🚨 Secret Dealflow: Ex-Cruise CEO’s Stealth AI Play Raising $15M – Pre-Series A Window Closing Soon
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A new player in the robotics space, The Bot Company, founded by Kyle Vogt—the former CEO of Cruise—is making headlines with its ambitious vision. Vogt, who led Cruise to a $1 billion acquisition by General Motors in 2016, has raised $150 million for his latest venture, valuing it at $2 billion less than a year after its founding. While the startup is initially focused on AI-powered robots for household tasks, its technology has the potential to disrupt logistics—think autonomous cargo drones—and investors are taking notice.
Why This Matters for Investors
The Bot Company’s recent $150 million funding round, led by Greenoaks and supported by heavyweights like Spark Capital and former GitHub CEO Nat Friedman, reflects strong belief in Vogt’s ability to innovate. Yes, $150 million is a leap from the $15 million mark, but it’s a signal of the massive potential here. The autonomous drone market is projected to hit $29.06 billion by 2027 (Fortune Business Insights, 2024), driven by demand for faster, greener logistics. Vogt’s track record at Cruise, where he pioneered self-driving tech, makes this a startup worth watching.
The Tech and the Team
The Bot Company is developing AI-driven robots with large language models (LLMs) that let them understand and act on natural language instructions. While their first products aim to tackle chores like cleaning, the same tech could power drones that deliver cargo autonomously—optimizing routes, dodging obstacles, and cutting costs. Vogt’s experience at Cruise, managing a fleet of self-driving cars in chaotic urban settings, gives him a head start. His team, reportedly packed with ex-Cruise talent and other tech all-stars, adds firepower to the mission.
The Opportunity
Logistics is ripe for disruption. Supply chain snarls cost businesses $1.6 trillion in 2023 (Statista, 2024), and autonomous cargo drones could be the fix—faster deliveries, lower emissions, and access to hard-to-reach spots. If The Bot Company pivots its robotics expertise to this space, it could carve out a lucrative niche. With $300 million total raised across rounds, they’ve got the cash to experiment and scale.
What’s Next?
Still in stealth mode, The Bot Company hasn’t confirmed cargo drones—yet. But industry buzz hints at early demos and potential logistics tie-ups. Vogt’s knack for turning bold ideas into reality (remember Cruise’s robotaxi rollout?) suggests big moves are coming. For now, they’re a pre-product startup with a stellar team and a sky-high valuation.
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Eden Djanasvhili
Author Invest Deeptech