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Mantis Robotics Secures New Funding from Taiwan ABICO Group

Pleasanton, California. March 4, 2025

Mantis Robotics, a pioneer in Physical AI for robotic automation, today announced that it has secured new venture funding from ABICO Group (Taiwan).

With labor costs rising, ABICO Group sees tremendous potential in the robotics sector and plans to distribute Mantis’ fenceless industrial robotic arms in Taiwan and Japan. The company aims to support factory automation while ensuring a safer and more efficient work environment for employees. As part of this strategic investment, Mantis Robotics will ramp up its mass production capability with Abico Enterprise as a strategic contract manufacturing partner. Details of the partnership are currently under discussion.

Based in Silicon Valley, Mantis Robotics is a trailblazer in Physical AI, focusing on next-generation, human-centered industrial robots and automation solutions. With highly interactive software-driven innovations and proprietary safety-rated sensing and motion control technologies, Mantis Robotics overcomes costly and labor-intensive barriers in the automation industry, making robotic applications more accessible.

The company’s founding team comprises industry experts from leading American and Japanese industrial robotics firms and top Silicon Valley tech giants, bringing deep expertise in robotics development and commercialization.

Mantis’ technology learns and understands its environment based on sensor data from a proprietary built-in sensor suite. This enables Mantis robots to detect obstacles and humans in their direct environment and adjust the robot’s behavior accordingly in real-time, making robot arms safe and autonomous, thus ensuring operational safety and protecting people from workplace hazards. Safe out-of-the-box, Mantis robots can be deployed with the same footprint as a human operator, enabling automation without disrupting facility infrastructure, while guaranteeing the highest output for the available space.

Additionally, unlike traditional industrial robotic arms that require programming by robotics engineers—which increases operational costs—Mantis Robotics’ AI-powered software integrates 3D digital twin technology and auto code generation, enabling anyone to transform ideas into automation solutions without prior programming experience.

Mantis Robotics aims to expand robotics applications across diverse industries by simplifying robot operation and reducing technical complexity, marking the beginning of a new era of human-robot collaboration. The company’s technology is agnostic to robot form factor and can be used on any type of robot, including humanoid and service robots.

About ABICO Group

ABICO Group comprises multiple publicly listed companies, with Abico AVY (5392.TWO), Ability Enterprise (2374.TW), and IKKA-KY (2250.TW) serving as the core of its business development. In recent years, beyond its focus on the new energy vehicle industry, ABICO Group has rapidly expanded into the robotics sector in response to the AI revolution.

Abico AVY’s own IKKA Precision, a leader in powder metallurgy and precision transmission modules for electric tools and machinery, has been manufacturing and assembling collaborative robotic components since 2022.

Ability Enterprise (2374.TW) specializes in imaging-related products, achieving significant milestones in 360-degree cameras, automotive lenses, and edge AI optical lenses. Recently, the company has also ventured into robotics-related imaging solutions.

About Mantis Robotics

Mantis Robotics is headquartered in Pleasanton, California, and was founded by robotics industry veterans, with offices in Belgium and Taiwan. The company has developed a hardware and software platform designed for efficient and safe human-robot collaboration in manufacturing and e-commerce fulfillment.

Its fenceless autonomous robotic arm, Mantis MR-1, equipped with spatial intelligence technology, offers a plug-and-play solution that eliminates the need for complex robotic work cell designs while reducing robot automation costs by up to 75%.

https://www.mantis-robotics.com/

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Mantis Robotics Secures $5M to Redefine Robotics through Physical AI

Pleasanton, California. December 16, 2024 Mantis Robotics, a pioneer in Physical AI for robotic automation, today announced it has secured $5M in new investments led by Emerald Technology Ventures with participation from the Amazon Industrial Innovation Fund. This cash infusion will enable Mantis Robotics to scale its operations, enhance its product portfolio, and expand its presence in the rapidly growing industrial robotics market.

