TOKYO–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Rapyuta Robotics, Co., Ltd., a leading developer of collaborative pick-assist robots (Rapyuta PA-AMR), or warehouse robots, and pioneers of Cloud Robotics, today announced USD 51 Million (JPY6.4 billion) in Series C funding led by Goldman Sachs to accelerate the expansion of robotics solutions and artificial intelligence technologies.
This is Rapyuta Robotics’ third round of funding, bringing the total capital raised to USD 81 Million (JPY 10 Billion). The new round will further the company’s growth and market presence as a leader in an industry shifting to autonomous mobile robots and cloud-based software solutions. Rapyuta Robotics is focused on making robotics useful for all logistics applications, and providing support for the development, implementation, and operation of robotics solutions.
“Rapyuta Robotics will further its mission to make robots more attainable to global logistics users and to empower lives with new cloud robotics solutions,“ said Gajan Mohanarajah, Ph.D., CEO, and co-founder. “We are grateful to Goldman Sachs and all our investors for their support of our vision to make robots more accessible by taking a platform approach.”
“While the global logistics industry is rapidly expanding due to rising e-commerce demand, it faces a wave of digitization and a challenge of labor shortage. As the industry seeks automation solutions to improve efficiency, we are optimistic about the growth of Rapyuta Robotics as a pioneer in cloud robotics platforms,” said Stephanie Hui, global co-head of Growth Equity at Goldman Sachs Asset Management. Goldman Sachs Asset Management has been an active investor in Japan since 1999, deploying capital across sectors such as technology, consumer, healthcare, and renewable energy.
Funds raised are earmarked for expanded development of the Rapyuta PA-AMR (pick assist robot), partner training, research and development, and increased awareness of autonomous mobile robots and their usage in the logistics industry.
Logistics companies that have introduced Rapyuta’s collaborative pick-assist solution have seen a doubling of productivity in their operations within five months. In Japan, where Rapyuta Robotics has the largest market share, automation solutions in logistics address the pervasive problems of an aging population, low birth rate, and chronic labor shortage. Rapyuta’s next-generation cloud robotics platform, rapyuta.io, utilizes the world’s most advanced control and artificial intelligence technologies to improve the efficiency and safety of warehouse operations, enable multiple robots to work harmoniously together, and create a seamless, and remote-controlled, robot ecosystem.
Rapyuta Robotics is now hiring, with the intent to expand its diverse staff of talented engineers and sales professionals who emanate from more than 20 countries. The company espouses a healthy work-life balance and an open and inclusive working environment. Professionals who are interested in working on technology that empowers lives are encouraged to join us and apply here.
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About Rapyuta Robotics
Rapyuta Robotics is a leading provider of flexible and collaborative autonomous mobile robot (Rapyuta PA-AMR) solutions and a pioneer in cloud robotics. Headquartered in Tokyo, Japan, Rapyuta Robotics is a Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH Zurich) spin-off, that operates with a vision to be the leader in making robots more attainable and useful by taking an open, platform-centric approach to developing and operating robotics solutions. At ETH Zurich, Rapyuta Robotics’ founding members worked on the RoboEarth and Cubli projects.
About Goldman Sachs
The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. is a leading global financial institution that delivers a broad range of financial services across investment banking, securities, investment management, and consumer banking to a large and diversified client base that includes corporations, financial institutions, governments, and individuals. Founded in 1869, the firm is headquartered in New York and maintains offices in all major financial centers around the world. Since 2003, the Growth Equity business within Goldman Sachs Asset Management comprising more than 75 individuals has invested over $13 billion in companies led by visionary founders and CEOs.
