- University of Sheffield spinout company BOW has secured major funding to develop its robotics software platform that could make it easier for developers to innovate
- BOW's development kit bridges the gap between different robotics systems, allowing programmers to focus on creativity and innovation rather than technical challenges
A University of Sheffield spinout company that is set to help developers overcome the cost and complexity of programming robots, has secured £4 million in funding.
BOW, which spun-out of the University's School of Computer Science in 2020, has developed a groundbreaking software platform that handles the complexities of robotics and allows developers to focus on innovation and creativity instead of technical challenges.
The platform could help developers unleash the full potential of robotics, with the investment announced today (28 January 2025) set to be a defining moment for the company.
The robotics market is projected to reach $260 billion by 2030. However, application development and the productisation of robotics is currently being hampered by the complexity and cost of programming.
BOW's software development kit (SDK) meets this challenge by bridging the gap between diverse robotic systems, enabling integration and operation across multiple platforms, regardless of operating system or manufacturer.
Northern Gritstone, the investment business focused on science and technology businesses in the North of England and chaired by Lord Jim O'Neill has led the combined £4 million seed round investment into the Sheffield-based company. Northern Gritstone is joined by co-investors Finance Yorkshire and NPIF II - Praetura Equity Finance, which is managed by Praetura as part of the Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund II.
Nick Thompson, CEO of BOW, said: "The robotics market is growing fast, but that growth would be exponentially higher if the tremendous cost and complexity of programming robots were reduced. Robotics has an almost unlimited potential to help humanity solve global challenges, but the world simply can't afford to wait for robotics to standardise around a single operating system and coding language.
"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, make portable applications and enable easy interoperability between any make and model of robot.
"This £4 million seed investment, led by Northern Gritstone, will be used to build on our strong commercial traction to date, expand our brilliant team and accelerate our product development so we can unleash the full potential of robotics for the betterment of our world."
Daniel Camilleri, CTO and Founder of BOW, said: "This investment is a defining moment for BOW. It not only validates our vision but also underscores the growing demand for cross-platform compatibility in robotics software. By simplifying robotics programming, we're opening the door for all developers-not just roboticists-to shape the future of robotics. With BOW software, we're enabling the 'there's an app for that' revolution within the robotics industry."
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 commercialising research and investment such as this from Northern Gritstone is crucial in helping our spinout companies grow."
Duncan Johnson, CEO of Northern Gritstone, said: "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. BOW's groundbreaking robotics platform is a perfect example of innovation in the region born out of the University of Sheffield's world-class academic research."
BOW is already on an exciting trajectory. Last month, the company announced that Raspberry-Pi Co-Founder Liz Upton has joined the company as Chair of the Board. BOW is currently working with OEMs, software development houses and research and development teams to address the core issues of portability between different makes and classes of robots.
The seed investment will be used to fund essential development in BOW and build its team.
