50 startups transforming industries with physical AI
After decades of promise, autonomous systems and robotics are moving from labs to factory floors and households — powered by breakthroughs in AI and hardware.
Jeremy Levine, Alex Ferrara, Talia Goldberg, David Cowan, Alexandra Sukin, Bhavik Nagda & Jason Scheller
Published on Mar 19, 2026
The convergence of AI and robotics is reshaping the physical world across every imaginable industry, from defense and manufacturing to healthcare and consumer experiences. At our very first Robotics Day in San Francisco, we gathered founders, builders, and researchers in intelligent automation and robotics. The experts, alongside our investment team, explored the fundamental shift from software-only AI systems to embodied intelligence — machines that can see, understand, and act in dynamic environments. This transformation represents one of the most significant technological inflections of our generation, with applications spanning autonomous vehicles, defense systems, agriculture, and beyond.
In our latest research, the robotics market is experiencing explosive growth driven by three key factors: breakthrough advances in AI foundation models that enable better perception and decision-making, dramatic reductions in hardware costs, and acute labor shortages across critical industries. By 2035, it’s expected that there will be over 2.5 billion robots worldwide, but this figure understates the true opportunity — as robots become more capable and general-purpose, they’ll create entirely new markets rather than simply automating existing workflows.
The companies leading this revolution share common characteristics:
- World-class technical teams combining robotics, AI, and systems engineering expertise
- Focus on high-value, repeatable use cases that justify the complexity of deploying physical systems
- Deep partnerships with customers who can provide the real-world data necessary for continuous improvement
Most importantly, these companies are building full-stack solutions that integrate hardware, software, and AI rather than betting on pure software or commoditized hardware alone.
Companies shaping the future of robotics and autonomous systems
While the industry has yet to reach the “ChatGPT moment” for robotics, advancements in autonomous systems and robotics have already reached commercial success, influencing our everyday lives. As we surveyed the landscape, two companies — Waymo and Anduril Industries — were undeniable leaders serving as clear examples of what’s possible for founders to achieve as they turn physical AI research into new applications, transforming their given industries.
In total, we’ve identified 50 of the most promising private companies — the innovators we believe will define the next decade of physical AI. These names represent the vanguard of intelligent automation across several key categories:
Autonomous vehicles
The race to autonomous transportation continues to accelerate, with applications ranging from long-haul trucking to last-mile delivery to ridesharing.
Waymo Leading robotaxi service with commercial deployment in major cities throughout the U.S. Applied Intuition Leading physical AI company in building autonomy for commercial and defense industries Wayve AI driver software to equip a range of vehicles with autonomous capabilities Waabi Next-generation self-driving technology leveraging generative AI Nuro A universal autonomy platform for all roads and rides
Climate and agriculture
Robotics is addressing the agricultural labor crisis while also improving sustainability.
Carbon Robotics AI-powered weeding robots reducing herbicide use Orchard Autonomous platform for orchard management Seneca AI-powered autonomous fire suppression drones Upside Robotics Autonomous field robots for agricultural tasks
Consumer robotics
By bringing intelligent automation into everyday life, consumer robotics is paving the way for a future where robots operate more widely amongst humans.
Figure Humanoid robots for commercial applications Matic Autonomous home cleaning robots Sunday AI Robotic household care that handles everyday tasks Zipline Autonomous drone delivery at scale 1X General-purpose humanoid robots Coco Largest fleet of autonomous sidewalk delivery robots The Bot Company Household robotics for various tasks
Defense
Defense is being reimagined by these companies offering autonomous systems for ensuring national security.
Anduril Industries Advanced autonomous defense systems, including drones, submarines, and AI-powered software platforms Neros Technologies Mass-produced attritable first-person view drones NODA AI Orchestration platform for multi-domain autonomous systems Auterion AI-enabled autonomous systems for defense for autonomous drone operations Saronic Technologies Autonomous surface vessels for maritime defense Shield AI AI pilot software and autonomous aircraft for military aviation Skydio Autonomous drones and docking systems with advanced AI for public safety Breaker Industries Voice-command orchestration for autonomous systems
Generalized foundation models
These companies are building the AI brains that will power the next generation of robots.
