Fort Robotics, a specialist provider of safety and security solutions for intelligent machines, has successfully secured an additional $18.9 million in its Series B funding round. This recent influx of capital brings the company’s total funding to an impressive $60.5 million to date.
This funding round was notably led by Tiger Global, with strong support from both new and returning investors. Their confidence underscores Fort Robotics’ crucial role in the quickly evolving landscape of robotics and physical AI.
The Surge in Robotics Deployment
Fort Robotics is experiencing remarkable growth, propelled by the robotics industry reaching a pivotal inflection point. Autonomous systems are now being deployed on a large scale across various sectors, including autonomous vehicles, agriculture, construction, defense, factory automation, and humanoid robotics. This widespread adoption is increasingly reliant on Fort’s innovative solutions to ensure safety and operational efficiency.
With this new capital, Fort Robotics is poised to accelerate its mission of empowering machine builders and users with safe, secure, and dynamic controls. As autonomous systems continue to flourish in workplaces worldwide, the company’s technology is more critical than ever.
Insights from Leadership
Samuel Reeves, the CEO of Fort Robotics, emphasized the transformative nature of robotics and physical AI across global worksites. He noted, “As robot fleets grow and work alongside people, the need for robust functional safety becomes even more vital.” The company is witnessing a surge in new customers while simultaneously seeing increased engagement from long-term users of the Fort platform. Reeves expressed excitement about welcoming new investors who share the vision for a changing work environment and appreciated the ongoing support from long-time partners like Tiger Global.
Strengthening Leadership with New Board Members
In a strategic move to enhance its leadership and direction, Fort Robotics has appointed three new board members. Kirk D. Brown, COO and CFO of SportsMedia Technology, brings a wealth of experience, previously serving as COO of Overwatch Geospatial, which was acquired by Textron. Jorge Heraud, CEO of TerraBlaster and former CEO of Blue River Technology, along with Benjamin G. Wolff, President and CEO of Palladyne AI and co-founder of Clearwire Corporation, join the team with extensive backgrounds in technology and robotics.
Their collective expertise is expected to play a pivotal role as Fort Robotics embarks on its next phase of expansion, ensuring the company remains at the forefront of industry advancements.
Strategic Utilization of Funds
This recent funding boost signals strong investor confidence in Fort’s mission to enhance safety within the emerging robotics ecosystem. Recognized as a critical enabler for industry growth, the investment will be allocated towards several key areas:
- Enhancing Existing Products: Fort aims to increase its versatility by integrating new communication protocols, expanding API integrations, and ensuring compliance on an international scale.
- Developing Next-Generation Safety: The focus will also be on expanding the platform to include critical data analytics and comprehensive safety solutions that address the distinctive challenges posed by physical AI.
- Accelerating Growth: Funds will be directed toward the swift development and implementation of Fort’s technology, which is designed to empower safe and secure control for machine builders and users.
Continued Investor Support
The Series B funding expansion reflects continued backing from existing investors, including Tiger Global, Prime Movers Lab, Mark Cuban, FundersClub, Creative Ventures, GRIDS Capital, and Ahoy Capital. Additionally, the company has attracted new investors such as Neman Ventures, Mana Ventures, Gaingels, and Ryuu Co. of Japan.
Shane Neman, CIO and general partner of Neman Ventures, remarked, “At Neman Ventures, we strategically invest in companies at the forefront of transformative technologies. Fort Robotics’ commitment to safety for physical AI and intelligent machines aligns perfectly with our vision for the future of work and advanced automation.” He expressed enthusiasm for supporting Fort as they continue to develop comprehensive safety solutions for the next generation of robotics, including promising areas like humanoids.