In a significant development within the tech industry, B Garage, a tech startup headquartered in San Jose, has successfully raised $20 million in Series A financing. This funding milestone is set to bolster the company’s pioneering efforts in creating and refining drone technology, specifically designed with computer vision capabilities to automate inventory management in warehouses.
Led by LB Investment, the funding round saw contributions from new and existing investors, including Ignite Innovation Fund, Krossroad Partners, and SoftBank Ventures Asia. This financial infusion, elevating B Garage’s total capital to $30 million, aims to expedite the development of its computer vision-driven drones.
Aiden Kim, the visionary behind B Garage, launched the company in 2017 after identifying a gap in the autonomous flight sector. Kim’s background as a software engineer at Oracle, combined with his advanced studies in aeronautics and astronautics at Stanford University, where he also delved into dog robot research at Stanford Artificial Intelligence Laboratory in collaboration with Boston Dynamics, has profoundly shaped B Garage’s trajectory. His expertise in artificial intelligence software development for robotics has been pivotal in steering the company’s focus towards leveraging computer vision technology for enhancing warehouse inventory processes.
Recognizing the challenges faced by the logistics and agriculture sectors, particularly labor shortages, Kim was inspired to harness computer vision and autonomous drone technology to revolutionize inventory management. B Garage’s mission is to alleviate these labor constraints by deploying its advanced drones, capable of navigating multiple aisles without the need for additional infrastructure or mapping, in warehouses. This approach not only promises to improve efficiency but also to significantly reduce operational costs associated with inventory management.
The startup has already demonstrated the potential of its technology through a proof-of-concept pilot with Kenco Innovation Lab, a subsidiary of Kenco Logistics. With plans to extend its drone services to over 10 Kenco warehouses in the U.S. by the end of the year and a project with the Incheon Port Authority in South Korea on the horizon, B Garage is at the forefront of transforming logistics operations.
Moreover, B Garage’s distinct advantage lies in its drones’ computer vision capabilities, enabling full autonomy, mapping-free navigation, and automatic battery swapping. This technology ensures comprehensive coverage of warehouse spaces, a feature that sets B Garage apart from other players in the field like Verity, Gather AI, and Corvus Robotics.
Looking ahead, B Garage is not only committed to refining its computer vision technology for drones but also exploring the potential of ground robots in inventory management. This expansion into different formats of robotics underscores the company’s dedication to advancing computer vision applications across various industries, further establishing its role as a leader in the field of autonomous logistics solutions.
