FORT Robotics, a Philadelphia-based company focused on functional safety and security for autonomous systems, has closed an additional $18.9 million in funding. The round brings the company’s total capital raised to date to $60.5 million. The investment was led by Tiger Global, with participation from a mix of returning and new backers.
Returning investors in this round include Prime Movers Lab, Mark Cuban, FundersClub, Creative Ventures, GRIDS Capital, and Ahoy Capital. New investors joining the cap table are Neman Ventures, Mana Ventures, Gaingels, and Ryuu Co. of Japan. The company announced the closure in August 2025, with the news appearing in trade publications around that time.
The capital injection is earmarked for accelerating FORT’s stated mission: providing safe, secure, and dynamic control for autonomous systems. The company explicitly mentions several sectors where such systems are becoming more common, including autonomous vehicles, agriculture, construction, defense, factory automation, and humanoid robotics. In its announcement, FORT also said it intends to use the funds to strengthen its leadership and engineering teams, accelerate product development, and expand its market presence.
Alongside the funding news, FORT announced the appointment of three new board members. Kirk D. Brown currently serves as COO and CFO of SportsMedia Technology and previously held the COO role at Overwatch Geospatial, a company acquired by Textron. Jorge Heraud is the CEO of TerraBlaster and previously served as CEO of Blue River Technology and VP of Automation at John Deere. Benjamin G. Wolff is President and CEO of Palladyne AI and co-founder and CEO of Clearwire Corporation, which was acquired by Sprint. The company said these appointments are meant to bolster its leadership and strategic direction as it enters its next phase of expansion.
The source material does not disclose the exact date of the funding close beyond the month of August 2025. It also does not specify the valuation at which the round was raised, nor does it break down how much of the $18.9 million came from each investor. The company’s total funding figure of $60.5 million is cumulative across all rounds to date.
Why it matters for European robot service
For European readers, this funding event is significant for several reasons, even though FORT Robotics is a US-based company. The robotics industry is global, and capital flows into safety and control infrastructure affect how autonomous systems are deployed across markets, including Europe.
The source material notes that the robotics industry is at a “critical inflection point.” Autonomous systems are moving from pilot projects and controlled environments into large-scale commercial deployments. The sectors listed — autonomous vehicles, agriculture, construction, defense, factory automation, and humanoid robotics — are all areas where European companies are active. European manufacturers, integrators, and end users are deploying robots in warehouses, farms, construction sites, and factories. The safety layer that enables these systems to operate alongside humans is not a regional concern; it is a global one.
FORT’s CEO, Samuel Reeves, is quoted in the source material as saying that “robotics and physical AI are quickly transforming every worksite globally.” He goes on to say that as robot fleets grow and work alongside people, the need for robust functional safety becomes more vital. This statement is not limited to the US market. European worksites are undergoing the same transformation, and the same safety requirements apply.
For European robot service providers, this funding round signals that safety and security for autonomous systems is attracting serious investment. Tiger Global leading the round is notable, as it is a large, well-known investment firm. The participation of Mark Cuban, a prominent entrepreneur and investor, also draws attention. When major investors put money into safety infrastructure for robotics, it validates the market segment and may encourage other companies in the space to seek similar funding.
The appointment of Jorge Heraud to the board is particularly relevant for the agriculture sector. Heraud’s background includes leading Blue River Technology, which was acquired by John Deere, and serving as VP of Automation at John Deere. European agriculture is increasingly adopting autonomous machinery, and the connection between FORT and someone with deep experience in agricultural automation suggests the company is positioning itself to serve that market seriously.
Similarly, Benjamin Wolff’s background with Palladyne AI and Clearwire brings experience in both artificial intelligence and large-scale technology ventures. Kirk Brown’s experience spans operations, finance, and geospatial technology, including work with a company acquired by Textron, a major defense contractor. These appointments suggest FORT is looking to strengthen its strategic oversight across multiple verticals.
For European companies that provide services around robot deployment — whether that is integration, maintenance, safety auditing, or software development — the growth of a company like FORT matters because it affects the ecosystem. If FORT becomes a more dominant player in safety and control for autonomous systems, European integrators may need to work with its platform or compete against it. The funding gives FORT more resources to expand its market presence, which could include Europe.
The source material does not specify FORT’s plans for European expansion. It does not mention any European offices, partnerships, or certifications. Readers should note that the company’s stated plans are to strengthen leadership and engineering teams, accelerate product development, and expand market presence, but the source does not detail what that expansion looks like geographically. This is a gap in the information, and it is worth flagging rather than speculating.
