8 Cambridge founders raised $2.85b to build robots

Cambridge is producing a lot of robots.

Well, founders who went to Cambridge are.

Across humanoid robotics, industrial automation, autonomous vehicles, and surgical robotics, eight companies founded by Cambridge alumni have collectively raised $2.85 billion. Some are scaling aggressively, others have been snapped up in acquisitions, but all are reshaping the robotics landscape in the UK and beyond.

Humanoid Robots

Cambridge-founded K-Scale Labs is taking a radical approach to humanoid robotics: open-source everything. Backed by Y Combinator (W24), K-Scale’s flagship robot, Stompy, is a 4-foot humanoid designed to be built for under $10,000 using 3D-printable parts. Founded by ex-Tesla, Meta, and Lockheed engineers, the company aims to democratize embodied AI by combining scalable robotics foundation models with low-cost hardware. Their bet? The more developers experimenting with embodied intelligence, the faster general-purpose robots become commercially viable.

Industrial Robotics

Neptune Robotics, founded by Cambridge alumni, is targeting a surprisingly overlooked climate problem - biofouling on ship hulls, which can increase fuel consumption by up to 18%. The startup’s AI-powered robotic hull-cleaning ROVs are deployed in 60 ports across China, with plans to expand globally. The Hong Kong-based startup raised $17.25 million in a Series A led by Sequoia China, Matrix Partners China, and SOSV to scale its fuel-saving and emissions-cutting technology.

Meanwhile, Dogtooth Robotics is tackling labor shortages in agriculture. The company’s AI-driven strawberry-picking robots have been deployed across UK and Australian farms, reducing reliance on seasonal labor. With their fifth-generation robots now in production, Dogtooth is scaling up manufacturing and exploring new markets - including robotic harvesting for raspberries, apples, and other crops.

Autonomous Vehicles

If there’s one AV company leading the UK’s self-driving ambitions, it’s Wayve. Founded in 2017, the Cambridge-born startup has raised $1.05 billion from SoftBank, Microsoft, and NVIDIA, marking the largest AI investment in UK history. Unlike traditional AV companies relying on HD mapping, Wayve’s AI-first approach enables vehicles to learn and adapt dynamically. With fleet partnerships including Ocado and Asda, the startup is expanding operations in both the UK and the US, positioning itself as a global AV contender.

Honorable mention also to Five.ai, a former robotaxi startup turned B2B autonomous software company, which was acquired by Bosch in 2022. After raising $78 million, Five pivoted to software development before Bosch outbid competitors for its IP and 140-person team. The acquisition highlights a broader trend in AV consolidation, as legacy automakers snap up startups to accelerate self-driving tech.

Surgical Robotics

Cambridge’s robotics ecosystem isn’t just about automation - it’s also transforming surgery, unsurprising given the ecosystems strengths in life sciences alongside robotics and engineering. CMR Surgical is the UK’s leading surgical robotics startup, pioneering minimally invasive procedures with its Versius system. The company has raised a staggering $765 million, including a $600M Series D led by SoftBank and Tencent, valuing it at $3 billion - the largest robotics fundraise in Europe. Deployed across NHS hospitals and global markets, Versius is taking on Intuitive Surgical’s da Vinci, making the UK a serious player in the future of robotic surgery.

Another major player, Medical Microinstruments (MMI), is pushing the boundaries of microsurgery. Their Symani Surgical System, featuring the world’s smallest wristed robotic instruments, is tackling procedures like vascular repair and neurosurgery. Recently securing FDA De Novo Classification, Symani is the only commercially available microsurgery robot in the US. MMI has raised $110 million from Fidelity, Andera Partners, RA Capital, and others, with its tech already deployed in over 1,000 clinical cases across 35 countries. Recognized as a TIME Best Invention of 2024, MMI is redefining precision surgery.

Who’s going to come through the Cambridge ecosystem next?

With $2.85 billion raised, Cambridge’s robotics scene is booming across humanoids, industrial automation, AVs, and surgical robotics. But the ecosystem is also entering a phase of consolidation, as seen with Five.ai’s acquisition by Bosch. Expect more M&A activity as global tech giants and automakers look to acquire deep-tech talent.

Meanwhile, AI-first robotics companies like Wayve are pushing new frontiers, leveraging foundation models, reinforcement learning, and embodied AI. If the past decade was about proving robotics could work, the next decade is about scale - and Cambridge is leading the charge among the UK’s venture flywheel.

If you’re a Cambridge student or alumni building a robotics startup, get in touch - would love to support however I can.