World Labs Spatial intelligence to build foundation models for AI capable of understanding and generating 3D worlds Dyna Robotics Embodied AGI for general-purpose robots Generalist Foundation models for robotic manipulation Perceptron AI Base perceptive models for robotics Physical Intelligence Foundation models for robotic manipulation Skild AI Scalable robot learning platform Eka Robotics Robotics that masters physics through self-supervised learning and sim-to-real reinforcement learning. Field AI Autonomy software for robots navigating dynamic unstructured environments
Health and life sciences
In the healthcare and life sciences industry, these precision robotics companies are transforming the delivery of care.
Periodic Labs AI-powered scientists and autonomous labs to accelerate materials discovery in the physical sciences Mendaera Focalist — an FDA-cleared handheld robotic system for assistance in high-precision medical procedures Radical AI Discovers novel materials through AI, engineering, materials science, autonomous labs, and applied research Medra AI-powered autonomous robotics system for life sciences labs
Industrial robotics
From reimagining manufacturing to automating warehouses, these companies are leading the way in industrial robotics.
Bedrock Robotics Autonomous systems for industrial environments Cobot Mobile collaborative robot and platform DroneDeploy Robotics and AI platform that turns site data into a trusted visual record of what was built, when, and where Mind Robotics AI-driven industrial manipulation Mytra Warehouse automation and robotics Tutor Intelligence Industrial AI and robotics training Sereact Robotics intelligence for autonomous operations Anybotics Autonomous legged robots for industrial applications RobCo Full-stack platform for autonomy
Robotics infrastructure
Last, but certainly not least, these companies are the foundational tools enabling the entire ecosystem.
Zeromatter High-performance simulation platform for building, testing, and training autonomous systems Foxglove Full-stack observability platform for visualization and debugging tools for robotics Point One Navigation Precision positioning for autonomous systems Voxel51 Visual AI and computer vision data platform Theseus AI-powered GPS for military drones using vision-based technology and sensor fusion
The next generation of physical AI
The leaders on this list represent more than just technological innovation; they’re building the physical infrastructure of the AI age. As foundation models advance and training data from deployed robots create powerful feedback loops, we expect to see rapid capability improvements and expanding addressable markets. The winners in this space will be those who can navigate the unique challenges of physical AI, such as:
- Managing the complexity of real-world deployments
- Building trusting relationships with enterprises concerning critical safety applications
- Developing sustainable unit economics despite the high R&D costs facing the industry
As talent continues to migrate from leading AI labs to robotics startups, the next few years will separate those building genuine technological moats from those riding the wave of hype. If you’re a founder building in this space, we encourage you to connect with us. Contact us at robotics@bvp.com.
Contributors
Jeremy Levine
Partner
Jeremy Levine is a partner in Bessemer’s New York office. He joined the firm in 2001 and focuses primarily on software and Internet opportunities. He has led investments for Bessemer in North and South America, Europe and Asia.
Five of his early stage investments—LinkedIn, MindBody, Pinterest, Shopify and Yelp—grew into billion-dollar publicly traded companies. In addition, he has also served on the boards of several portfolio companies before they were acquired by larger corporations such as Amazon, Cox, Sony and Naspers.
Jeremy graduated from Duke University with a B.S. in computer science and economics.
Learn more about many of the entrepreneurs Jeremy has backed by listening to This is Series A and hear more about his investing outlook and Bessemer’s approach to the venture capital business on this episode of Invest Like the Best.
Alex Ferrara
Partner
Alex Ferrara is a partner based in Bessemer's London office where he leads Bessemer's European efforts and primarily focuses on B2B SaaS, fintech, and cybersecurity.
Alex joined Bessemer in 2005. He led Shopify’s Series A in 2010, Pipedrive’s Series A in 2015, and has backed a range of successful cybersecurity startups.
