🤖 40 Climate Robotics Pioneers to Know

AI and machine learning are proving a game-changer in climate tech, with their unmatched ability to analyse massive data sets, enable faster decision making and drive new breakthroughs across clean energy, agrifood, waste management and biodiversity. 

With the buzz of AI attracting headlines, funding and widespread attention, this week at Hack, we ask have we forgotten about AI's powerful counterpart, robotics?

Often overshadowed, robotics is quietly building its reputation as a powerful enabler of scalable climate solutions and is playing an increasing role to automate tasks, optimise processes, and scale sustainable-first solutions — enhancing the impact of climate tech in ways that AI alone cannot achieve.

Here at Hack, we take a look at 40 robotics startups and scaleups to watch who are leveraging robotics across marine conservation, renewable energy maintenance, waste management and carbon sequestration, to name a few.

Before we jump in…

• Meet 850 Climate Deep Tech founders, funders and operators at the annual HackSummit on May 15-16, including some of the startups listed below. Use code ROBOTICS15 join them and save 15% off your pass.

• Dive even deeper into Climate Robotics with this global map of 230 climate robotics startups.

40 Climate Robotics Startups to Scaleups to Watch

🌳 Land Biodiversity

What: Robotics in nature and biodiversity restoration combines technology and ecology to protect ecosystems.
How: Drones monitor wildlife, robotic planters reforest landscapes, and aerial tree sampling in cliffs and tropical rainforests to support conservation efforts, restore natural habitats, and safeguard biodiversity.

5 Startups to Watch

• Beewise - stopping and reversing the bee-collapse caused by climate change, using precision robotics, AI/ML, and IoT.

• Deep Forestry - 3D AI, autonomous robotics, and computer vision to automate and digitize commercial forestry fieldwork and tree-based agriculture.

• Nabat - creating scalable, data-driven solutions tailored to the unique needs of each habitat, starting with mangroves

• Outreach Robotics - launched the first aerial tree sampling tool, which enables field scientists to reach previously unreachable canopy samples.

• Treeswift - powering utilities with AI-augmented vegetation management that reduces risk and improves reliability across transmission and distribution systems. 

🌊 Ocean Biodiversity

What: Robotics in marine restoration and preservation leverages advanced technology to protect and rehabilitate aquatic ecosystems.
How: Underwater drones map coral reefs, robotic arms plant coral fragments, and autonomous vehicles monitor water quality, remove marine debris, and restore habitats—supporting marine life and protecting ocean biodiversity.

5 Startups to Watch

• Charm - machine vision, robotic end effectors, AI and deep learning capabilities help manage the vast number of coral polyps and reef species in a nursery of the future.

• Coral Maker - using robotics and manufacturing technology for a large-scale approach to reef restoration and reef installation.

• Open Ocean Robotics - solar powered autonomous boats providing real time information to understand and protect our oceans.

• Seagen - observing and assessing water spaces to understand issues, highlighting opportunities and establish baseline data to respond withrobots, by removing pollutants and adding infrastructure to grow beneficial species, like seaweed.

• uWare Robotics - processing underwater data to generate maps, 3D models and intelligible insights.

💨 Carbon Capture and Removal

What: Integrating robotics into carbon capture and removal employs advanced technologies to extract CO₂ from the atmosphere and sequester it effectively.​
How: Robotic systems convert agricultural waste into biochar, enhancing soil health and permanently storing carbon. Autonomous machines cultivate seaweed and restore seagrass meadows, both of which are significant carbon sinks. Additionally, engineered bacteria, managed by robotic platforms, capture atmospheric CO₂, contributing to scalable carbon sequestration.

5 Startups to Watch

• Applied Carbon - leveraging natural thermal processes and precision automation to convert crop residues into biochar, a stable form of carbon that builds soil health and stays out of the atmosphere permanently.

• Arctic Capture via Anthrogen - genetically engineering bacteria and using advanced robotic systems for carbon capture.

• Robocean - mechanising seagrass restoration for scalable, affordable, and accessible nature-based climate action and carbon sequestration.

• SamudraOceans - mega scale seaweed carbon capture, harnessing the power of advanced robotics and AI technology.

• Ulysses - using robotics to restore seagrass and boost carbon sequestration.

