Pivot Robots Secures Funding from NuVentures to Revolutionize Industrial Automation

US-based artificial intelligence (AI) startup Pivot Robots has successfully raised an undisclosed amount of funding from early-stage venture fund NuVentures. This investment will support the startup's plans for team expansion, particularly in the areas of motion planning and computer vision, as well as the testing of additional robots and the establishment of an office space.

Empowering Manufacturers with AI

Pivot Robots, part of Y Combinator's 2024 cohort, was founded in 2023 by Carnegie Mellon University graduates Siddharth Girdhar and Vignesh Rajmohan. The company leverages AI vision control software to automate industrial robots, assisting manufacturers in automating their most labor-intensive tasks. The initial product focuses on the grinding of metal parts, a task that is not only labor-intensive but also hazardous.

“At Pivot Robots, we are making software for robot arms to help manufacturers automate some of their most labor-intensive tasks,” said co-founder Siddharth Girdhar. “We are starting by focusing on the use case of surface finishing, especially grinding of metals after they come out of foundries. These are very dangerous tasks, and ideally speaking, no human should be doing it. So, we think it's the perfect use case for robots to come in.”

While currently focused on the US market, Pivot Robots has ambitious plans to expand into large manufacturing hubs like India within the next two years. This expansion will enable the company to tap into the significant demand for automation solutions in these regions.

Support from NuVentures

Bengaluru-based NuVentures, founded by Venk Krishnan of technology and IT services company NuWare, has a track record of backing innovative companies. Previous investments include insurtech startup Acko, coffee chain Third Wave Coffee, and data analytics firm Mu Sigma. NuVentures has also supported RagaAI, a firm specializing in AI testing and safety founded by former Ola Electric and NVIDIA executive Gaurav Agarwal.

“In Sid (Siddharth Girdhar) and Vignesh (Rajmohan), I found two passionate entrepreneurs who had a clear vision and a disruptive way to improve efficiency in the manufacturing sector - I believe that most of the innovations in AI will come out of the top institutions in the US and India where a lot of research work is done,” said Venk Krishnan, founder of NuVentures.

With the new funding, Pivot Robots is well-positioned to advance its mission of automating hazardous and labor-intensive tasks in the manufacturing industry. As the company grows its team and expands its market reach, it is set to make significant contributions to the field of industrial automation