# The state of robotics investment

- Show: [The Robot Report Podcast](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-robot-report-podcast)
- Published: 2022-08-12
- Length: 1h 07m
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-robot-report-podcast/2022-08-12-the-state-of-robotics-investment
- Listen: https://soundcloud.com/robot-report-podcast/the-state-of-robotics-investment

## Summary

Peter Finn, managing director of Cowen’s Industrials Investment Banking group, discusses the current state of robotics investment, noting that while venture funding remains robust, rising interest rates and inflation are tightening late-stage valuations and forcing a 'flight to quality.' He analyzes Amazon’s pending $17 billion acquisition of iRobot as a strategic move for smart home data, while also highlighting labor shortages in warehousing, agriculture, and construction as key drivers for automation adoption. Finn advises early-stage founders to prioritize securing capital from the right investor profile over maximizing valuation in the current environment.

## Chapters

- [1:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-robot-report-podcast/2022-08-12-the-state-of-robotics-investment#t=60) Introduction and Pitchfire Competition
- [9:22](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-robot-report-podcast/2022-08-12-the-state-of-robotics-investment#t=562) Amazon's Acquisition of iRobot and Workforce Reductions
- [12:16](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-robot-report-podcast/2022-08-12-the-state-of-robotics-investment#t=736) Novel Robotics Applications: Teleexistence and Robotire
- [28:31](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-robot-report-podcast/2022-08-12-the-state-of-robotics-investment#t=1711) Peter Finn on Cowen and Robotics Investment Trends
- [32:51](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-robot-report-podcast/2022-08-12-the-state-of-robotics-investment#t=1971) Late-Stage Valuations, SPACs, and Flight to Quality
- [42:40](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-robot-report-podcast/2022-08-12-the-state-of-robotics-investment#t=2560) Robot-as-a-Service vs. CapEx Models and Early-Stage Advice
- [51:11](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-robot-report-podcast/2022-08-12-the-state-of-robotics-investment#t=3071) Warehousing, Agriculture, Construction Markets and Pandemic Impact
- [57:49](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-robot-report-podcast/2022-08-12-the-state-of-robotics-investment#t=3469) Industry Layoffs and Future Outlook

## Topics

- [Fundraising & investors](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/fundraising)
- [Growth, exits & acquisitions](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/growth-exits-and-acquisitions)
- [Robotics & autonomy](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/robotics-and-autonomy)
- [Pricing, margins & unit economics](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/pricing-and-unit-economics)

## Most relevant to

large enterprises

## Mentioned

- Cowen (company)
- iRobot (company)
- Amazon (company)
- Roomba (product)
- Locust Robotics (company)
- Right Hand Robotics (company)
- Symbolic (company)
- Teleexistence (company)
- Robotire (company)
- Discount Tire (company)
- Nvidia Jetson (chip)
- Microsoft Azure (other)
- Intel RealSense (chip)
- Mass Robotics (company)
- Waypoint Robotics (company)
- Fetch Robotics (company)
- Zebra (company)
- Soft Robotics (company)
- GelSight (company)
- AMP Robotics (company)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [BONUS: Hear what Investors, Educators, and High Growth Companies have to say about the future of Robotics, Automation, and AI, Pt. 1 of 2 (brought to you by Cascadia Capital)](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/manufacturing-happy-hour/2022-06-21-bonus-hear-what-investors-educators-and-high-growth-companies-have-to-say-about) (Manufacturing Happy Hour)
- [BONUS: The State of Robotics in 2025: Investing in the Next Wave of Automation with Sanjay Aggarwal of F-Prime Capital (sponsored by RoboBusiness)](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/manufacturing-happy-hour/2025-10-03-bonus-the-state-of-robotics-in-2025-investing-in-the-next-wave-of-automation-wit) (Manufacturing Happy Hour)
- [Reimagining and Investing in Legacy Industries with Obvious Ventures’ Nan Li](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/manufacturing-happy-hour/2021-11-30-reimagining-and-investing-in-legacy-industries-with-obvious-ventures-nan-li) (Manufacturing Happy Hour)
- [Independent Investment Banking in Robotics, Automation, and AI with Cascadia Capital’s Firdaus Pohowalla](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/manufacturing-happy-hour/2022-02-08-independent-investment-banking-in-robotics-automation-and-ai-with-cascadia-capit) (Manufacturing Happy Hour)
- [Lowering the Barrier to Robot Deployment](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-manufacturing-executive/2022-09-27-lowering-the-barrier-to-robot-deployment) (The Manufacturing Executive)

## Citing this page

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