Another point of relevance for European readers is the regulatory environment. The European Union has been developing regulations around artificial intelligence and robotics, including the EU AI Act and machinery directives. Functional safety is a key component of compliance for autonomous systems in Europe. A company like FORT, which focuses on safety and security for these systems, is likely to be affected by and responsive to European regulations. However, the source material does not mention any regulatory strategy or compliance certifications, so this remains an area where additional information would be needed.
The broader trend of humanoid robotics is also worth noting for European audiences. The source material lists humanoid robotics as one of the sectors where autonomous systems are becoming more prevalent. European companies are active in this space, and the safety requirements for humanoid robots working alongside people are particularly demanding. FORT’s focus on functional safety could be relevant to European humanoid robot developers, but again, the source material does not provide specifics about any such engagements.
What buyers and operators should know
For buyers and operators of autonomous systems in Europe, this funding round is a signal about the importance of safety and security in robotics. The source material emphasizes that FORT’s goal is to provide “safe, secure, and dynamic control” for autonomous systems. The company is not just building components; it is building a platform that machine builders and users rely on.
The source material states that FORT is seeing “sharp acceleration in new customers and growth from long-time users of the FORT platform.” This is a claim made by the company itself, and it is worth noting that the source does not provide independent verification of these growth figures. No customer counts, revenue numbers, or deployment statistics are given. Buyers should treat such claims as directional rather than definitive.
One thing that is clear from the source material is that FORT is focused on functional safety. The CEO’s quote explicitly says that “the need for robust functional safety becomes even more vital” as robot fleets grow and work alongside people. For operators, this means that safety is not an optional add-on but a core requirement for deploying autonomous systems at scale. The funding will presumably allow FORT to continue developing its safety platform, but the source does not describe any specific new products or features that will result from this capital.
The source material does not provide any technical specifications for FORT’s products. It does not mention safety certifications, standards compliance, or performance metrics. Buyers who are evaluating FORT’s platform for their operations will need to seek that information from the company directly or from other sources. This article cannot provide those details because they are not in the source material.
Similarly, the source does not disclose pricing information, service level agreements, response times, or spare-part lead times. These are all critical factors for operators who are integrating safety systems into their robot fleets, but they are not addressed in the funding announcement. Readers should not assume any specific terms or conditions based on this article.
What the source does tell us is that FORT has now raised $60.5 million in total funding. That is a substantial amount for a company in this space, and it suggests that investors see a significant market opportunity. The involvement of Tiger Global as the lead investor in this round adds credibility, as Tiger Global is known for making sizable bets on technology companies.
The new board members bring experience that could be relevant to buyers in specific sectors. Jorge Heraud’s agricultural background may be of interest to operators in farming and agtech. Benjamin Wolff’s work with Palladyne AI, which focuses on AI for robotics, could signal a deeper integration of AI capabilities into FORT’s platform. Kirk Brown’s experience with a company acquired by Textron suggests connections to the defense sector. However, the source material does not specify how these board members will influence product direction, so any conclusions in that regard are speculative.
For operators, the key takeaway is that the safety and security layer for autonomous systems is attracting significant investment. This is likely to lead to more mature products, better support, and broader adoption of safety platforms like FORT’s. But the specifics of how this funding will translate into tangible benefits for buyers are not disclosed in the source material.
It is also worth noting that the source material does not mention any partnerships, customer names, or case studies. While the company claims growth in new customers and long-time users, no specific examples are provided. Buyers who are considering FORT’s platform should ask for references and evidence of deployments in their specific industry and region.
Finally, the source material does not address the competitive landscape. There are other companies working on safety and control for autonomous systems, but the source does not mention any competitors or explain what differentiates FORT from them. This is another area where buyers will need to do their own research.
In summary, this funding round is a notable development for the robotics industry, and it has implications for European buyers and operators. The company has raised a significant amount of capital, appointed experienced board members, and stated its intent to accelerate product development and market expansion. However, the source material leaves many questions unanswered, including specifics about products, pricing, certifications, and geographic plans. Readers should treat this as a high-level announcement and seek additional information from the company or other sources before making any decisions.
Sources
Fort Robotics raises $18.9 million in new funding to bring total to $60.5 million
Published by Vigla Media OÜ (Estonia).