BOW, a universal robotics software company, has secured a £4 million seed investment led by Northern Gritstone, an investment firm focused on science and technology businesses in Northern England. Additional funding was provided by Finance Yorkshire and Praetura Ventures as part of the Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund II. This announcement follows the appointment of Liz Upton, Co-Founder of Raspberry Pi (LSE: RPI), as Chair of BOW’s board in November 2024.
The robotics market is projected to reach $260 billion by 2030, yet widespread adoption remains hindered by the high cost and complexity of robot programming. Most companies and independent developers struggle with the need for specialized expertise, while applications built for one robot model often lack compatibility with others. These barriers slow innovation and limit the broader impact of robotics across industries.
BOW’s platform, which stands for “Bettering our Worlds,” along with its robot-agnostic software development kit (SDK), addresses these challenges by enabling software developers to program robots using their preferred operating system and coding language. The technology allows for seamless application portability between different robot models, facilitates fleet management, and removes the need for highly specialized robotics expertise. By simplifying the development process, BOW expands access to robotics in sectors traditionally underserved by automation.
Originally spun out from the University of Sheffield in 2020, BOW is collaborating with Original Equipment Manufacturers, System Integrators, and Software Development Houses that are leveraging the platform and SDK to accelerate robotics innovation. The investment will support further commercial growth, team expansion, and accelerated product development to enhance the platform’s capabilities.
Duncan Johnson, CEO of Northern Gritstone, emphasized the significance of this investment, stating, “Northern Gritstone is delighted to support BOW’s team, who once again demonstrate that world-leading technology businesses are being created in the North of England.” Nick Thompson, CEO of BOW, highlighted the potential impact of this funding, noting, “BOW’s universal software platform and SDK elegantly solve this intractable problem by enabling any software developer to program various types of robots using the coding language of their choice.”
Professor Sue Hartley, Vice-President for Research and Innovation at the University of Sheffield, said, “It is fantastic to see this level of funding being invested into one of our spinout companies. Academics at Sheffield are working at the very forefront of their fields, conducting research that can underpin new businesses and help develop new market-leading technologies. Our University is one of the best in the country for developing IP and commercializing research, and investment such as this from Northern Gritstone is crucial in helping spinout companies grow.”
Image credit: BOW