Robotics investments are gaining speed after post-pandemic slowdown

New numbers out of Crunchbase this week see robotics investments once again trending in a positive direction. The earlier two years introduced a steady drop in overall numbers, following a report 2021 pushed by pandemic-fueled job loss. As we head into the second half of the yr, 2024 is on observe to beat final yr’s numbers.

The primary six months of the yr have seen $4.2 billion invested within the class, placing this yr nicely on observe to beat 2023’s 12-month whole of $6.8 billion. The quantity remains to be nicely shy of the COVID peak of 2021, which introduced in $17.7 billion, and even 2022’s $10.3 billion.

This does, nevertheless, sign restoration from the one-two punch of financial headwinds and post-pandemic reopenings, which introduced the trade crashing again right down to Earth.

The white-hot humanoids class continued to achieve steam. Figure led the way there with an enormous $675 million Sequence B. That elevate alone moved the needle a bit. The opposite notable humanoid funding arrived by means of 1X. The Norwegian agency, which counts OpenAI as an early backer, brought in a healthy $100 million.

Medical robots have been having a very good yr, due to large rounds from MMI and Rono Surgical, however as soon as once more, labor substitute is the most important driver, as areas like warehouses and factories look to automate jobs they’re having problem filling.

These calls for aren’t going away anytime quickly, whereas continued funding pleasure round all issues AI is more likely to additional bolster robotic startup progress. Sadly, it could take one other pandemic to see issues attain 2021 ranges.