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Robert Bosch Venture Capital sells portfolio company Aethon

Aethon developed smart autonomous mobile robot for intra-logistics

  • Robert Bosch Venture Capital invested in Aethon in 2010
  • Investments in robotic systems and components are an integral part of Robert Bosch Venture Capital strategy
  • Exit to Singapore Technologies Engineering Ltd

Cyril Vancura >

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Stuttgart, Germany – Robert Bosch Venture Capital (RBVC) has sold its share in Aethon, Inc., to Vision Technologies Land Systems, Inc. (VTLS). VTLS is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Singapore Technologies Engineering Ltd (ST Engineering). Based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Aethon is best known for its TUG® smart autonomous mobile robot which helps automate intra-logistics in industrial, healthcare, hospitality and other commercial environment. The acquisition of Aethon is in line with ST Engineering’s focus to strengthen the Group’s robotics business. Aethon is now part of the Group’s Land Systems sector.

“It has been an amazing development for this high-tech company so far. The flexibility of the TUGs allowed Aethon to grow from hospital applications into wide spread usage across different industries with over 30 million deliveries made to-date. We think this acquisition is the stepping stone for further acceleration of growth” says Jan Westerhues, Investment Partner of RBVC and former Board Member of Aethon.

RBVC originally invested in Aethon in 2010. This investment at the time was the first in a series of RBVC investments in the robotic technology space. Today, the RBVC portfolio encompasses leading robotics start-up companies such as Robart, Tetravue, Zimplistic or AIMotive. “Investments in robotic systems and components are an integral part of RBVC’s strategy around IoT, automated driving and advanced household appliances”, comments Ingo Ramesohl, Managing Director of RBVC.

Start-ups interested in getting in contact with Robert Bosch Venture Capital can find more information at www.rbvc.com.

Robert Bosch Venture Capital GmbH (RBVC) is the corporate venture capital company of the Bosch Group, a leading global supplier of technology and services. RBVC invests worldwide in innovative start-up companies at all stages of their development. Its investment activities focus on technology companies working in areas of business of current and future relevance for Bosch, above all, automation and electrification, energy efficiency, enabling technologies, and healthcare systems. RBVC also invests in services and business models that are relevant to the above-mentioned areas of business. Furthermore, RBVC enables co-innovation between Bosch and startup through the Open Bosch Program.

Additional information is available at www.rbvc.com

The Bosch Group is a leading global supplier of technology and services. It employs roughly 428,000 associates worldwide (as of December 31, 2023). According to preliminary figures, the company generated sales of 91.6 billion euros in 2023. Its operations are divided into four business sectors: Mobility, Industrial Technology, Consumer Goods, and Energy and Building Technology. As a leading IoT provider, Bosch offers innovative solutions for smart homes, Industry 4.0, and connected mobility. Bosch is pursuing a vision of mobility that is sustainable, safe, and exciting. It uses its expertise in sensor technology, software, and services, as well as its own IoT cloud, to offer its customers connected, cross-domain solutions from a single source. The Bosch Group’s strategic objective is to facilitate connected living with products and solutions that either contain artificial intelligence (AI) or have been developed or manufactured with its help. Bosch improves quality of life worldwide with products and services that are innovative and spark enthusiasm. In short, Bosch creates technology that is “Invented for life.” The Bosch Group comprises Robert Bosch GmbH and its roughly 470 subsidiary and regional companies in over 60 countries. Including sales and service partners, Bosch’s global manufacturing, engineering, and sales network covers nearly every country in the world. The basis for the company’s future growth is its innovative strength. At 136 locations across the globe, Bosch employs some 90,000 associates in research and development, of which roughly 48,000 are software engineers.

Additional information is available online at www.bosch.com, www.iot.bosch.com, www.bosch-press.com.

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