KEWAZO has secured new investment from a group of global backers, including Chevron Technology Ventures and Asahi Kasei, as part of its latest funding round. The round, led by Schooner Capital, brings the company’s total funding to $35 million.
The investment also includes participation from Benson Capital, Mana Ventures, Gaingels, Atlas Ventures, and existing investors such as True Ventures and Cybernetix Ventures. The funding is expected to support KEWAZO’s expansion across industrial sites and accelerate the development of its robotics and AI-driven solutions.
At the center of KEWAZO’s offering is LIFTBOT, a lifting robot designed to automate vertical material movement in heavy industrial environments. The system is already deployed across more than 20 sites in North America and Europe, including refineries, petrochemical plants, chemical complexes, and power facilities. Companies operating in these sectors are increasingly adopting robotic solutions to reduce reliance on manual handling and traditional cranes, while improving operational efficiency and worker safety.
LIFTBOT’s deployment also enables KEWAZO to collect structured operational data from complex industrial environments. This data serves as the foundation for the company’s broader Physical AI platform, which aims to enhance transparency in current operations and support the gradual transition toward automation in the future.
According to Artem Kuchukov, industrial companies are showing growing interest in practical robotics applications that deliver immediate value. He noted that many customers are already exploring additional use cases beyond material movement, indicating broader adoption potential across workflows.
Investors highlighted the strategic importance of robotics and automation in transforming industrial operations. Alexandra Manick stated that KEWAZO’s combination of technical capability and commercial execution positions it well to lead innovation in heavy industry.
From an industry perspective, Chevron views the investment as part of its broader strategy to support emerging technologies that can enhance safety and efficiency in core operations. Jim Gable noted that solutions like LIFTBOT have the potential to improve cost efficiency while reducing operational risks in industrial environments.
Similarly, Asahi Kasei emphasized the role of advanced technologies in improving maintenance processes and enabling more efficient use of skilled labor. Jeff Chen pointed to the potential for robotics to shorten maintenance cycles and enhance safety across complex operations.
The investment also reflects growing interest in modernizing industrial infrastructure in key regions such as the U.S. Gulf Coast. George Rovegno highlighted the importance of equipping industrial workforces with advanced tools to maintain competitiveness and operational resilience.
Headquartered in Munich and Houston, KEWAZO is positioning itself as a provider of robotics and AI solutions tailored to heavy industry. With the latest funding, the company plans to scale deployments, expand into additional industrial workflows, and deepen integration within existing customer sites.