Mantis has entered the next frontier in robotics by creating the first adaptive, human-centered robots. The company makes industrial robotic arms that are inherently safe for human interaction, eliminating the need for costly and complex external safeguards such as fences or laser barriers. Mantis’ technology learns and understands its environment based on sensor data from a proprietary built-in sensor-suite. This enables Mantis Robots to detect obstacles and humans in its direct environment and adjust the robot’s behavior accordingly in real-time, making robot arms safe and autonomous.

The robot’s intuitive deployment software with a 3D real-time Digital Twin, requires no technical or coding knowledge to use, making them accessible for diverse industries and users. By reducing operational complexity, Mantis’ robot systems can result in savings of as much as 75% in a typical robotic deployment. The company’s transformative technology has the potential to advance industries far beyond manufacturing and warehousing, paving the way for a new era of human-machine collaboration.

“We built our company on the premise that robots should be an extension of the human capability,” said Gerry Vannuffelen, Founder & CEO of Mantis Robotics. “Our industry has benefited greatly from many new developments in AI-powered application software Unfortunately, these systems do not allow for safe human-robot interaction. We provide the link between AI and the physical world, by enabling robots to interact safely and capably with humans.”

“The investment into Mantis Robotics is another bet of Emerald on the huge potential of Physical AI. We believe Mantis Robotics’ unique technology will revolutionize robotics and will enable never-seen before levels of human-machine collaboration. Mantis Robotics unlocks entirely new automation use cases initially in manufacturing and in warehousing, and in soon virtually every other domain,” said Michal Natora, Senior Investment Director at Emerald.

“At Amazon, collaborative technology is key to running safe and efficient operations.  Technology can serve its best purpose when it’s human-centric and able to work seamlessly to support employees as they deliver for our customers,” said Franziska Bossart, Head of the Amazon Industrial Innovation Fund. “We are excited about Mantis Robotics’ science-driven approach to advancing human-machine collaboration, fostering safer and more ergonomic workplaces.”

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CONTACT FOR MANTIS ROBOTICS

press@mantisbots.com

CONTACT FOR EMERALD

info@emerald.vc

About Mantis Robotics

Mantis Robotics created a hardware and software platform to enable productive and safe human-robot collaboration. Mantis’ fenceless autonomous robot arms, for manufacturing and e-commerce fulfillment, are equipped with spatial intelligence to work safely alongside people right out-of-the-box, eliminating complex robotics work cell design and making robotic automation up to 75% cheaper.

Mantis Robotics was founded by robotics industry veterans and has its headquarters in Pleasanton, California (USA), with offices in Leuven, Belgium and Taipei, Taiwan. https://www.mantis-robotics.com/

About Emerald Technology Ventures

Emerald is a globally recognized venture capital firm, founded in 2000, that manages and advises assets of over €1 billion from its offices in Zurich, Toronto and Singapore. The firm invests in start-ups that tackle big challenges in climate change and sustainability, with four current funds, hundreds of venture transactions and five third-party investment mandates, including loan guarantees to over 100 start-ups.

Bold Ideas. Bright Future.  www.emerald.vc

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Amazon’s $1B industrial innovation fund invests in these 5 startups

Click here for the TechCrunch Article
“Mantis Robotics

The San Francisco startup is the youngest in the investment block. Mantis Robotics, which is developing a tactile robotic arm that uses sensor technology to cohesively work alongside people, was founded in 2020. The technology allows for these robotic arms to be “fenceless,” allowing them to interact more freely with people without risk of injury.”

Click here for the TechCrunch Article
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Mantis Robotics Announces Seed Investment by Amazon Industrial Innovation Fund

SAN FRANCISCO, CA (April 21, 2022) — Mantis Robotics, a new entry to the robotics industry, has announced a seed investment from the Amazon Industrial Innovation Fund.

Mantis Robotics is a robotics hardware and software company developing a tactile robotic arm that can cohesively work alongside people. Their sensing and safety motion technologies promote safer environments where people and robots can work together efficiently.

Mantis’s robotic arm is designed to safely perform tasks in continuously changing environments. Its scalable safety motion architecture, paired with its intuitive software, enables truly flexible automation processes at factories and warehouses.

