Startup World

Augmentus founders, from left to right: Chong Voon Foo, Leong Yong Shin, and Daryl Lim.
Source: AugmentusDespite growing interest in robotics, many manufacturers are held back by programming that is complex, time-consuming, and rigid, according to Augmentus.
The company, which is developing an “intelligent no-code robotics solution,” today said it has raised SGD $11 million ($11 million U.S.) in a Series A+ funding round.Augmentus said it will use the funds to accelerate regional deployment of its autonomous surface finishing, material removal, and welding systems and fulfill demand from manufacturing customers.
The company also plans to advance research and development into artificial intelligence-driven robots built for the factory floor.“We’re seeing unprecedented demand—and this round enables us to deliver,” stated Daryl Lim, co-founder and CEO of Augmentus.
“It allows us to fulfill our growing backlog while accelerating R&D into hyper-adaptive robotics that can perceive and respond on the fly, even in chaotic, high-mix environments where no two parts are alike.”Augmentus works to make automation more accessibleProgramming robots can be challenging, especially in high-mix, low-volume production environments, said Augmentus.
The company, which has offices in Singapore and Pflugerville, Texas, said it enables manufacturers to automate complex industrial processes without manual coding or robotics expertise.Its system acts as both the “eyes” and “brain” of a robot and combines 3D scanning, automatic toolpath generation, and adaptive motion control.
Augmentus said it makes adopting automation faster, easier, and more flexible across a wide range of applications.“Augmentus provides its own validated 3D scanning hardware options optimized for different part sizes and accuracy requirements.
These scanners are selected to deliver the best balance of speed, resolution, and ease of integration with our software,” Lim told The Robot Report.
“For example, smaller components may use structured-light sensors, while larger ones or those with high-precision need workpieces—such as aerospace components or heavy equipment structures—are typically scanned with laser line profilers offering a wider field of view and higher precision.”The Scan-to-Path technology can generate robot programs in minutes rather than days, claimed the company.
This enables manufacturers to automate even the most variable, geometry-sensitive tasks without the need for robotics experts or downtime, it said.Left: Augmentus’ vision system captures the geometry of a complex airplane wing workpiece using high-precision 3D scanning.
Right: The scanned data is then processed through the AutoPath software, enabling operators to generate accurate toolpaths without coding.
Source: AugmentusBuilding next-gen adaptive automation with ‘augmented robotics’Augmentus said its latest funding will enable it to accelerate development of “augmented robotics,” which it said is “a new class of hyper-adaptive systems capable of real-time adjustment to part variation, orientation shifts, and dynamic in-process feedback.” The company said these capabilities are essential for realizing the vision of closed-loop, autonomous manufacturing.“Unlike conventional no-code platforms that rely on teach pendant or block-based programming, Augmentus combines highly precise 3D scanning, AI-driven path planning, and adaptive motion control in a single workflow,” said Lim.
“This enables robots to perceive and respond to part deviations automatically—without requiring manual touch-ups.
In high-mix, low-volume operations, this difference is critical.
It allows users to automate tasks that previously depended on skilled human intuition and extensive programming.”“Augmentus is robot- and end-effector-agnostic,” he added.
“Our software platform integrates with most major industrial robot brands — including ABB, FANUC, KUKA, and Universal Robots — as well as a wide variety of process tools, such as sanders, welding torches, and spray systems.
This flexibility is a key reason why manufacturers can adopt Augmentus without replacing existing equipment, enabling faster ROI and minimal disruption to production.”While many robots remain in the pilot phase, Augmentus said it has moved into full-scale commercial deployment.
It boasted that the system has already cut programming time by up to 90%, reduced robot downtime from hours to minutes, and lowered the barrier to automation for non-technical teams.The technology can help large enterprises scale and standardize automation across multiple sites, as well as small and midsize enterprises with reducing downtime and the effects of labor shortages, said Lim.“We’re not here to add another buzzword to the mix,” he asserted.
“We’re here to deliver working systems that solve real problems—and that’s what this funding allows us to scale.”Augmentus scales with end users, integratorsWith over 50 systems sold across Australia, Singapore, North America, and Germany, Augmentus is now focused on scaling execution capacity and delivery.
It is taking a two-pronged approach to this next phase of growth: direct engagement with end clients and a network of trusted system integrators.“Most users achieve proficiency within a few days,” Lim said.
“Because the system is fully visual and intuitive, operators and integrators typically complete training in one day, even without prior robotics programming experience.
The software guides users step by step through scanning, path generation, and deployment, so teams can begin automating production tasks almost immediately.”While the automotive industry has expressed interest, the majority of Augmentus’ customers today are in sectors where high part variability makes conventional automation impractical, such as aerospace, heavy equipment, and contract manufacturing.“For example, in aerospace MRO [maintenance, repair, and overhaul] facilities, no two parts are identical due to wear history,” said Lim.
“Augmentus is used there to automate surface finishing and welding on complex geometries with minimal setup.
Similarly, in job shops serving heavy industry, the system enables automated blasting and grinding across a rotating mix of parts with different shapes and dimensions.”Augmentus cited strategic partnerships as playing a key role in enabling scalable, localized delivery and support across diverse manufacturing environments.“Collaborating with Augmentus has enabled us to bring a new level of flexibility and reliability to shot peening automations,” said Volker Schneidau, managing director of sentenso GmbH, an Augmentus system integrator partner.
“Their 3D scanning and AI-powered path-planning technology complements our expertise in shot peening, resulting in systems that are easier to deploy, faster to set up, and capable of handling a wide variety of parts with confidence.”“Throughout our partnership, Augmentus has demonstrated a strong commitment to practical innovation and shared knowledge, helping us deliver advanced automation solutions that meet the evolving needs of our customers,” he said.Augmentus and sentenso teams collaborate on an on-site deployment.
Source: AugmentusInvestment supports global expansionWoori Ventures led the round, with participation from new investor EDBI and returning backers Sierra Ventures and Cocoon Capital.Augmentus noted that the new capital will also support its regional expansion across Asia-Pacific and North America, while ensuring that booked systems for existing customers are delivered on time, at scale, and with full support infrastructure.In addition to its network of local integrators, the company is hiring for roles in engineering, application support, and business development.