Robohub.org
 

2014 fundings, IPOs, acquisitions, and failures (Updated)


by
20 January 2015



share this:

From the 2014 archives of The Robot Report: 30 fundings, acquisitions, IPOs and failures with some staggering figures. UPDATED Jan 20, 2015 to include additions from Travis Deyle’s Hizook blog, and on January 7 to include Rethink Robotics equity funding and the acquisition of RobotWorx. 

[All citations below can be found in the 2014 archives of The Robot Report or by searching in the red search box on the menu bar above.]

$1.08+ billion in Acquisitions:

  • Deepmind was acquired by Google for $643 million;
  • Swisslog was acquired by Kuka for $357 million;
  • Titan Aerospace got $60 million;
  • Infotron got $10 million;
  • RobotWorx got $7.7 from NZ Scott Technology;
  • and Reis Robotics, Airbotix, Novauris, Softeo and EMU all got acquired for unknown amounts.

$101.1+ million in IPOs:

  • ReWalk got $36 for their IPO;
  • Ekso $30.3;
  • Titan Medical $34.8
  • and Cyberdyne got an unknown amount.

$424.2 million in equity fundings (seed, crowd, series A,B,C,D, VC, etc.):

Large and small — but steadily throughout the year, all types of funding for robotic startups and spin-offs occurred during 2014.

Many got large fundings:

  • Anki got $55 million in Series C funding*;
  • Restoration Robotics got $45 million*;
  • Airware got $25 million;
  • Vicarious got $12 million;
  • Rethink Robotics got $26.6;
  • Medrobotics got $46 (in two separate fundings);
  • Arago got $55;
  • Corindus $26;
  • Skycatch $16.4*;
  • Persimmon Technologies $15.2*;
  • Qbotix $12*;
  • Kespry $10*;
  • Mujin $6*;
  • Remotive $5*;
  • Knightscope $6.7;
  • PrecisionHawk $10;
  • Orbotix got $21.1; and
  • Play-i got $8.

Smaller fundings included:

  • JIBO at $2.2 million (IndieGoGo);
  • Monsieur $2;
  • Railpod $2.5*;
  • Zano $3.5 (Kickstarter UK)
  • Virtual Incision $4*;
  • Modular Robotics $3.1*;
  • Riverfield $2*;
  • Cyberhawk Innovations $1.9*;
  • Savioke $2*;
  • EMU $1.5 but was later acquired by Google;
  • Hibot $3.1; and
  • Ozobot $2.

Failures:

  • Seegrid filed for bankruptcy to reorganize if at all possible
  • Unbounded Robotics closed up shop for lack of funding


tags: ,


Frank Tobe is the owner and publisher of The Robot Report, and is also a panel member for Robohub's Robotics by Invitation series.
Frank Tobe is the owner and publisher of The Robot Report, and is also a panel member for Robohub's Robotics by Invitation series.





Related posts :



Robot Talk Episode 131 – Empowering game-changing robotics research, with Edith-Clare Hall

  31 Oct 2025
In the latest episode of the Robot Talk podcast, Claire chatted to Edith-Clare Hall from the Advanced Research and Invention Agency about accelerating scientific and technological breakthroughs.

A flexible lens controlled by light-activated artificial muscles promises to let soft machines see

  30 Oct 2025
Researchers have designed an adaptive lens made of soft, light-responsive, tissue-like materials.

Social media round-up from #IROS2025

  27 Oct 2025
Take a look at what participants got up to at the IEEE/RSJ International Conference on Intelligent Robots and Systems.

Using generative AI to diversify virtual training grounds for robots

  24 Oct 2025
New tool from MIT CSAIL creates realistic virtual kitchens and living rooms where simulated robots can interact with models of real-world objects, scaling up training data for robot foundation models.

Robot Talk Episode 130 – Robots learning from humans, with Chad Jenkins

  24 Oct 2025
In the latest episode of the Robot Talk podcast, Claire chatted to Chad Jenkins from University of Michigan about how robots can learn from people and assist us in our daily lives.

Robot Talk at the Smart City Robotics Competition

  22 Oct 2025
In a special bonus episode of the podcast, Claire chatted to competitors, exhibitors, and attendees at the Smart City Robotics Competition in Milton Keynes.

Robot Talk Episode 129 – Automating museum experiments, with Yuen Ting Chan

  17 Oct 2025
In the latest episode of the Robot Talk podcast, Claire chatted to Yuen Ting Chan from Natural History Museum about using robots to automate molecular biology experiments.

What’s coming up at #IROS2025?

  15 Oct 2025
Find out what the International Conference on Intelligent Robots and Systems has in store.



 

Robohub is supported by:




Would you like to learn how to tell impactful stories about your robot or AI system?


scicomm
training the next generation of science communicators in robotics & AI


 












©2025.05 - Association for the Understanding of Artificial Intelligence