GrayMatter Raises $45 Million in Series B Funding to Address Manufacturing Challenges with AI-powered Robots
Los Angeles-based startup GrayMatter has secured $45 million in a series B funding round, bringing its total capital raised to $70 million. Led by Wellington Management, the investment will support GrayMatter’s development of AI-powered robots that can handle high-mix, high-variability manufacturing environments. The company’s technology, known as “physics-informed AI,” enables robots to self-program and bridge the gap for companies facing production backlogs. GrayMatter aims to solve the skilled worker shortage in the American manufacturing industry, which is currently experiencing a backlog of 3.8 million unfilled jobs.
GrayMatter: Pioneering Physics-Informed AI in Manufacturing
While robotic automation has been used in manufacturing for some time, GrayMatter is pioneering a new approach with its physics-informed AI technology. Traditional robots struggle to handle the complexity and variability of high-mix, high-variability manufacturing environments. GrayMatter’s solution addresses this challenge by enabling robots to program themselves based on a high-level task description. The robots adapt their process parameters based on observed performance, allowing them to execute tasks autonomously. This self-programming capability takes just minutes and enables the robots to produce highly consistent results at speed, reducing capacity and quality issues faced by manual efforts.
GrayMatter: Solving Manufacturing Problems Across Industries
GrayMatter’s smart robotic cells have been deployed in various sectors, including aerospace & defense, specialty vehicles, marine & boats, metal fabrication, sports equipment, and furniture & sanitary-ware. Although specific customer names were not disclosed, these cells have processed over 7.5 million square feet of product surface area. The company’s solutions have proven to be 2-4 times faster than manual operators and have reduced consumable waste by 30% or more. For example, one enterprise using GrayMatter’s technology for sanding RV caps was able to reduce the time taken to complete the task from one hour to just six minutes per part.
Future Plans for GrayMatter: Scaling the Team and Expanding Product Offerings
With the latest funding, GrayMatter plans to scale its team in Los Angeles and develop next-generation AI robotic cells for more use cases. The company’s current customers are requesting adjacent products and applications as they witness the benefits of GrayMatter’s technology on their production floors. By removing bottlenecks and improving efficiency, GrayMatter’s solutions have become an integral part of their essential operations. The company aims to meet growing customer demand by expanding its team in go-to-market, operations, product, and engineering. GrayMatter sees itself as a key player in the ongoing generational shift towards advanced AI-powered technology that can improve the quality of life for millions of people.