BERKELEY, CA–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Ambi Robotics, the first robotics company to use Sim2Real artificial intelligence (AI) in commercial production for package sorting, today announced $32 million in additional funding. Joining existing investors Tiger Global and Bow Capital are Ahren and the company’s strategic partner Pitney Bowes. The funding will spur growth in the deployment of AI-powered parcel sorting systems as customer demand increases ahead of the main holiday season and throughout 2023.
“Consumer shopping behavior calls for a more modern warehouse. The burdens of increasing parcel volumes should not rest on the shoulders of supply chains’ most valuable asset – people,” said Jim Liefer, CEO of Ambi Robotics. “It is humbling to see such seasoned investors step forward and contribute to the success of our mission of empowering people to accomplish more.”
This announcement follows a $23 million deal to expand delivery with global shipping and mail company Pitney Bowes. Ambi Robotics is completing the installation of more than 80 brand new AmbiSort A-Series parcel sorting solutions in the US to provide warehouse workers with automated sorting systems in response to increasing retail demand.
“Ambi Robotics is an important part of an innovation strategy that helps Pitney Bowes improve service to our customers and efficiently grow our global e-commerce business,” said Gregg Zegras, EVP and President, Global e-Commerce at Pitney Bowes. “At Ambi Robotics, we see the same commitment to customer-centric innovation that has helped Pitney Bowes thrive and thrive in the marketplace for over 100 years. We look forward to continuing to work together to drive innovation across our global e-commerce hubs.”
Ambi Robotics deploys its next-generation AmbiSort A-Series v3, an improved model of the company’s flagship product that is fully compliant with American National Safety Institute (ANSI) safety regulations. AmbiSort systems are full-stack sorting solutions that combine robotic picking, item analysis and quality control with a proprietary “soft-touch” end effector that handles cartons, flat bags, polybags and other deformable or rigid items. Each warehouse employee can work alongside three to four AmbiSort A-Series systems, increasing the average throughput per employee to over 1,200 safely sorted items per hour with an accuracy of over 99%. AmbiSort systems are based on AmbiOS, the company’s advanced operating system, which uses simulation-to-reality (Sim2Real) AI technology to quickly teach robots to pick and pack millions of unique items on the first day of staging.
“We are relentlessly committed to supporting DeepTech companies at the intersection of breakthrough science and cutting-edge technology – a sweet spot that is having a positive impact on the world,” said Alice Newcombe-Ellis, Founding Member and General Partner at Ahren. “Since the team’s groundbreaking discoveries in Sim2Real AI, Ambi Robotics has remained focused on using its technology to solve real-world problems and enable critical services companies to serve a crowded supply chain and deliver to individuals worldwide.”
The additional funding will propel Ambi Robotics to achieve several milestones over the next 12 months, particularly in the areas of deployments and installations, expanding its product portfolio and continuing the company’s investments in building a world-class engineering, customer support team and operations , and supply chain professionals.
About Ambi Robotics
Ambi Robotics is an artificial intelligence (AI) and robotics company that creates advanced solutions that scale e-commerce operations to meet demand while empowering people to work smarter. The company’s industry-leading AI operating system, AmbiOS, uses advanced simulation-to-reality technology to power highly dexterous robotic systems. Founded in 2018, the world’s leading roboticists, AI researchers and business leaders work together to build the supply chain’s most valuable systems. The company is based in Berkeley, California. Visit www.ambirobotics.com for more information.
About Ahren
Ahren is a deep tech and deep science investment firm co-founded by Alice Newcombe-Ellis with Science Partners who have created companies and/or technologies that are collectively valued in excess of $100 billion today. The firm was founded from the start with a mission to be disruptive as an investment institution, with a new model – a true partnership between the creators of deep technology and deep science and commercially active, long-term capital to leverage tremendous global talent and the next Build generations of great companies and accelerate exponentially. Ahren’s portfolio companies include AI21 Labs, Graphcore, Zapata Computing, ZOE, Phaidra, Heirloom Carbon and Bicycle Therapeutics, among others. Ahren has >$800m in assets under management and has team members in Cambridge (UK) and London. Learn more at www.ahreninnovationcapital.com.
About Pitney Bowes
Pitney Bowes (NYSE:PBI) is a global shipping and mail company that provides technology, logistics and financial services to more than 90 percent of the Fortune 500. Small businesses, retailers, large corporations and government customers around the world rely on Pitney Bowes to take the complexity out of sending mail and packages. For the latest news, corporate announcements and financial results, visit https://www.pitneybowes.com/us/newsroom.html. For more information, visit Pitney Bowes at www.pitneybowes.com.
About Tiger Global
Tiger Global is an investment firm focused on private and public companies in the Internet, software and financial technology sectors. Since 2001, Tiger Global’s venture business has invested in hundreds of companies ranging from Series A to pre-IPO. The company seeks partnerships with dynamic entrepreneurs who operate market-leading companies in their core areas. Tiger Global’s investments included Stripe, Shein, Bytedance, Meta (formerly Facebook), LinkedIn, Spotify, Flipkart and Toast.
About arch capital
Bow Capital Management, LLC (“Bow”) is an early-stage investment firm formed in partnership with the University of California to accelerate the journey of innovation from science to society. Bow strives to combine the best of science, sports, entertainment and business. We believe the world is undergoing a fundamental shift towards Civilization 3.0, a new era where data, ideas and imagination are the raw materials to disrupt industries and build new ones. Our investments target entrepreneurs and technologies that have the potential to impact billions of lives.
