What is the Automation Industry?
Manufacturing automation is when technology is used to automate the production process; this can be through either equipment, or software. The industry is quite old, but increasingly every industry is using automation in order maximize their productivity.
From Chipotle to Tesla, is using automation to improve scale, efficiency, and reduce error. In fact, automation has become a top priority for venture-capital, and with labor shortages increasing, automation will only continue to grow globally.
How we Rank these Automation Investment Firms
- Assets Under Management: The most prominent and active investors in the automation space.
- Units Under Management: How large are the investments, although this may vary by stage of investment.
- ROI/Success: How successful have these firms been when investing in automation?
- Peer ranking:How well do the peers of these companies recognize their impact on automation?
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These Automation Investors share their expert insights on many of the most frequently asked questions in the industry.
What is the automation industry?
Who are the top automation investors?
What are investment firms looking for when they invest in automation?
What is the market potential of automation?
What is the future of the automation?
What is trending in the automation industry?
List of Top Automation Investors
- Founded: 2006
- Headquarters: Boulder, Colorado
- AUM: $500 million+
Based out of Boulder, Colorado, TechStars is an early-stage venture capital firm, that invests across industries. The fund has been a prominent investor in automation industry, and is looking to continue that tradition in 2022. The fund believes there is a lot of opportunity in manufacturing automation, especially when combined with AI.
- Founded: 1995
- Headquarters: San Francisco, California
- AUM: $1.2 billion +
SOSV, is an early-stage venture capital firm, primarily based out of San Francisco. They have offices all around the world, and also run multiple accelerators. The fund provides seed, and early-stage capital, and has been a prominent investor in automation. They have invested in prominent automation companies such as UnBoxRobotics, and xRobotics.
- Founded: 2000
- Headquarters: New York City, New York
- AUM: $4 billion+
Lux Capital is an early-stage venture capital fund, located in New York City. The company focuses on Series-A capital and looks to invest in startups that revolve around, ‘emerging technologies’ such as automation. The fund invests across industries including, 3D printing, AI, manufacturing, fintech, energy, etc. They invested in prominent automation technology firms including Tempo, and Formic technologies.
- Founded: 2011
- Headquarters: Palo, Alto
- AUM: $2 billion+
Based out of Palo Alto, DCVC is a multi-stage venture capital fund, that invests in, seed, early-stage and late stage funding rounds. The venture capital fund has made investments across industries, from rockets, to robots. They usually fund 25-50 deals a year, with the average deal size being $25-$50 million. They have made numerous investments in the automation space, including agility robotics.
- Founded: 2016
- Headquarters: Tokyo, Japan
- AUM: $500+
Setup by Sony and Daiwa capital, the Sony Innovation fund primarily invests in mid to late-stage venture capital. They invest in consumer and enterprise-facing startups at all stages that are bringing new forms of Entertainment, FinTech, Healthcare, IoT, Mobility, Deep Tech and Sensor Technologies. Their expertise in technolgogies plays a key role in both collaboration and investing in automation companies.
- Founded: 2006
- Headquarters: Sunnyvale, California
- AUM: $8 billion+
One of the most prominent accelerators on the venture capital seed, Plug and Play is an industry focused, program that looks to provide seed capital to startups across a range of industry including energy, manufacturing etc.. They have been especially prominent in the automation sector, including, SlipRobotics, Ware, etc.
Automation Investors
What is the market potential of the automation industry?
The global automation market will increase from $175 billion in 2021 to $350 billion in 2028. Growing at around 9% CAGR.
Are you Looking for Automation Investment Firms for Startup?
These are the Automation Investors. At CrowdCreate we can help you, whether you are a startup, or an investor looking to invest in the next big Automation focused startup.
- Founded: 2004
- Headquarters: Menlo Park, California
- AUM: $1 billion +
Shashta Ventures is an early-stage venture capital fund that is based out of Menlo Park. They invest primarily in SaaS ventures but have also looked to invest in numerous automation companies. They usually provide Series A and B rounds of funding.
- Founded: 2017
- Headquarters: El Camino, Los Angeles
- AUM: $NA
Based out of Los Angeles and Founded in 2017 as a subsidiary of Toyota Research Institute to help Toyota discover what’s next, Toyota Ventures has invested in numerous companies in artificial intelligence, autonomy, cloud computing, data, mobility and robotics. They invest primarily in early-stage venture and later stage rounds.
- Founded: 2015
- Headquarters: Palo Alto, California
- AUM: $1 billion+
Based out of Palo Alto, Playground Global is an early-stage venture capital firm that invests in deep tech and assists startups with software, hardware, machine learning, marketing, talent and design. They look to invest in Series-A through D, and have invested in numerous automation companies.
- Founded: 2017
- Headquarters: Menlo Park, California
- AUM: $200 million+
FoundersX is an early-stage venture fund, focusing on emerging tech including AI, VR/AR, big data, smart robotics, as well as education tech and mobile lifestyles. The fund focuses on strategic investing and has strong partnerships with major venture funds and high-value network in enterprise ventures.
