Agility Robotics Raises $150M for Workplace Robots

Agility Robotics has raised $150M in its latest fundraising round, bringing overall funding since its 2015 establishment to $180M. Investors include DCVC and Playground Global, as well as Amazon’s Industrial Innovation Fund. 

The latest funding will help accelerate Agility’s pipeline of workplace robots – designed to work alongside people in logistics and warehouse environments – and double its existing workforce. The recent round marks one of the group’s largest investments to date, following a boost in 2021 with public offerings from Dutch Bros, Expensify, Vacasa and ESS Tech.

“Unprecedented consumer and corporate demand have created an extraordinary need for robots to support people in the workplace,” Agility CEO Damion Shelton said in a statement. “With this investment, Agility can ramp up the delivery of robots to fill roles where there’s an unmet need.”

Since its inception, the Oregon startup has developed robots that can walk on two legs, climb stairs and carry objects, offering businesses what Agility says is a “blended workforce” as they are designed to assist human workers by taking on more mundane and repetitive tasks. The group’s current model, Digit, can move in every direction – even over uneven terrain – can balance when bumped, and adapts to obstacles such as other workers or barriers. 

According to Agility, its most advanced robots are yet to come and are set to be deployed later this year.

“Agility is set to make a powerful impact, developing and shipping robots that are built to co-exist seamlessly in our lives,” said Bruce Leak, general partner at Playground Global. “Since Agility’s earliest days, we’ve believed their unique technical approach stands alone in being able to deliver on the promise of practical everyday robots.”

Labor shortages and supply chain disruptions have driven investors to Agility’s robotic solutions, with Katherine Chen, head of Amazon Industrial Innovation Fund, saying the group was selected for investment due to its ability to “solve the world’s toughest problems across customer fulfillment operations, logistics, and supply chain solutions.”

The new funding has also allowed Agility to expand its operations; scaling up its Oregon and Palo Alto facilities and opening a new Pittsburgh office. The group’s workforce is similarly expected to increase, with estimations suggesting its headcount will double by 2024.