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

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

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.