Pickle Robot Company, based in Cambridge, Massachusetts, has announced the completion of a $50 million Series B funding round. Participants in the funding round included a strategic customer, Teradyne Robotics Ventures, Toyota Ventures, Ranpak, Third Kind Venture Capital, One Madison Group, Hyperplane, and Catapult Ventures, among others. The funding aims to accelerate the company’s technological development and commercial expansion.
The company has also secured orders for over 30 robotic systems during the third quarter of 2024. These systems, which are slated for deployment in the first half of 2025, represent a mix of pilot conversions, expanded deployments by existing customers, and new customer acquisitions. The robots are designed for unloading non-palletized goods from trucks and containers, a process that is often labor-intensive and physically demanding.
Pickle Robot’s technology, referred to as “Physical AI,” integrates advanced vision systems and generative AI models. These models, trained on extensive data from real-world logistics operations, enable the robots to perform unloading tasks at or above human efficiency levels. The systems have been in production use since mid-2023, operating at distribution centers for various customers.
The company plans to leverage the new funding to enhance its product features and expand its reach into new markets and geographies. CEO and Founder AJ Meyer highlighted the role of strategic customer relationships and the funding in advancing the company’s efforts to address logistics challenges and improve supply chain efficiency.
Board member Omar Asali, also CEO of Ranpak, emphasized the company’s progress in both technological innovation and operational execution, citing growing customer and investor interest as evidence of its potential.
Pickle Robot has outlined an ambitious goal to automate processes at 1 million warehouse doors over the next decade. To date, its robots have unloaded more than 10 million pounds of merchandise, ranging from consumer goods to packaging materials. Future development plans include extending capabilities to handle parcel-type freight.
