Vertex Ventures leads $6m round in SG robotics firm Hivebotics

Hivebotics, a Singapore-based robotics startup, has secured a US$6 million Series A funding round for its Abluo robot, designed to revolutionize restroom cleaning. Led by Vertex Ventures Southeast Asia & India, the investment was joined by Fareast Land Development and Rigel, a bathroom manufacturer. The Abluo robot features an articulated arm capable of cleaning toilets, urinals, sinks, and floors in commercial restrooms, a task previously left to manual labor.

The robot has accumulated over 10,000 operating hours across 20 sites in Asia, Europe, the Middle East, and North America within a year. These locations span hospitals, airport terminals, and shopping malls, showcasing the robot's versatility. Hivebotics claims Abluo provides consistent cleaning, addressing staffing and quality concerns associated with traditional restroom cleaning.

The robot employs a high-pressure steam system, targeted chemical jets, vacuum extraction, and blow-drying to maintain hygiene without cross-contamination. The robotic arm can access areas underneath rims and around fixtures, ensuring thorough cleaning. Real-time AI algorithms generate cleaning routes, with cameras identifying each fixture and scoring each job through before-and-after inspections.

Hivebotics aims to automate repetitive, labor-intensive facility management tasks, starting with restroom cleaning due to its complexity and staffing challenges. The soft facilities management market, encompassing cleaning, security, catering, and related services, is projected to grow from US$770 billion in 2024 to US$1.2 trillion by 2033, according to Grave View Research. Hivebotics is targeting this expanding market, recognizing restroom cleaning as the most labor-intensive and challenging aspect of the sector.