compact, lightweight, and modular design, InductOne can be integrated into pre-existing facilities easily with little to no modifications needed.
</div> Analyst QuickTake: 
 Plus One Robotics has been keen on expanding its product portfolio, and today’s launch of InductOne marks the second product launch this year, following the launch of its <a href="https: 
//sp-edge.com/updates/27446"> “Individual Cup Control Gripper” (ICC Gripper) </a> and other updates to enhance depalletization and induction processes. ICC Gripper is also pitched as an induction solution and uses AI-powered software to pick and separate parcels using the optimal arrangement of suction cups.

Plus One Robotics

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