Five AI-driven startups raised a combined $63.6 million in recent funding rounds, targeting applications from waste management to autonomous robotics and medical devices. The deals reflect broader investor appetite for artificial intelligence applied to physical environments, with funding in physical AI startups rising nearly 80% year-over-year in the first half of 2026.
London-based Greyparrot, which develops AI-powered camera systems for recycling plants, closed a £20.3 million ($27 million) Series B led by Omar Mir. The company’s technology uses computer vision to identify materials on conveyor belts in real time, helping operators improve sorting efficiency and comply with recycling regulations. Greyparrot’s systems are deployed in over 20 countries and have analyzed more than 1 trillion waste objects. Customers include Waste Management and Veolia, while brands such as Unilever and L’Oréal use its Deepnest platform to track packaging waste for redesigns and regulatory compliance. The funding will support expansion in North America and Europe and contribute to Greyparrot’s goal of preventing over 1 million tons of waste by 2030.
Australian robotics firm Emesent raised $17 million, including a $10 million equity round and a $7 million venture debt facility from Australia’s National Reconstruction Fund Corp. The company’s Hovermap LiDAR system, mounted on drones or vehicles, creates 3D maps of mines and industrial sites, while its Cortex AI platform enables autonomous navigation in GPS-denied environments. Emesent’s technology is deployed at over 200 mine sites globally and is expanding into defense, critical infrastructure and construction. Robotics startups raised $15 billion globally in 2025, a record already surpassed in 2026.
San Francisco-based SoundHealth secured $12.25 million in a Series A led by Shangbay Capital for its FDA-cleared devices that use AI and acoustic resonance therapy to treat congestion and improve sleep. The Sonu band personalizes sound waves to open nasal passages, while the Spatial Sleep device aims to enhance sleep quality. Investment in AI-powered medical devices reached $629 million in the first half of 2026, up 33% year-over-year.
Forge Industries, based in Nashville, Tennessee, raised $3.85 million to commercialize technology converting unrecyclable plastics and waste into industrial fuel. The company’s engineered fuel can replace coal in cement and steel production without requiring factory modifications. The funding will help build its first U.S. biofuel facility near Las Vegas. Cleantech venture funding totaled $15 billion in the first half of 2026, on track to slightly exceed 2025’s total.
New York-based Cascade raised $3.5 million in seed funding from Andreessen Horowitz’s a16z speedrun accelerator and others to develop an AI platform for architecture, engineering and construction firms. The platform analyzes public data such as bond filings and property transactions to identify upcoming projects before they are formally announced, giving firms an early competitive edge.
