RobcoFounded in 2020 at the Technical University of Munich, Robco is driving its expansion into the USA: The Munich-based startup recently opened a headquarters in San Francisco and simultaneously acquired the US company Rapid Robotics. With the acquisition of Rapid Robotics, Robco is integrating hardware and software as well as an established customer base. The company is thus strengthening its presence in North America and gaining a local team and existing customers. Robco operates assembly plants in Texas and already works with industrial companies in 14 American states.
Efficient automation even for smaller companies
Smaller US companies, in particular, say they are reaching their limits when it comes to automation because they lack sufficient staff or capital. Robco aims to remedy this with modular robots: They can be deployed flexibly, programmed with no-code software, and also offer a pay-as-you-go model: Customers only pay when robots are in use.
Roman Hölzl, CEO of Robco, explains the concept:
"Automation is crucial for the long-term competitiveness of industrial companies. With our modular robots, we aim to offer companies of all sizes an affordable, flexible, and low-risk solution."
Funding from the Physical AI Fellowship
In parallel with the expansion, Robco was integrated into the Physical AI Fellowship The program, run by Amazon Web Services (AWS), Nvidia, and Mass Robotics, is aimed at startups developing intelligent systems for real-world applications.
For Robco, this means $200,000 in cloud credits from AWS, access to Nvidia's AI and simulation platforms, and test environments at Mass Robotics. This will advance the development of robots that don't require manual programming but can act autonomously through perception and experience. Even industries that previously had little access to robotics due to their complexity will be able to benefit from affordable solutions, according to the company.
Hölzl emphasizes:
"We want to automate the ordinary so humans can do the extraordinary. Combining AWS' cloud infrastructure, NVIDIA's AI and simulation technologies, and MassRobotics' testbed enables us to develop adaptable, autonomous, and affordable robots."
