Our first investment in robotics
We're thrilled to welcome Jacobi Robotics to the Moxxie portfolio
Robotics is at an inflection point. Historically robotics has been a hardware problem due to limitations on what hardware could do. With the rapid advancements in hardware, robotics has now become a software problem. With the rapid advancements in AI, robots are now capable of performing complex tasks with precision and efficiency. There's a growing demand for automation across various industries and an increasing dearth of labor. And this dual trend is accelerating the adoption of robotics.
In the past, the robotics industry has faced substantial challenges that have hindered its scalability. High development costs, complex programming requirements, and limited flexibility have made it difficult for robotics to achieve widespread adoption. The need for specialized knowledge to program and operate robots has been a significant barrier, preventing smaller companies from leveraging robotic technologies. Also integration issues and the lack of standardized platforms have contributed to the slow pace of deployment in the sector. These obstacles have created a gap between the potential of robotics and its practical application in various industries.
Programming industrial robots has traditionally been a complex and daunting task. It requires extensive expertise in robotics and software development, making it accessible only to highly skilled professionals. There are three key reasons why this becomes complex:
the intricate nature of robotic systems and their interactions with other equipment
the high consequence of failures or collisions
the need for customization across solutions and deployment sites
The challenge lies in creating user-friendly interfaces and tools that can simplify the programming process. And thereby enabling more developers to harness the power of robotics without needing specialized knowledge or compromising on performance. This is where Jacobi Robotics comes in.
Jacobi Robotics is solving this problem by bringing the modern software development framework to robotics. Their vision is to make this as easy as programming any other mobile or web app. Their platform is designed to bridge the gap between sophisticated robotics technology and user-friendly application development. By leveraging cutting-edge research in motion planning and AI, Jacobi Robotics aims to democratize access to robotics by empowering developers.
We first met Max Cao, the CEO and co-founder of Jacobi Robotics last year. We were immediately impressed by his vision and his team’s incredible background. In addition to Max, the other co-founders of Jacobi Robotics, Yahav Avigal, Lars Berscheid, Jeff Ichnowski and Ken Goldberg, are exceptional roboticists from UC Berkeley, renowned for their groundbreaking research in sophisticated motion planning. They have successfully translated their academic expertise into a company that addresses the critical needs of developers in the robotics space. Their deep understanding of both the technical and practical aspects of robotics has enabled them to develop a platform that simplifies the programming of industrial robots.
During our conversations with potential customers, we consistently encountered enthusiasm and excitement about a platform that can make robots programmable. Companies across various sectors expressed a strong desire for a solution that could streamline the programming of industrial robots. The positive feedback from these discussions reinforced our confidence in Jacobi Robotics and their value proposition. The market's eagerness for such a platform underscores the need for a platform that can simplify robotics programming and drive widespread adoption.
Today we're thrilled to share that Moxxie has led their seed round, with participation from other incredible investors including Foothill Ventures, Humba Ventures, and The House Fund. We believe that Jacobi Robotics is building a platform that will revolutionize the way robotics applications are built. We are proud to support them on this journey.