Connected Robotics

About Connected Robotics

Connected Robotics is a Japanese company that develops specialized robot systems for cooking and other tasks in the food industry. Founded in 2014 by Tetsuya Sawanobori, the company aims to address labor shortages, improve productivity, and enhance food safety by automating repetitive and physically demanding tasks in restaurant kitchens and food factories.

The founder's motivation stems from his personal experience in the restaurant industry, where he suffered from overwork. Sawanobori holds a BS in Engineering from Tokyo University and an MS in Informatics from Kyoto University. After working in the food industry and later as a robot controller development manager at an MIT-born startup, he founded Connected Robotics, initially as an AI/robot controller development business, before pivoting to focus on the food industry in 2017.

The company's business model is Robotics-as-a-Service (RaaS), which includes an initial installation cost and an annual fee. This model focuses on software and add-on hardware development, allowing for the integration of various robot arms to provide affordable and space-efficient solutions for existing facilities. Connected Robotics serves clients such as restaurants, shopping malls, service areas, and food factories. Their technology combines advanced robot control with AI-powered image processing and machine learning to handle irregularly shaped and diverse food items. By using simulations, the company can reduce trial testing costs and lead times for implementation.

Some of their developed products include the "OctoChef" for making takoyaki (fried octopus balls), "Reita" for serving soft-serve ice cream, a French Fries Robot, a soba robot, and "Delibot," a plating robot. They have also been developing an automated dishwasher system and a hot snacks robot for convenience stores. The company has secured significant funding through multiple rounds, including a Series A round of ¥850 million (approximately $7.8 million USD) in 2019 and a Series B round of ¥1.7 billion. Key investors include Global Brain Corporation, Sony Innovation Fund, UTokyo Innovation Platform, and Hoshizaki Corporation.