Capra Robotics raises $11.6M to develop distributor and integrator partnerships

Capra’s leadership team, from left to right: Mads Bendt, the chief innovation officer; Lars Hee Hansen, the chief commercial officer; and Niels Jul Jacobsen, the CEO. | Source: Capra Robotics

Capra Robotics today announced that it has obtained €11.3 million, around $11.6 million, in seed funding. The investment will go towards further accelerating Capra Robotics’ growth trajectory fueling both growth and global expansion.

“The investment depicts a strong group of investors’ confidence in our vision and the scale of opportunities ahead,” said Niels Jul Jacobsen, CEO of Capra Robotics. “Having investors from both the U.S. and Europe not only strengthens our ability to scale rapidly, but also provides invaluable insights and networks that will help us expand into new markets and better serve our customers and partners across the globe.”

Since it launched its initial product in 2023, Capra said it has been gaining momentum with its material handling system that bridges the gap between indoor and outdoor logistics operations. Its customers include Lockheed Martin, Robert Bosch, ZF Friedrichshafen, the U.S. Air Force, and Deutsche Telekom.

Utilizing its momentum, the Viby, Denmark-based company said it will continue to drive growth by establishing top-tier partnerships with distributors and system integrators.

Capra promises to tackle many tasks with one robot

Amid historically low unemployment rates, rising labor costs, and an aging population, Capra said companies must move away from heavy reliance on manual processes to remain competitive, scale their operations, and conform with existing process standards. This requires innovative robotics solutions capable of handling a wide range of tasks – including those in emerging domains.

Capra said its versatile kinematics, suitable for both indoor and outdoor applications, set it apart from other autonomous mobile robot (AMR) developers. The company added that its patented wheel frame enables it to solve automation needs across several industries.

In particular, Capra is targeting logistics, inspection, and maintenance. In logistics, the company said it can bridge the gap between indoor and outdoor logistics. This enables businesses to efficiently improve their material flow across entire facilities, supporting further advancements in production operations.

In inspection, the company is addressing critical challenges in perimeter control and substation inspection, providing robust systems for industries striving for optimal security and operational excellence. Finally, in maintenance, Capra said it offers smart robots to help industries reduce emissions, minimize waste, and create safer working environments.

Investment leading to global, market expansion

Capra said the investment will give way to faster entry into new geographical markets and boost its workforce within sales, service, and support, predominantly in Europe and North America. The round features global backers with experienced Supernova Invest and Promus Ventures as leads, as well as Summiteer and EIFO – Denmark’s Export and Investment Fund as followers.

“At Supernova Invest, we are confident that Capra’s solution will accelerate the global adoption of autonomous mobile robots,” said Claude-Sébastien Lerbourg, investment director at Supernova Invest.

“Its ease of implementation and competitive edge position Capra to unlock a wide range of new applications, addressing critical labor shortages and delivering significant productivity gains across industries,” he said. “Niels’ outstanding expertise and proven success in mobile robotics is invaluable, we are excited to support this new venture and contribute to its future success.”

In August 2024, Capra Robotics announced the formation of its new subsidiary, Custos Robotics ApS. The company said it established Custos to explore new business ventures within the security and defense industries. Costs will specialize in non-offensive applications based on Capra Robotics’ mobile robots.