Summary:
Sunrise Robotics secures $8.5M seed funding to deploy modular industrial robots
Targets European manufacturing labor shortage, with 32M jobs at risk
Robots can be deployed in less than 10 weeks, vs. 8 months for traditional robots
Uses AI and digital twins to train robots for tasks like cutting and welding
Already has 10 letters of intent from industries like supercars and consumer electronics
Sunrise Robotics has stepped out of stealth mode, securing $8.5 million in seed funding to revolutionize industrial automation with its modular robotics and AI models. The funding round was led by Plural, a London-based VC firm, with participation from Tapestry, Seedcamp, Tiny.vc, and Prototype Capital.
Addressing the Labor Shortage
The startup, headquartered in Ljubljana, Slovenia, aims to tackle the acute labor shortage in European manufacturing. With 32 million people employed in this sector and a third set to retire in the next decade, Sunrise's robots are designed to take over tasks like cutting, welding, fastening, and bolting.
The design for a Sunrise Robotics industrial robot workstation, or “cell.” Photo courtesy of Sunrise Robotics
Rapid Deployment with AI
Sunrise's two-armed robots can be deployed in less than 10 weeks, a stark contrast to the eight months traditional robots often require. This is achieved by using cameras to create a digital twin of the workstation and training AI models in a simulator to control the robots.
Competitive Landscape
While Sunrise is not alone in this space—competitors like Inbolt and Physical Intelligence are also leveraging AI—the startup stands out with its combination of small AI models and conventional coding. Its standardized "cells" make training robots for new tasks easier and more cost-effective.
Target Market
Sunrise is focusing on "high mix, low volume" manufacturers, which produce a variety of parts but in small quantities. The startup has already signed letters of intent with 10 customers, including those in supercar development, high-performance batteries, and consumer electronics.
Founders and Future Plans
The cofounders, including Tomaz Stolfa, Marko Thaler, and Joe Perrott, bring a wealth of experience from Silicon Valley. With 25 employees and plans to expand, Sunrise is poised to make a significant impact on the industrial robotics landscape.
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