Kewazo is driving automation forward in heavy industry and has secured fresh capital for this purpose. With its flagship product, Liftbot, the startup is developing a lifting robot that automates material transport in scaffolding construction, thereby increasing workplace safety and reducing accidents.
The latest funding round is backed by a broad consortium of international investors. These include Chevron Technology Ventures, Asahi Kasei, Benson Capital, Mana Ventures, Gaingels, Atlas Ventures, as well as lead investor Schooner Capital and existing investors True Ventures and Cybernetix Ventures. This brings the company's total funding to approximately €30 million ($35 million). Kewazo has not disclosed the exact amount of the current round, but based on the previous investments It is likely to be between 13 and 14 million euros.
Liftbot in industrial use
The Liftbot According to the company, the technology is already in use at more than 20 industrial sites in North America and Europe. These include refineries, petrochemical plants, chemical complexes, and power plants. Operators are using the technology to replace cranes and manual processes, thereby increasing efficiency and predictability in maintenance work and investment projects.
At the same time, Kewazo is gaining access to new data sources through the use of the robot. The startup collects structured operational data from hard-to-reach environments, thus laying the foundation for its physical AI platform. This platform creates transparency and will enable further automation in the future.
The new capital will be used to expand operational capacities, extend to additional workflows, and integrate more deeply into existing customer sites.
“Our customers hear about robotics, but rarely see robots in use in their factories. Kewazo is changing that. We help industrial plant operators implement automation by creating immediate added value in vertical material handling, and many customers are already asking us to cover other workflows. With the support of Schooner Capital, Chevron Technology Ventures, Asahi Kasei, and our existing investors, we are accelerating this transformation.”
thinks Artem Kuchukov, Co-founder and CEO of Kewazo.
Kewazo impresses investors
Alexandra Manick, Managing Director at Schooner Capital, comments:
“Robotics and automation are transforming industrial processes, reflecting the use of AI across the entire economy. Kewazo is perfectly positioned to take a leading role in heavy industry, as evidenced by the team's technical expertise and strong commercial implementation. We are proud to lead this funding round and support the company's further expansion and vision.”
And George Rovegno, Investment Associate at Benson Capital, says:
“The Gulf Coast has been the engine of American energy leadership for generations, and it is critical to equip the region’s workforce with the most advanced tools available to keep our industrial backbone safe, efficient, and globally competitive. That is exactly what Kewazo is doing. The company is bringing practical, proven robotics to refineries and petrochemical plants and is already making a real impact. We are pleased to support a company that is not just talking about the future of industrial operations, but actively enabling them in critical infrastructure along the entire Gulf Coast.”
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