Standard Bots, a Glen Cove, NY-based developer of AI-native industrial robots, has raised $200M in Series C funding led by RoboStrategy and General Catalyst. The company builds affordable robot arms that learn tasks through demonstration rather than complex coding, targeting US manufacturers facing labor shortages. The capital will accelerate US manufacturing expansion and production capacity.
Robotics Funding Hits Record Highs
The timing aligns with surging investor interest in automation. Bedrock Robotics raised $270M Series B in February 2026. Standard Bots differentiates through vertical integration and domestic production, addressing gaps left by global players reliant on foreign supply chains.
Labor Shortages Drive Automation Push
US manufacturers struggle with persistent workforce gaps in machining, welding, and assembly. Current industrial robots often require specialized programming expertise and long deployment times, limiting adoption among smaller shops. Standard Bots targets this with 5-day setup and no-code interfaces.
AI-Native Arms Outpace Legacy Systems
The company offers models including Spark, Core, and Thor with payloads from 7kg to 30kg, priced from $29,500. Robots use vision systems and cloud-trained models for real-time adaptation. Unlike traditional systems from FANUC or Universal Robots, Standard Bots emphasizes teach-by-demonstration and US-based support.
As CEO Evan Beard stated in coverage:
"AI-native robots are the essential power tool of the 21st century. AI will enable industrial robots to perform dramatically more tasks autonomously."
Mission Capital Backs Domestic Robotics
RoboStrategy led the round as a specialist in robotics and AI with a focus on US manufacturing. General Catalyst followed on from its Series B investment, joined by GiantLeap Capital and Samsung Next. The mix signals strong conviction in reshoring and AI-physical systems.
Industrial Robot Market Expands Rapidly
The industrial robots market stands at $24.43 billion in 2026, projected to reach $77.36 billion by 2034 at 15.5% CAGR. Cobots are growing even faster. Competitors like Figure AI have raised $1.75B while Universal Robots operates under Teradyne after a $285M acquisition path. Standard Bots positions itself as the only fully US vertically integrated AI option.
CEO Evan Beard Shapes National Strategy
Evan Beard has testified before Congress on robotics policy multiple times and advises the White House on frontier technologies. His background in building accessible automation platforms informs the company's emphasis on American manufacturing competitiveness.
Facility Expansion Targets Scale
With the new funding, Standard Bots plans to grow its Glen Cove facility to 70,000 square feet. The company aims to deliver 10% of all new US industrial robot deployments next year while scaling production tenfold.