Chef Robotics’ Post

San Francisco–based robotics startup Armstrong has raised $12 million from investors including Lerer Hippeau, Bloomberg Beta, and Next Play Ventures to scale its AI-powered dishwashing robots. Founded by Axel Hansen and Jonah Varon (who previously sold a company to LinkedIn), Armstrong is tackling one of the toughest jobs in restaurants—dishwashing, which sees high turnover despite $20/hour wages. The company’s robots are already washing over one million dishes annually for major restaurant chains, operating 24/7 under a monthly subscription that covers installation, operation, and maintenance. Using advanced neural networks and 3D perception, the robots can identify and clean messy dish piles with precision, integrating into existing commercial dish systems without workflow disruption. Armstrong’s broader goal: to create general-purpose kitchen robots that will soon take on prep, cooking, and cleaning tasks, helping restaurants stay open, efficient, and profitable amid ongoing labor shortages. Read more: https://lnkd.in/e-FsR4TC

US$3.45M seed for Rolo Robotics, led by BEENEXT - to scale autonomous micro-kitchens from Singapore to Australia (Q1 2026). ROLO's MAYA 3.0 is a compact, unmanned fast-food kiosk that cooks to order (robotic arms + ChefOS). The pitch: 24/7 availability, tighter cost control, higher consistency. Why this matters: F&B wages in Singapore rose in 2024 and the market remains tight; automation is moving from pilots to rollouts. Globally, robotics funding is back in force, putting practical, revenue-linked use cases in focus. Landscape check: peers tackling automated quick-service include Miso Robotics (back-of-house frying), RoboBurger Inc (burger kiosks) and Hyper Food Robotics Ltd. (containerized pizza units). ROLO's bet is "freshly cooked, small-footprint" versatility (noodles, salads, pasta, wok) built for campuses, hospitals and transit. If ROLO can prove unit economics across 20–30 sites in SG by 2026, this becomes an infrastructure network, not just machines. ● Founders: Ravi Nahappan, Tushar Mohan  ● Total raised: US$3.45M (disclosed)  ● HQ: Singapore   ● Investors: BEENEXT; A2D Ventures; Antler; Blueprint Ventures; Seedstars; Singapore University of Technology and Design (SUTD) Ventures; Angels: Valentin Schillo, Gil Rodriguez   ● Partners: Singapore University of Technology and Design (SUTD) (pilot announced, 2024); Panasonic (collaboration, as reported 2024)

🤖 What's brewing in robotics innovation? We just dropped a podcast recap from RoboBusiness 2025—and it's packed with insights from 10 game-changing startups. We sat down with founders building everything from collaborative robots to autonomous systems, uncovering the tech and strategies shaping the industry right now. These aren't just cool demos—they're solutions tackling real manufacturing and logistics challenges. • Why it matters: Early-stage robotics companies are pushing boundaries in automation, and understanding their vision helps us all stay ahead of what's next. Follow for more robotics and AI coverage straight from the industry's biggest events! 🚀 #Robotics #RoboBusiness #AI #Startups #Automation #Innovation #AMR #Humanoids Source: https://lnkd.in/gp2cG85f

This startup is pushing the limits of robotics and sustainability with their creative approach. It’s always inspiring to see how technology can shape a smarter and greener future. 🌍 #Innovation #Robotics #Startup #Sustainability #FutureTech

🚀 Startup spotlight from Automate 2025 What a week it was at the Automate Show. One of the big moments came when Kinisi was named the winner of theStartup Competition. Founder Brennand Pierce sat down with Brian Heater to talk about where his team fits in today’s robotics landscape and how Kinisi is keeping its focus on solving real problems for real customers. Their approach is all about practicality: using proven technology, training smarter AI systems, and designing robots that work reliably in the field. #AutomateShow #AutomateLive #RoboticsStartups #IndustrialAI #Automation

100 robotics startups to watch The Startup Radar profiles 100 robotics startups, each five years old or younger, that are working to shape the future of robotics. https://lnkd.in/dx87Q--A

