Konnex is constructing a market and protocol for robots and AI to be contracted for bodily work. Supply: Konnex
Konnex final week mentioned it has raised $15 million in funding from a consortium of strategic companions. The startup mentioned the funding will speed up its efforts to transition autonomous robots from closed, proprietary techniques into an app-like ecosystem.
“Bodily work is a $25 trillion economic system at present trapped in closed techniques,” mentioned Jon Ollwerther, CEO of Konnex. “With the help of our companions, Konnex is constructing the important thing to unlock that worth. We’re making a world the place autonomous robots work like apps—contracted, verified, and paid—to offer the scalable labor the world desperately wants.”
The corporate relies within the British Virgin Islands and has workers within the U.S.
Konnex works to beat siloed automation
Regardless of a spate of main latest improvements round robotics and AI, work stays trapped in siloed infrastructures, in line with Konnex. It’s introducing a framework the place autonomous robots operate like purposes: simply and shortly contracted, verified, and paid.
The corporate mentioned its market and protocol will confirm job outcomes with onchain and settle funds in stablecoins. Konnex claimed that its robotics-as-a-service (RaaS) evolution ensures labor may be deployed and scaled with the identical fluidity as software program.
“Konnex is redefining the way forward for work by bridging the hole between autonomous robotics and the worldwide economic system,” mentioned the firm. “By treating autonomous labor as a verifiable, liquid asset, Konnex permits industries to deploy robotic options with unprecedented ease and transparency.
Trade veterans lead firm
Konnex mentioned it’s led by a crew of veterans whose expertise spans the robotics, drone expertise, and capital markets sectors, together with:
- Jon Ollwerther, CEO: A “40 Below 40” honoree with greater than 15 years of expertise in robotics and media. Ollwerther beforehand led industrial groups at Measure and Aerobo, and he sits on the Board of The Stan Lee Basis.
- Brandon Torres Declet, strategic supporter: A five-time CEO and founder; and government within the drone, robotics, and protection sectors, at present serving as CEO of Exyn Applied sciences and co-founder of ReadyMonitor. Declet has efficiently led corporations reminiscent of AgEagle Aerial Methods, the place he raised over $100 million and drove key acquisitions, and Measure, which turned North America’s largest drone service supplier beneath his management.
- Lucas Van Oostrum, strategic advisor: A drone-swarm pioneer and multi-robot coordination knowledgeable. Van Oostrum co-founded Nova Sky Tales with Kimbal Musk and co-launched the €100 million ($117.2 million U.S.) RoboValley Fund.
As well as, Konnex mentioned its funding included backing from enterprise companies together with Cogitent Ventures, Liquid Capital, Leland Ventures, Covey, LD Capital, M77 Ventures, and Block Maven LLC. The startup mentioned it plans to make use of the brand new capital to develop the Konnex platform, combine with new {hardware} companions, and additional develop the verification protocols that enable autonomous techniques to function safely and effectively in the actual world.
