UC-backed Congruent Ventures has contributed to a $55m round that will support the recycling robot maker's expansion plans.
AMP Robotics, a US-based waste recycling robot producer, secured $55m on Monday in a series B round featuring Congruent Ventures, the venture capital fund backed by University of California.
Hedge fund XN led the round, which included GV, a corporate venture capital subsidiary of internet and technology group Alphabet, as well as Alphabet-backed Sidewalk Infrastructure Partners (SIP).
Valor Equity Partners, Sequoia Capital and Closed Loop Partners filled out the round.
Formerly known as Cognitive Robotics, AMP was founded in 2015 and produces robotics systems that can automatically identify and sort recyclable waste.
The company has created an artificial intelligence (AI)-powered platform that can train itself by identifying different shapes, colours and even brand labels. The software can then guide AMP’s robots to collect and deposit the correct recyclable materials.
AMP will use the new funding to scale up its business operations and develop new AI product applications. It collected $3.2m of funding from undisclosed investors in late 2017, according to a regulatory filing.
Sequoia led a $16m series A round for the company in late 2019 that also featured Congruent Ventures, SIP, BV Investment Partners and Closed Loop Partners.
Baidu Ventures, a corporate venturing vehicle for internet group Baidu, has listed AMP as a portfolio company on its website.
Matanya Horowitz, founder and chief executive of AMP Robotics, said: “We are putting this next round of investment to work immediately to create novel technology for the waste industry and meaningfully contribute to reducing society’s impact on the environment.”
– Feature image courtesy of AMP Robotics. A version of this article first appeared on our sister site, Global Corporate Venturing.


