‘gives us firepower’ — robot firm secures us$2m to expand in windsor
windsor-based mobile robotics firm optimotive has secur...
sep 12 2024
3 minute read
'it’s a robot-in-the-box.' scott fairley, founder of optimotive in windsor is shown with one of the company's robots on monday, sept. 9, 2024.
dan janisse
/
windsor star
windsor-based mobile robotics firm optimotive has secured us$2-million in new investor funding to expand operations and help complete development of two new products for use in the construction, mining and oil and gas sectors.
the company specializes in automated wheeled and tracked mobile robots to collect data and perform clean-up and towing duties in challenging outdoor settings.
“it gives us the firepower to start to bring these robots to the market and entertain new ideas,” said optimotive founder/ceo scott fairley, 26, who started his journey in a garage with some friends in 2016 before formally launching his company in 2022.
optimotive has secured backing from silicon valley venture capital fund version one and waterloo-based garage capital.
the third backer in the project is newlab detroit, which is also offering access to its testing and manufacturing facilities at its site at the michigan central station tech hub. newlab’s detroit operations specialize in mobility and aiding startups in that space.
“beforehand our objective was always pilot (projects), where we could get out for a little bit, test the robots and then bring them home,” fairley told the star. “we found the customers wanted them for a lot longer than we were able to provide.
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“this round allows us to build lots of robots to a high degree of quality and leave them with those customers, for years in some instances.”
fairley said the growth and customer demand is going to require more space and more employees for optimotive. the company currently has 10 employees.
“we’re going to be building (these robots) in windsor, that’s for sure,” he said. “this is a great manufacturing city.”
the firm’s two main customers to date have been canadian construction companies ellisdon corp. and pomerleau. the companies both rank in the top-five largest construction firms in the nation based on revenue.
fairley said the robots have also been used in many ways by companies across north america.
the funding will allow optimotive to build 20 new iris model robots. there are currently five iris robots in the field.
‘it hasn’t really been done.’ scott fairley, founder of optimotive in windsor is shown with two of the company’s robots on monday, sept. 9, 2024.
dan janisse
/
windsor star
fairley said his company rents out the iris data-collecting robots for $3,500 per month. the robots come with a docking box that serves as the central hub for data transmission, charging and secure storage.
“the robots are self-sufficient,” he said. “it’s a robot-in-the-box that comes ready-to-go. it doesn’t need human intervention.”
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fairley said the new funding will also help bring to market two new robots — nicknamed scrubbles and mule. scrubbles will roam construction sites 24/7, picking up nails and debris, while mule is designed to tow around tools and equipment.
“we have a unique opportunity to define what outdoor automation means in the construction sector because it hasn’t really been done,” said patrick thompson, optimotive’s head of growth.
“we’re not trying to redefine or re-imagine something that’s already been done. we’re the first do this and we have the chance to set the benchmark.”
it appears the construction and canadian technology sectors are also beginning to recognize optimotive’s prime position.
in the past two weeks, builtworlds named optimotive on its list of top 50 companies in the world operating in the construction robotics sector.
builtworlds is an international professional network headquartered in chicago focused on emerging technology and new approaches in construction.
in addition, last week fairley was named one of 26 winners nationally of a c100 fellowship.
the fellowships support canadian entrepreneurs in the tech sector by giving them support and access to top canadian tech talent and founders. the fellowship includes two trips to san francisco’s silicon valley to work with the most successful canadians in the field as well as sessions in canada.
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“we’ve been capital-efficient to get to this point,” said fairley, whose formal education ended with his grade 12 graduation from windsor’s massey high school. “we can get to market cheaply because we have vertical integration.
“we’re of the mindset of doing everything in-house. we’re not handing off things to someone to do it for us.
“we use a customized 3d printer to build it faster, cheaper than others.”
wetech alliance director of venture services and partnerships adam castle said optimotive is a classic example of the opportunities available to local entrepreneurs.
“the synergy we see between optimotive and an organization in detroit like newlab isn’t unique,” said castle, who has worked with fairley since optimotive’s first steps eight years ago.
“there is tremendous opportunity for canadian companies to leverage relationships with the folks in detroit and wetech is hard at work at exploring these kinds of opportunities, both formally and informally, to help add accelerant to growing canadian companies.”
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