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Electric Sheep vertically integrates its field operations team and autonomous mowers. | Credit: Electric Sheep
This year, the annual RBR50 Robotics Innovation Awards has added new categories: Application of the Year, Startup of the Year and Robot of the Year. We received a large number of applications for great startups innovating in some interesting markets. robot reportteam has selected autonomous landscaping company Electric Sheep Robotics as the inaugural RBR50 Startup of the Year.
The San Francisco-based company has a novel business plan that will deliver immediate revenue while the underlying technology will take time to evolve. This is different from many robotics businesses that simply sell or lease systems to integrators and end users.
Founded in 2019, Electric Sheep has grown to more than 100 employees and has raised more than $25 million in funding, according to Crunchbase.
Acquisition adds data for autonomous AI
Electric Sheep develops autonomous robots for outdoor maintenance. The company’s flagship robot is an autonomous lawn mower that supports the company’s ES1 basic model. ES1 is a learning world model that builds on recent advances in generative AI and enables Verdie robots to reason and plan.
Additionally, Electric Sheep acquired four landscaping companies last year, which the company said is an important part of its long-term plans. This strategy isn’t just about profits. Acquired companies can also use her ES1 to provide critical data to make their models more effective.
This information helps Electric Sheep improve its operations, allowing robots to start working as soon as they arrive on site.
Since adopting this two-pronged approach, the company reports an eight-fold growth in sales. Electric Sheep sets itself apart from other startups by finding unique ways to keep money coming in and get critical data about the business.
Meet the electric sheep at the Robotics Summit & Expo
Attendees of the 2024 Robotics Summit and Expo will have the opportunity to meet members of Electric Sheep’s executive team. Co-founder and CEO Nag Murty will be hosting a session titled “Startup Survival Guide to Lean Time” on Thursday, May 2nd.
You can also learn more about Murty’s entrepreneurial spirit and CTO Michael Laskey’s design principles in a recent episode of The Robot Report podcast.
This year’s RBR50 award winners will be celebrated at the Robotics Summit & Expo on May 1st and 2nd at the Boston Convention & Exhibition Center. Electric Sheep will be part of his RBR50 showcase on the expo floor.
Additionally, tickets are available for the inaugural RBR50 Robotics Innovation Awards Gala, which will be held at the end of day one of the event. Robotics Summit & Expo will be the largest ever, featuring keynotes and sessions from leading companies, more than 200 exhibitors, up to 5,000 attendees, a Women in Robotics Breakfast, and a Robotics Engineering Career Fair.
Concurrent events include DeviceTalks Boston, which focuses on medical devices, and the inaugural Digital Transformation Forum. We will focus on the manufacturing industry. Registration for Robotics Summit is now open.
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