Robart

The core of Robart's offering is its proprietary navigation technology, which allows household robots to understand and map their indoor environment. This system uses a combination of sensors and artificial intelligence to create room maps, respond to changes in the surroundings, and execute specific tasks like "clean the kitchen." Users can interact with the robots remotely via smartphone or tablet, pinpointing the robot's location and giving commands. Robart's business model focused on supplying these complete, ready-to-use control units, which include the sensor, electronics, and software, to prominent clients such as BSH, Rowenta, Kärcher, and Medion. By providing the underlying AI and navigation, the company aimed to become a leading system for home robots, similar to Android's role in mobile phones.

Over its history, Robart secured significant funding from notable investors including Robert Bosch Venture Capital, Innovacom, SEB Alliance, and Crédit Mutuel Innovation. The company raised a Series A round in 2014, a €6.1 million Series B round in 2017, and a $9 million debt financing round from the European Investment Bank in 2020. Headquartered in Linz, Austria, the company expanded its operations with branches in China, Germany, and the USA to support its global clientele. However, the company faced significant financial challenges, leading to insolvency proceedings in September 2023. This followed a failed acquisition plan by its main customer, Groupe SEB, and the termination of a partnership with another key client, which led to substantial revenue loss.