BEDFORD, MASS. – Soft Robotics Inc. announced a $ 10 million Series B expansion. Soft Robotics will use the capital to further expand its business operations to meet demand fueled by the COVID-19 pandemic and facilitate the launch of its SoftAI-powered robotic solutions. SoftAI adds 3D vision and artificial intelligence technologies to its patented IP69K soft grip to give industrial robots hand-eye coordination closer to that of humans. New layers of robotic “hands,” “eyes” and “brains” are driving the automation of bulk picking processes in the food supply chain.

The round was co-led by Material Impact, Scale Venture Partners and Calibrate Ventures and brings Tyson Ventures, the venture capital arm of Tyson Foods, into the syndicate. ABB Technology Ventures and Tekfen Ventures also participated to complete the round.

“Today’s industrial robots are unable to handle the product variability or unstructured environments typically found in the labor-intensive food supply chain in areas such as agriculture. , food processing and logistics, ”said Mark Chiappetta, COO of Soft Robotics. “With our revolutionary soft-grip, 3D perception and AI technologies, Soft Robotics unlocks robotic automation by augmenting widely available industrial robots with true hand-eye coordination enabling them to perform tasks that traditionally could not be achieved. performed only by human workers. “

Food processors such as Tyson Foods, based in Springdale, Ark., Have a vision for the future in which robotic automation helps improve safety and increase production at their facilities to meet product demand. high quality protein, safe and nutritious. Tyson Foods has invested around $ 500 million in new technology and automation over the past three years and currently uses Soft Robotics.

“At Tyson Ventures, we are continually exploring new areas of automation that can improve safety and increase the productivity of our team members,” said Rahul Ray, senior director of Tyson Ventures. “Soft Robotics’ advanced robotics technology, computer vision and AI platform have the potential to transform the food industry and will play a key role in the automation journey of any business. “

The COVID-19 pandemic has increased pressure to automate in response to workforce challenges and take operational and food security to the next level in food production. Soft Robotics saw increased demand for its products and achieved the two largest sales quarters in the company’s seven-year history.

“These are exciting times for Soft Robotics,” said Jeff Beck, CEO of Soft Robotics. “The vulnerabilities of the food supply chain have been brought to light by the pandemic, making it clear that automation has gone from being a must-have to a must-have in all large-scale food production operations. Soft Robotics’ patented technologies are ready and used today to enable the automation of the processing and packaging of proteins, fruits and vegetables and baked goods. Demand for our SoftAI hardware and software solutions is growing at an unprecedented rate. This new capital will support the exponential growth of Soft Robotics, ensuring that automation plays a major role in protecting the food supply from future disruptions.