🍜 Rolo Robotics Raises $3.45M to Scale Autonomous Micro-Kitchens This Singapore based is company redefining how food is prepared and served. Their autonomous micro-kitchens combine robotics, automation, and AI to deliver fresh, customizable meals. "At ROLO, we believe the future of food service is human-robot collaboration, food that's affordable, customisable and always fresh," said Ravi Nahappan, Co-Founder & CEO. Seedstars International Ventures participated in the $3.45M oversubscribed Seed round, led by BEENEXT with participation from Blueprint Ventures, , A2D Ventures, Antler, and LotusOne Investment. The round will fuel ROLO’s expansion in Singapore and Australia, accelerating the future of autonomous dining. Discover more here: https://seedsta.rs/4qYvqYv #SeedstarsPortfolio

From four-legged models to AI-enabled appendages, startups making robots that aren’t in the human form also abound. To illustrate, we used Crunchbase data to assemble a sample list of 26 companies in the non-humanoid robot startup sector that have raised rounds in the past few quarters. It’s a varied lot, with focus areas ranging from farming to pool cleaning to massaging. #vc #startups https://lnkd.in/g3c8RN29

🚀 Sydney startup Hullbot raises $16 million to clean up the seas 🌊 Huge congratulations to Hullbot, the Sydney-based robotics company using autonomous technology to make global shipping cleaner and more efficient. Hullbot has raised AUD $16 million in Series A funding, led by U.S.-based Regeneration.VC with support from Climate Tech Partners, Katapult Ocean, Folklore Ventures, Trinity Ventures, Rypples, NewSouth Innovations, and Bandera Capital. Winner of the Australian Good Design Award of the Year, Hullbot’s autonomous hull-cleaning robots remove biofouling (the buildup that slows ships and increases fuel use) cutting emissions by up to 26% and preventing thousands of tonnes of CO₂ from entering the atmosphere. The new funding will help scale production of its Australian-made robots, expand international service hubs, and launch BigBot, a larger, next-gen model that can travel with ships on their journeys. 🔗 Read more about Hullbot in the comments. #Hullbot #StartupNews #Robotics #CleanTech #Funding #MaritimeInnovation #Decarbonisation Bronwyn Fox AO Stephen Rodda Jamie Conyngham Dax Kukulj Maria Halasz Beste Onay Leo Stevens David J. Heffer UNSW Founders

Singapore-based robotics startup Rolo Robotics has raised US$3.45 million in a seed funding round backed by a global consortium of investors, including A2D Ventures, BEENEXT, Seedstars, TIS Japan, Antler, Lotus One Investment, and Blueprint Ventures. The round also saw continued support from angel investors Valentin Schillo and Gilbert Rodrigues. The fresh capital will accelerate the rollout of ROLO’s autonomous food robots across Singapore, with pilot projects planned for Australia in early 2026. The company’s long-term vision is to create a network of 20 to 30 robot-powered micro-kitchens in Singapore by 2026—operating 24/7 to meet growing demand for fast, affordable, and freshly cooked meals in public spaces. Founded by Ravi Nahappan, ROLO Robotics develops autonomous food kiosks that can cook and serve made-to-order meals without on-site staff, combining robotics, artificial intelligence, and industrial-grade precision. The company’s flagship system, MAYA 3.0, represents what Nahappan calls the next step in “human-robot collaboration” for everyday kitchens. ROLO’s autonomous kiosks are designed for campuses, offices, hospitals, and transport hubs, offering quick, hygienic meals for high-traffic environments. Each kiosk integrates directly with food delivery apps, enabling users to order seamlessly while maintaining real-time operational visibility for partners. With pilot projects already secured across multiple sectors, ROLO’s immediate goal is to deploy at least 20 autonomous micro-kitchens across Singapore by 2026 before expanding into Australia’s public spaces and institutions. The company’s vision extends beyond convenience—it aims to create a connected ecosystem of robotic kitchens that operate continuously, optimize food preparation, and reduce waste. By combining automation with smart logistics and data insights, ROLO Robotics is positioning itself as a pioneer in scalable, sustainable food automation across Asia-Pacific. tps://https://lnkd.in/g63WkN7k