Alex is a recovering gamer, avid cyclist, and trying to learn tennis.
Talia Goldberg
Partner
Talia Goldberg is a partner in Bessemer’s San Francisco office. She supports teams that leverage AI to create new categories and progress the way we live and work. She looks for founders building radically better products with unique distribution models, or those pushing the frontier.
Talia joined Bessemer in 2013. She is partner to Cognition, Discord, DeepL, fal AI, Fin (fka Intercom), Kindred, Mind Robotics, Papaya Global, Perplexity, Ramp, Recall, ServiceTitan, Shippo, Stubhub, Supermaven (now Cursor / XAI), and Toss, among others. Learn more on her blog and hear from many of the entrepreneurs she has backed by listening to This is Series A. She was featured in Forbes 30 Under 30 for Venture Capital.
Talia graduated from the University of Pennsylvania. She grew up in Portland, Oregon, which she insists is home to the best ice cream and pizza in America.
David Cowan
Partner
David Cowan is one of the world’s leading investors, having funded Seed, Series A, and Series B rounds that led to over 30 IPOs. David was ranked sixth on the Midas List and tied for fourth in the Midas List of Hall of Fame.
Based in our Silicon Valley office, David launched Bessemer's practices in cloud, cybersecurity, consumer internet, gaming, space, and quantum computing. Known for taking chances on the unorthodox, David’s early stage bets include Twitch (acquired by Amazon), Rocket Lab (NASDAQ: RKLB), and Skybox Imaging (acquired by Google).
David has co-founded three cybersecurity companies incubated within Bessemer’s offices: VeriSign (NASDAQ: VRSN), serving as initial Chairman and CFO; Good Technology (fka Visto, acquired by Blackberry) serving as CEO; and Defense.net (acquired by F5).
He earned an AB in computer science / mathematics and an MBA, both from Harvard University. Today he serves on several non-profit boards including the Center for Inquiry and the Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics. He is the co-writer of the Silicon Valley mockumentary series “Bubbleproof,” and Emmy-nominated producer of the award-winning MTV Documentary film “Afghan Dreamers.”
Alexandra Sukin
Vice President
Alexandra Sukin is a vice president in the New York office where she focuses on consumer tech and SMB software.
Before joining Bessemer, Alexandra worked at Stripes Group, a growth equity firm in New York City, and Fluent City, an educational technology firm in Brooklyn.
Alexandra graduated magna cum laude with Highest Honors from Harvard College in the Department of Government, where she was a John Harvard Scholar and a Joseph Bonaparte Scholar as well as the recipient of the Eric Firth named thesis prize. Alexandra enjoys running, hiking, and skiing in her free time.
Bhavik Nagda
Investor
Bhavik is an investor in the New York office, where he focuses on enterprise software and data systems.
Prior to joining Bessemer, Bhavik was an engineer at Cruise Automation and Covariant.ai, building machine learning pipelines and user interfaces for warehouse robotics.
Bhavik earned his B.S. and masters in computer science from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He sits on MIT's Computer Science Diversity & Equity Committee and MIT's Center for Entrepreneurship Board. In his spare time, Bhavik enjoys running, hiking, and reconnecting with old friends.
Jason Scheller
Investor
Jason Scheller is an investor based in Bessemer's New York City office, where he focuses on enterprise software and defense tech.
Prior to joining Bessemer, Jason was one of the first hires at Patch, a Series B startup, where he worked in growth.
Jason holds a BBA from the University of Michigan's Stephen M. Ross School of Business. In his free time, he enjoys running, lifting, cold plunging, and hunting (waterfowl, deer, turkey).
Disclaimer: The information presented here is for general informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute investment advice, a recommendation, or an offer or solicitation to buy or sell any securities or investment products. Certain companies discussed may be current or former portfolio companies of Bessemer Venture Partners. Past performance is not indicative of future results. All investments involve risk, including possible loss of principal.