☀️ Renewable Energy

What: Integrating robotics into renewable energy enhances efficiency, reduces costs, and supports sustainable practices across various energy sources.​
How: Automating tasks such as inspecting and maintaining wind turbines, cleaning and monitoring solar panels, and conducting underwater inspections of hydroelectric facilities, ensuring optimal performance and safety.

5 Startups to Watch

• Aerones - developed robotic technology for wind turbine blade maintenance services

• Charge Robotics - building robots that automate the most labor-intensive parts of solar construction.

• Energy Robotics - AI-powered software platform empowering mobile robots and drones for inspection tasks in capital-intensive industries.

• Perceptual Robotics - leveraging AI and automation to transform wind turbine operations with autonomous systems to deliver high-quality inspections in minutes.

• Zeitview - working across wind, solar, and grid at the intersection of AI powered visual inspection software and services + energy/climate.

🥙 Food

What: Integrating robotics into the food industry combines advanced technology with culinary processes to enhance efficiency, precision, and safety.
How: Automated systems sort and grade produce, robotic arms handle cutting and deboning, and autonomous machines package and palletize products to streamline operations and maintain high-quality standards.

5 Startups to Watch

• Bear Robotics - advanced service robots for the restaurant and hospitality sector.

• Chef Robotics - AI-enabled robotics for the food industry

• Circus Group - autonomous food production powered by AI and Robotics.

• Dexai Robotics - automating activities in commercial kitchens and the food industry more broadly, using flexible robot arms.

• Starship Technologies - a world leader in autonomous robot delivery having made more than 6 million deliveries globally

☁️ Aerial Robotics

What: Aerial robotics leverages drones and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) to perform various tasks from surveying to monitoring, offering efficiency and precision in industries like agriculture, environmental monitoring, and infrastructure inspection.

How: Drones capture aerial imagery, monitor crop health, inspect power lines, and deliver supplies. These robotics offer real-time data collection, aerial mapping, and even assist in environmental conservation efforts by monitoring biodiversity and wildlife habitats.

5 Startups to Watch

• Aerobotics - using aerial imagery and machine learning algorithms to optimise crop performance for farmers around the world.

• Forestmatic - tree-planting with digital traceability through drone data

• Inverto Earth - on a mission to restore 1% of coastlands world wide

• Tevel - revolutionising fruit harvesting with flying autonomous robots

• Voliro - aerial mobile robotics with cutting-edge technology designed for precision work at heights.

🌾 Agriculture

What: Integrating robotics into agriculture enhances farming efficiency, precision, and sustainability by automating various tasks.​
How: Autonomous tractors plant, fertilise, and spray crops; drones monitor field health; robotic arms harvest produce; and mobile robots handle weeding and soil analysis, optimizing agricultural operations.

5 Startups to Watch

• AgriPass - empowering growers to unlock the full potential of soil-preserving, organic and regenerative practices by mimicking manual weeding work

• Bluewhite - building resilient farms by maximising the grower’s productivity and reducing their operational cost. 

• Ecorobotix - offering precise, safe, reliable and affordable robotic solutions that simplify farmers’ life to produce healthy and affordable food.

• Carbon Robotics - building the AI-powered LaserWeeder G2™ which combines computer vision, AI deep learning technology, robotics, and lasers to identify crops versus weeds.

• Verdant Robotics - providing and supporting cutting-edge farm technology that sustainably boosts farmers' efficiency, productivity, and profitability.

♻️ Waste and Recycling

What: Integrating robotics into waste management and recycling enhances efficiency, safety, and sustainability by automating sorting, processing, and collection tasks.​
How: Robots equipped with advanced sensors and AI identify, sort, and process recyclable materials such as plastics, metals, and paper, reducing contamination and increasing recycling rates. 

5 Startups to Watch

• Danu Robotics - manufacturing recyclable waste sorting robots and computer imaging systems, controlled by AI.

• Recycleye - leveraging robotics and AI-powered sorting equipment and analytics to enhance profitability in global waste management by automating material sorting processes.

• Revise Robotics - accelerating Electronics Refurbishment and Resale through Robotics and AI.

• Urban Machine - robots that reclaim wood waste for reuse as premium lumber

• Volta Robotics - working to tackle the most difficult challenges in unsafe and hazardous environments in the waste industry.