Build With Robots, which is continuing to capitalize on the demand for disinfecting services, has started the new year with a $5 million funding round.
The company confirmed the Series A round with Business First on Monday. It includes a $1 million convertible note that brings the total to $5 million, according to chief strategy officer Matthew Ennis, and sets the stage for more potential sales of its Breezy One robot.
The company says the robot can spray disinfectant and clean large areas in relatively small amounts of time. Ennis said the startup, incorporated in 2020, is focusing on three types of clients: arenas, airports and schools. The firm offers its technology via purchasing and service agreements in addition to lease agreements.
Build With Robots’s recent funding primarily came from the New Mexico Angels, a statewide network of early-stage startup investors. But some smaller funds, including the Arrowhead Innovation Fund at New Mexico State University, also participated, according to Ennis.
Previously, the Breezy One robot caught on locally through partnerships with Electric Playhouse and St. Mary’s Catholic School. But the robot is also being brought to other places, including both major airports in Houston, according to Ennis. Plus, earlier this month the company announced the robot is also being used to disinfect The Pit at the University of New Mexico, according to a news release.
The state government and city of Albuquerque also showed interest, pledging $360,000 in Local Economic Development Act funding to support the startup’s expansion. As part of that expansion, Build With Robots is to create 64 jobs by the end of 2024, according to the New Mexico Economic Development Department.
