Jeremy Levine
Alex Ferrara
Talia Goldberg
David Cowan
Alexandra Sukin
Bhavik Nagda
Jason Scheller
50 startups transforming industries with physical AI
After decades of promise, autonomous systems and robotics are moving from labs to factory floors and households — powered by breakthroughs in AI and hardware.
The convergence of AI and robotics is reshaping the physical world across every imaginable industry, from defense and manufacturing to healthcare and consumer experiences. At our very first Robotics Day in San Francisco, we gathered founders, builders, and researchers in intelligent automation and robotics. The experts, alongside our investment team, explored the fundamental shift from software-only AI systems to embodied intelligence — machines that can see, understand, and act in dynamic environments. This transformation represents one of the most significant technological inflections of our generation, with applications spanning autonomous vehicles, defense systems, agriculture, and beyond.
In our latest research, the robotics market is experiencing explosive growth driven by three key factors: breakthrough advances in AI foundation models that enable better perception and decision-making, dramatic reductions in hardware costs, and acute labor shortages across critical industries. By 2035, it’s expected that there will be over 2.5 billion robots worldwide, but this figure understates the true opportunity — as robots become more capable and general-purpose, they’ll create entirely new markets rather than simply automating existing workflows.
The companies leading this revolution share common characteristics:
- World-class technical teams combining robotics, AI, and systems engineering expertise
- Focus on high-value, repeatable use cases that justify the complexity of deploying physical systems
- Deep partnerships with customers who can provide the real-world data necessary for continuous improvement
Most importantly, these companies are building full-stack solutions that integrate hardware, software, and AI rather than betting on pure software or commoditized hardware alone.
Companies shaping the future of robotics and autonomous systems
While the industry has yet to reach the “ChatGPT moment” for robotics, advancements in autonomous systems and robotics have already reached commercial success, influencing our everyday lives. As we surveyed the landscape, two companies — Waymo and Anduril Industries — were undeniable leaders serving as clear examples of what’s possible for founders to achieve as they turn physical AI research into new applications, transforming their given industries.
In total, we’ve identified 50 of the most promising private companies — the innovators we believe will define the next decade of physical AI. These names represent the vanguard of intelligent automation across several key categories:
Autonomous vehicles
The race to autonomous transportation continues to accelerate, with applications ranging from long-haul trucking to last-mile delivery to ridesharing.
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Leading robotaxi service with commercial deployment in major cities throughout the U.S. |
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Simulation and validation platform powering AV development |
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AI driver software to equip a range of vehicles with autonomous capabilities |
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Next-generation self-driving technology leveraging generative AI |
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Custom-built autonomous delivery vehicles |
Climate and agriculture
Robotics is addressing the agricultural labor crisis while also improving sustainability.
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AI-powered weeding robots reducing herbicide use |
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Autonomous platform for orchard management |
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AI-powered autonomous fire suppression drones |
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Autonomous field robots for agricultural tasks |
Consumer robotics
By bringing intelligent automation into everyday life, consumer robotics is paving the way for a future where robots operate more widely amongst humans.
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Humanoid robots for commercial applications |
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Autonomous home cleaning robots |
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Robotic household care that handles everyday tasks |
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Autonomous drone delivery at scale |
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General-purpose humanoid robots |
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Largest fleet of autonomous sidewalk delivery robots |
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Household robotics for various tasks |
Defense
Defense is being reimagined by these companies offering autonomous systems for ensuring national security.
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Advanced autonomous defense systems, including drones, submarines, and AI-powered software platforms |
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Mass-produced attritable first-person view drones |
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Orchestration platform for multi-domain autonomous systems |
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AI-enabled autonomous systems for defense for autonomous drone operations |
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Autonomous surface vessels for maritime defense |
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AI pilot software and autonomous aircraft for military aviation |
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Autonomous drones and docking systems with advanced AI for public safety |
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Voice-command orchestration for autonomous systems |
Generalized foundation models
These companies are building the AI brains that will power the next generation of robots.
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Spatial intelligence to build foundation models for AI capable of understanding and generating 3D worlds |
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Embodied AGI for general-purpose robots |
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Foundation models for robotic manipulation |
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Base perceptive models for robotics |
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Foundation models for robotic manipulation |
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Scalable robot learning platform |
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Robotics that masters physics through self-supervised learning and sim-to-real reinforcement learning. |
Health and life sciences
In the healthcare and life sciences industry, these precision robotics companies are transforming the delivery of care.
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AI-powered scientists and autonomous labs to accelerate materials discovery in the physical sciences |
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Focalist — an FDA-cleared handheld robotic system for assistance in high-precision medical procedures |
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Chemical manufacturing accelerating materials R&D through AI and robotics labs |
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AI-powered autonomous robotics system for life sciences labs |
Industrial robotics
From reimagining manufacturing to automating warehouses, these companies are leading the way in industrial robotics.
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Autonomous systems for industrial environments |
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Mobile collaborative robot and platform |
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Aerial intelligence for industrial sites |
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AI-driven industrial manipulation |
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Warehouse automation and robotics |
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Industrial AI and robotics training |
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Robotics intelligence for autonomous operations |
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Autonomy software for robots navigating dynamic unstructured environments |
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Autonomous legged robots for industrial applications |
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Full-stack platform for autonomy |
Robotics infrastructure
Last, but certainly not least, these companies are the foundational tools enabling the entire ecosystem.
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High-performance simulation platform for building, testing, and training autonomous systems |
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Full-stack observability platform for visualization and debugging tools for robotics |
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Precision positioning for autonomous systems |
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Visual AI and computer vision data platform |
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AI-powered GPS for military drones using vision-based technology and sensor fusion |
The next generation of physical AI
The leaders on this list represent more than just technological innovation; they’re building the physical infrastructure of the AI age. As foundation models advance and training data from deployed robots create powerful feedback loops, we expect to see rapid capability improvements and expanding addressable markets. The winners in this space will be those who can navigate the unique challenges of physical AI, such as:
- Managing the complexity of real-world deployments
- Building trusting relationships with enterprises concerning critical safety applications
- Developing sustainable unit economics despite the high R&D costs facing the industry
As talent continues to migrate from leading AI labs to robotics startups, the next few years will separate those building genuine technological moats from those riding the wave of hype. If you’re a founder building in this space, we encourage you to connect with us. Contact us at robotics@bvp.com.
