As autonomous systems spread from factory floors to farmland, the demand for smarter, safer control is rising—and FORT Robotics is cashing in on it.
The Philadelphia-based company has closed an additional $18.9 million in Series B funding, bringing its total raise to $60.5 million. Tiger Global led the round, with participation from both fresh and familiar investors, signaling robust confidence in FORT’s mission: to secure and streamline the way intelligent machines interact with the world—and with us.
Robotics at a Crossroads
With robots becoming common fixtures across sectors like automotive, agriculture, defense, construction, and manufacturing, the industry is reaching what FORT CEO Samuel Reeves calls a “critical inflection point.”
“Robotics and physical AI are quickly transforming every worksite globally,” Reeves said. “As robot fleets grow and work alongside people, the need for robust functional safety becomes even more vital.”
It’s no longer just about making robots smarter—it’s about keeping them and the people around them safe. And FORT is positioning itself as the essential safety layer for these increasingly complex environments.
Safety as a Platform
FORT’s technology is used by machine builders to enable secure, dynamic control across distributed robot fleets. That includes advanced fail-safe wireless control systems, fleet-wide communication management, and an evolving set of data-driven safety tools.
With this funding, FORT plans to double down on its platform with key initiatives:
- Next-Gen Safety Systems: Developing real-time data analytics and comprehensive safety tools tailored for physical AI
- Expanded Protocol Support: Adding more communication protocols and API integrations
- International Expansion: Ensuring compliance with global safety standards to support deployments across new geographies
In other words, the company isn’t just building tools—it’s laying the foundation for how robots and humans will safely coexist at scale.
Strategic Minds at the Helm
To guide its next growth chapter, FORT added three high-profile board members:
- Kirk D. Brown, COO/CFO of SportsMedia Tech and former COO of Overwatch Geospatial
- Jorge Heraud, CEO of TerraBlaster and former VP of Automation at John Deere
- Benjamin G. Wolff, CEO of Palladyne AI and former co-founder of Clearwire
These appointments reflect FORT’s ambition to not only scale its product, but also shape policy and best practices in the rapidly maturing physical AI sector.
A Vote of Confidence in the Future of Work
Investors aren’t just betting on FORT—they’re betting on the future of how work gets done.
Tiger Global and Prime Movers Lab returned to the table, alongside other major names like Mark Cuban, FundersClub, Creative Ventures, and GRIDS Capital. New backers include Neman Ventures, Mana Ventures, Gaingels, and Japan’s Ryuu Co.
“FORT Robotics’ commitment to safety for physical AI and intelligent machines directly aligns with our vision for the future of work and advanced automation,” said Shane Neman, General Partner at Neman Ventures. “Their platform is a crucial enabler for the next generation of robotics.”
Why It Matters
With the robotics market forecasted to exceed $214 billion globally by 2030, safety will be more than a feature—it will be a prerequisite. And FORT isn’t alone in this race. Rivals like Realtime Robotics and Realtime Robotics, and even industrial giants like Siemens and ABB, are also eyeing the growing demand for smarter, safer autonomy.
But by building a safety-first foundation at the control layer—and integrating data analytics directly into those systems—FORT is carving out a unique position as the operating system for secure autonomy.
As the line between physical and digital intelligence blurs, FORT Robotics is betting that the future of AI will need more than power and precision—it’ll need trust.
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