Launchpad, the AI-first robotics company, has closed an $11 million Series A funding round, aiming to fundamentally reshape the manufacturing sector. The investment, co-led by Lavrock Ventures and Squadra Ventures, with participation from Lockheed Martin Ventures, Ericsson Ventures, and the Scottish National Investment Bank, is earmarked to accelerate the development of its AI-powered automation solutions across the US, UK, and Europe.
The manufacturing industry faces a looming crisis: a significant talent shortage, with Deloitte projecting up to 1.9 million unfilled US positions by 2033. While robotics offer a clear solution, the high cost of traditional systems has historically been a barrier, particularly for small to medium-sized firms. This has led to a 9% drop in US robot installations in 2024, according to the International Federation of Robotics. Launchpad aims to disrupt this trend.
AI's Role in Reshaping the Factory Floor
Launchpad's core innovation lies in its advanced AI tools, which the company claims can halve the time and cost of deploying automation. This approach is designed to make sophisticated robotics accessible and affordable, addressing the industry's workforce challenges by enabling a more seamless integration of human and robotic labor.
"Launchpad has built a technology that is helping manufacturers manage the optimal integration of humans and robots," said Jon Quick, CEO of Launchpad. "We see AI tools, such as those being pioneered by Launchpad, as reimagining the manufacturing industry and revitalizing local economies."
The company, which also secured $2.5 million in grant funding from Scottish Enterprise and operates a new R&D center in Edinburgh, is betting on AI to not only fill labor gaps but also to drive a new era of competitive domestic manufacturing. Guy Filippelli, Managing Partner at Squadra Ventures, highlighted the urgency, noting America has lost over a quarter of its manufacturing jobs since 2020. "With Launchpad, we’re rewriting that story – using AI to build a new era of globally competitive domestic manufacturing that can win and lead the future," he stated. This Launchpad Series A round signals a strong investor belief in AI's potential to transform industrial production.
