US-UK robotics firm raises $11m to ‘re-imagine’ manufacturing
17 October 2025 
A US-UK robotics company has raised $11m to accelerate the development of its AI-based assembly automation technology, and to meet demand from customers in the US, UK and Europe. Launchpad, whose headquarters are in Los Angeles, has an R&D facility in Edinburgh, Scotland.
The company was founded in 2020 to “re-imagine” manufacturing and revitalise local economies. It addresses labour shortages and improves competitiveness by combining proprietary AI technologies with advanced robotics to help firms to integrate human and robot workers. It claims that its technology can halve the time and cost of delivering automation systems.
While robotics has the potential to address workforce shortages, Launchpad argues that the expense of traditional systems remains a barrier to adoption, especially for small- to medium-sized firms.
“Launchpad has built a technology that is helping manufacturers manage the optimal integration of humans and robots,” says the company’s CEO, Jon Quick. “We see AI tools, such as those being pioneered by Launchpad, as reimagining the manufacturing industry and revitalising local economies.”
Launchpad’s two main technologies are:
- A self-programming robotic tool called Digitool that enables a range of assembly tasks using real-time computer vision to overcome part and process variation. It can be used to assemble a variety of products efficiently and precisely, and to build adaptability into projects.
- Digisolv AI which uses AI to transition from CAD files to execution, automating component classification and creating efficient assembly sequences. It is said to balance costs, material constraints and environmental impact.
These technologies have already been deployed in factories in the US and Europe.
The backers of the new round of funding include Ericsson Ventures, Lockheed Martin Ventures and the Scottish National Investment Bank. This is in addition to £2m of grant funding awarded by Scottish Enterprise a year ago to help establish Launchpad’s global R&D hub in Edinburgh’s New Town, where it employs a team of around 24 developing its advanced robotics technologies.
“With its R&D centre in Edinburgh, Launchpad is able to draw on Scotland’s long-standing academic, technical and entrepreneurial strengths,” says Scottish Enterprise CEO, Adrian Gillespie. “The company has quickly become an influential part of the Scottish innovation community, and we look forward to supporting its next growth phase.”
