Wandelbots builds a no-code robotic instruction platform that lets human instructors teach robots by tracing motions with a 'Trace Pen' and then fine-tune those motions in software. The company’s mission is to lower the barrier to deploying robotics in factory settings by removing the need for coding and extensive outside help. Wandelbots is working to build a developer community so third parties can create teaching applications on its platform. It is expanding interoperability across robot systems, currently including Universal Robots and Yaskawa, and powers robots for clients such as BMW and VW. Financially, the company announced an $84 million Series C and says its funding is now well north of $100 million to date. Wandelbots plans additional hiring and global expansion into markets like the United States and Asia. Wandelbots builds software and a handheld device (TracePen) that lets human operators demonstrate desired robot behavior without coding. The core tech originated at the Faculty of Computer Science at the Technical University of Dresden and the company pivoted from a smart-clothes approach to the TracePen to better meet customer workflows. Wandelbots says its platform dramatically reduces the software portion of robot total cost of ownership—CEO Christian Piechnick cites that 75% of a robot's total cost comes from software development. The company counts customers including Volkswagen, BMW and Infineon and will publicly launch the TracePen on June 17. Wandelbots plans to use new funding to accelerate the TracePen's market debut and broaden adoption among manufacturers. The startup says COVID-19–driven reshoring and increased demand for automation have increased interest in its offering. Wandelbots develops a system to "teach" industrial robots new tasks faster and more flexibly than hard‑coding. Its first product, Wandelbox, uses sensor‑attached jackets and gloves to track human motion in real time and transfer it to robotic movement so non‑experts can guide robots by example. The company says the software can interpret tasks and suggest optimized solutions rather than merely repeating movements. Wandelbots reported early industrial trials showed automation can be done up to 20 times faster and be 10 times more cost‑effective. It raised €6 million and plans to use the funds to hire more people and expand internationally. The startup was founded in 2017 in Dresden.

Total raised

$121M

Funding rounds

3

Latest round

Series C

Latest activity

Jan 2022