- Founded: 2017
- Headquarters: Pasadena, California
- AUM: $400 million+
Calibrate is an early stage venture firm that invests across industries. They primarily target Series-A through D rounds, and have invested in artificial intelligence and automation. Notable investments include, Built Robotics, Farmwise, and SoftRobotics.
- Founded: 2015
- Headquarters: San Francisco, California
- AUM: $800 million+
Founded in 2015, Forgepoint is a multistage venture capital firm based in the San Francisco Bay Area. make early and growth stage investments in cybersecurity and adjacent technologies including AI/ML, blockchain, cloud, DevOps, insurtech, fintech, and privacy. Prominent investments include the likes of Deepsea.Ai. The fund usually invests around $10-$50 million per round.
What is the Future of the Automation?
Automation is increasingly expected to replace laborious and repetitive tasks in the coming years. A lot of workers, in fact as much as 50% of those in manufacturing and various other sectors, for example banks, may see their jobs replaced by automation.
While automation reduces need for traditional labor it will increasingly replace these workers with higher-skilled workers who will get paid better wages for their work, largely due to higher productivity.
This should help reduce error, and help with the labor shortages that we have witnessed and will continue to witness. Although, with increasing automation comes risks, and like Toyota found out, not everything can be automated.
While automation reduces need for traditional labor it will increasingly replace these workers with higher-skilled workers who will get paid better wages for their work, largely due to higher productivity.
This should help reduce error, and help with the labor shortages that we have witnessed and will continue to witness. Although, with increasing automation comes risks, and like Toyota found out, not everything can be automated.
- Founded: 1995
- Headquarters: New York City, NY
- AUM: $90 billion+
Insight Partners is an American venture capital and private equity firm based in New York City. The firm seeks to invest in growth-stage technology, software and Internet companies They have invested in over 600 companies and usually there is no typical deal size. They have invested in names such as Blue White Robotics etc.
- Founded: 2017
- Headquarters: Park City, Utah
- AUM: $200 million+
83North is a global venture capital firm with more than $1B under management that invests in European and Israeli entrepreneurs creating global businesses. We back founding teams of consumer and enterprise companies across all stages. They have made a number of automation related investments, and will continue to do so in 2022.
- Founded: 1994
- Headquarters: Stockholm, Sweden
- AUM: $100 billion
EQT is a global investment organization founded in 1994, dedicated to investing in, developing, and owning companies across multiple regions, sectors and business models.
- Founded: 2017
- Headquarters: Park City, Utah
- AUM: $200 million+
We back mission-driven founders working on transformative technology ventures. We thrive in an environment that dares to challenge the status quo. Every day. And always as a team.
What is trending in the Automation industry?
- Improving synergy between data and machines. Software has often been an issue when dealing with automation, as it tends to lag machinery. With AI and IoT, and similar industries coming up, the situation is improving much more quickly.
- AI should help machines with improved learning capabilities, which will help adjust when manufacturers need to change their processes.
- Improved analytics and data should help push industry to improve supply chains and reduce lead times.
- Virtual technology will help engineers track the back end of manufacturing and provide greater safety, transparency and supply chains moving forward.
- Interconnected robots will help improve efficiency and work with each other in order to ensure better outcomes.. Examples include Amazon warehouses, which are increasingly interconnected.
- Founded: 1977
- Headquarters: Menlo Park, California
- AUM: $25 billion
The firm is headquartered in Menlo Park, California and focuses investment stages ranging from seed stage through growth stage across an array of industry sectors. They primarily invest in healthcare and technology, and have made some prominent automation investments, including, BuiltRobotics and Outrider. There is no typical deal size for the fund.
- Founded: 2000
- Headquarters: Park City, Utah
- AUM: $500 million+
Founded in 2000, Signal Peak Ventures is an early-stage venture capital firm based in Salt Lake City, Utah. The firm primarily looks to invest in companies operating in the technology sector and provides mostly Series-A and B round investments. Prominent investments include Deepsea.Ai
- Founded: 2005
- Headquarters: Palo Alto, California
- AUM: $2.8 billion+
Founded in 2005, True Ventures is a Silicon Valley-based venture capital firm that invests in early stage technology startups. The firm invests across industries including, education, consumer devices, infrastructure, media, mobile, and software sectors. With a focus on Series-A investments, the fund looks to invest across different deal sizes, and has invested in prominent names such as Meet Howdy etc.
- Founded: 2014
- Headquarters: San Mateo, California
- AUM: $200 million+
Based out of San Mateo, California, Grit Ventures is a venture capital firm that invests in robotics, supply chain, artificial intelligence and general technology. They look to provide early-stage capital and typically invest in Series-A rounds. They typically invest around $5 million per round and have invested in prominent automation names such as Diligent and Canvas.
Automation Investors
Are you Looking for Automation Investment Firms for Startup?
These are the Automation Investors. At CrowdCreate we can help you, whether you are a startup, or an investor looking to invest in the next big Automation focused startup.
What should investors look for when investing in automation?
- Investors are primarily concerned with whether the technology at hand is viable, had wide application and is scalable. The ability to turn an automation technology into widespread adoption is important and should be the primary concern for investors.
- Look for companies that have a history of performance, and can delivery viable technology.
- Cost factors are also important, and the technology should be affordable for manufacturers to scale.
Automation Investors
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