Gerry Vannuffelen, Mantis Robotics Co-Founder & CEO, said, “We built this company to address a common frustration we hear all the time from manufacturers. Right now, they have to sacrifice efficiency if they want robots to work safely alongside people. With Amazon as a pioneer in the use of robotics, this investment is a strong show of confidence in our vision to make human-robot collaboration even safer and more productive. We are absolutely thrilled to welcome Amazon as an investor through its Industrial Innovation Fund.”

“The purpose of the Amazon Industrial Innovation Fund is to support emerging technologies through direct investments, designed to spur invention and solve for the world’s toughest challenges across customer fulfillment operations, logistics, and supply chain solutions,” said Katherine Chen, Head of the Amazon Industrial Innovation Fund. “We’re inspired by the way that Mantis approaches robotics. Their science-driven approach with a focus on safety optimization could help create both a safer and more seamless work experience.”

Mantis Robotics plans to use the fresh capital to expand its engineering teams and accelerate its product development. The company targets to deploy its first robotic systems later this year.

Learn more about the Amazon Industrial Innovation Fund.

 

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The Batchery Announces Batch 13, A New Cohort of Startups

BERKELEY, Calif.Sept. 15, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — Fifteen early-stage startups have joined the Batchery’s 2021 Fall program for entrepreneurs. These founders join more than 150 companies that have graduated from the Batchery program in the last five years.

Each Batchery cohort spends 12 weeks moving through the three pillars of the Batchery’s program:

  • High-touch mentorship from the Batchery’s accomplished Investor Advisory community
  • Startup 101 – a collection of multi-class online courses that help founders build their businesses and jump-start their success.
  • A series of Batchery-hosted roundtables and service partnerships.

Batch 13 is the second group to come through the Batchery in 2021.These startups address challenges in a variety of spaces, including ed tech, fintech, IoT, NFTs and more. Batch 13 is:

  • 24HourTruckFix – Dispatch and automation software for the transportation industry
  • Clusiv – E-learning platform built for and by the blind and visually impaired
  • CounselHero – Intelligent, automated career counselors for students
  • Cur8able – Disability fashion styling platform
  • FilterHealth – Automated air filter management system with IoT
  • keepwith – Networking advice and education
  • BUDDY – AI digital health app for seniors and their caregivers
  • Mantis Robotics – Fenceless robots for manufacturing and warehouse automation
  • NFT FM – Full-length music NFTs that supports artists directly
  • Overcome the Barrier – Spanish language educational software and platform
  • QuantumCamp – Educational software to bring advanced math and science to K-12
  • SteamChain – B2B payments for companies conducting international commerce
  • TruCard – Financial wellness through investing in digital assets
  • Windscape ai – Smart control for wind turbines with AI and sensors
  • Zelite – Integrated platform for real estate investors in a mobile app

In addition to expert mentorship and course work, the Batchery provides financing to promising startups through its Angel Fund and the associated Investor Adviser Seed Fund (www.iasv.co). In this way, more than $600,000 was directed to founders in the most recent Batch in August and September this year.

“The Batchery was able to exceed our expectations in several ways,” says Phillip Hansel, CEO of Ai-Ops, an IA-driven engineering platform to help users operate industrial processes. “First, with their time commitment to understanding our business and challenges. Second, by leveraging their own social capital to make solid connections for our business. Third, the Batchery folks maintained a positive attitude towards our success and our struggle to get to the next level.”

With Batch 13, the Batchery is continuing to expand: the 15 companies represent the most startups in a single cohort to date. “Our capacity to provide real value to founders continues to grow,” says Batchery Executive Director Peter Burghardt, “And the quality of this latest Batch is testimony to our success as the support network for a new generation of technology and product leaders.”

The Batchery is a diverse community of well-connected and experienced angel investors. Our unique approach brings to startups deep expertise, a diverse network and just in time resources. The Batchery helps startups transform into thriving businesses.

SOURCE The Batchery