Augmentus pioneers intelligent, no-code computer vision and robot motion planning, enabling industrial robot programming in minutes instead of days
SINGAPORE, 14 NOV, 2023 – Augmentus, the global leader in intelligent and no-code robotics software solutions, today announced the successful completion of a USD 5M Series A funding round. The round was led by Silicon Valley-based venture capital firm Sierra Ventures, along with existing seed investor Cocoon Capital.
Conventional robot programming is both highly fragmented and costly. Robot manufacturers use proprietary programming languages, which require customers to undergo extensive training and expertise to operate their robots, resulting in 75% of lifetime costs being attributed to software and programming.
The industrial robotics software market is projected to reach USD 47B by 2030, growing at a CAGR of 27%. Augmentus’ no-code, vision-based robotics system is poised to disrupt this market. Their proprietary technology serves as the eyes and the brains of any industrial robot. Augmentus’ 3D cameras capture the relevant spatial information and this data is fed into its AI model. The platform then recommends an optimal path for the robot to move along to perform its task, accounting for complex surfaces. This eliminates the need for technical expertise and lengthy downtime when reprogramming robotic tools. Augmentus enables manufacturers to reduce process automation time from an average of four weeks to just 15 minutes while significantly improving accuracy and efficiency, reducing costs by over 70%.
The fresh funds will be used to scale operations in the United States, Europe and greater Asia and to meet accelerating customer demand across multiple verticals, including welding, surface treatment and finishing processes. The platform supports both SMEs and large enterprises with its sub-millimeter accuracy and wide range of application support. By combining AI and machine learning in robotics, the software assists users when programming complex tasks.
Augmentus increased its deployment efforts and expanded its customer base by four times over the previous year, spanning seven countries. They have supplied more than thirty manufacturers worldwide with its no-code automation solutions. Their customers include Fortune 500 companies such as Hyundai, Applied Materials, ST Engineering and Abrasive Engineering have benefited from Augmentus' solutions. The platform is compatible with over ten major robot OEMs, including ABB, Kawasaki, Universal Robots, Kuka and Nachi.
Augmentus No-code Robotics System for Sandblasting at a customer site. The operator is holding the Augmentus tablet to select surfaces and edges they would like the robot to blast. Robot motion is automatically generated based on the user's process parameters for sandblasting.
As part of its expansion plans, Augmentus will leverage its Augmentus System Partner (ASP) program to enhance the onboarding of global system integrators and channel partners. The program targets the manufacturing sector, focusing on high-mix and complex manufacturing applications.
Leong Yong Shin, Co-Founder of Augmentus, expressed his enthusiasm for the future, stating, “With their successful history of backing industrial B2B companies in the United States, we are excited to tap into Sierra Ventures’ expertise as well as their network to execute our commercial plans and enhance our product capabilities. We are also thrilled to receive Cocoon Capital’s continued support for our vision to bring intelligent, adaptive robotics to complex manufacturing globally. This funding highlights the transformative potential of merging artificial intelligence and computer vision in robotics to drive truly autonomous and flexible manufacturing. We envision a future where robots can adapt to any part and process with no downtime and expertise required.”
Augmentus will be allocating a portion of the investment to intensify research initiatives further to develop more innovative automation solutions with a key emphasis on making complex manufacturing simpler to automate through a software-first approach.|
"With the continuous growth of industrial robotics and the increasing deployment of robots in production, there is a pressing need for a more efficient and scalable programming solution," said Ben Yu, Managing Partner at Sierra Ventures. "Augmentus' integration of precise 3D scanning, no-code micro-adjustability, and automated code generation is the solution to this challenge."
Will Klippgen, Managing Partner at Cocoon Capital added: “Ever since we met the founders, we have been impressed by how fast they reached product-market fit and engaged with some of the largest players around the world only a few months after launch. We are proud to back a team that is so committed to bringing down the cost of production by making robotics available to businesses regardless of size and industry.”
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About Augmentus
Established in 2019, Augmentus pioneers intelligent computer vision and AI robot motion planning systems to enable truly autonomous manufacturing even in high-mix and complex applications.
Augmentus’ proprietary technologies serve as the eyes and the brains of the robot. Through the Augmentus system, advanced vision and automated tool-path technologies enable manufacturers to automate processes that require high-precision and complex robot motion in minutes instead of days, introducing unprecedented flexibility and adaptability to the manufacturing industry.
Our platform is compatible with over ten major robot OEMs, including ABB, Kawasaki, Universal Robots, Kuka, and Nachi. Furthermore, the company is expanding its compatibility with added robot brands and peripheral hardware. Augmentus serves a diverse customer base across various industries, such as aerospace, automotive, maritime, and oil & gas, focusing on enabling robotic welding, abrasive blasting, thermal spraying, polishing and grinding.
For more information about Augmentus, please visit augmentus.tech.
About Sierra Ventures
Sierra Ventures is an early-stage Silicon Valley-based venture capital firm focused on the future of Enterprise and Next-Gen Technologies. With four decades of experience and over $2 billion of assets under management, Sierra has created a vast network of successful entrepreneurs, Global 1000 CXOs, operational executives, and deep domain experts, providing a platform for entrepreneurs around the world. Learn more at sierraventures.com.
About Cocoon Capital
Cocoon Capital is a Singapore-based venture capital firm focusing on early-stage, enterprise tech companies across Southeast Asia with assets under management of more than SGD 70m. The fund invests within the medtech, fintech, insurtech, and other deep tech verticals. It has done a total of 29 investments till date. With its slogan “Dare to Change™”, it differentiates itself by working closely with its portfolio founders to unleash their potential to change the world. Investments include Augmentus, BuyMed, TransTRACK.ID, SensorFlow and See-Mode Technologies. Learn more at cocooncap.com.
Media contact
Daryl Lim, Co-Founder
Augmentus Pte. Ltd.
daryllim@augmentus.tech
+65 9737 7223