Pioneer Fund

Pioneer Fund is a venture capital firm founded in 2017, with its headquarters in Toronto, Canada. The firm focuses on early-stage investments and is particularly tied to the Y Combinator network, comprising over 420 alumni from the accelerator program. Pioneer Fund targets a diverse range of sectors, including consumer products, financial services, information technology, advanced manufacturing, blockchain, life sciences, gaming, artificial intelligence, and education technology, among others. By leveraging its connection to Y Combinator, Pioneer Fund aims to support innovative startups with high growth potential across various industries.

Bryant Chou

Senior Venture Partner

Mike Dilworth

CFO and General Partner

Jarret Glasscock

Senior Venture Partner and Healthcare Biotech

Beth Kolko

Senior Venture Partner

Parthi Loganathan

Venture Partner

Dave Messina

General Partner

Eric Norman

Visiting General Partner

Will Olsen

Venture Partner

Alexander Strunkin

Venture Partner

Jonathan Tang

Senior Venture Partner

Kitch Wilson

Venture Partner

Past deals in Robotics

Pivot Robots

Pre Seed Round in 2024
Pivot Robots specializes in developing AI vision control software that enhances the capabilities of industrial robots, particularly in manufacturing. By integrating off-the-shelf robots and advanced vision sensors, the company enables these robots to adapt to various tasks, including the hazardous process of metal grinding. This innovative approach allows manufacturers to automate labor-intensive operations, improving efficiency and safety in the workplace. Pivot Robots leverages the latest advancements in core vision models to facilitate faster robotic integrations, ultimately transforming traditional manufacturing processes.

Adagy Robotics

Pre Seed Round in 2024
Adagy is a remote intervention service that recovers robots once they fail. For example, if a tractor robot becomes lost in a field, instead of calling the farmer for assistance, it may now contact Adagy, whose operators will take control of the robot and remotely drive it back to safety.

OpenShelf

Seed Round in 2023
OpenShelf, founded in 2023, develops an inventory automation system aimed at optimizing contact lens management for optometrists. The company offers flexible robotic solutions that can handle, sort, and dispense thousands of unique contact lens boxes. This technology allows optometrists to gain valuable insights into their inventory, such as when to reorder specific prescriptions and the frequency of stock replenishment at their practice. By streamlining the contact lens inventory process, OpenShelf enhances operational efficiency and supports better patient care.

Clone

Seed Round in 2022
Clone is focused on developing advanced humanoid robots aimed at addressing everyday tasks and challenges. The company specializes in creating biomimetic androids that replicate human-like functionality, featuring innovations such as anthropomorphic hands, biomimetic skeletons, and proprietary artificial muscles. These robots are designed to enhance efficiency and safety in various domestic chores by utilizing power-dense technologies and custom hydraulic power supplies. Clone's mission is to provide solutions that not only reduce costs and time but also improve the overall ease of performing routine activities, effectively replacing human effort with robotic precision.

Revolve Surgical

Seed Round in 2021
Revolve Surgical is a Toronto-based company founded in 2019 that is developing a unique surgical robot designed for use in a variety of operating environments, including the over one million abdominal surgeries conducted outside of hospitals in the United States. The company's robotic surgery platform employs a hybrid manual-robotic approach that eliminates the need for teleoperation, thereby reducing both the size and cost of traditional surgical robots. By simplifying design and operation, Revolve aims to enhance access to robotic surgery for patients and improve value-based care in the medical field.

Somatic

Seed Round in 2020
Somatic LLC, founded in 2017 and based in New York, specializes in robotic cleaning services for commercial bathrooms. The company develops advanced cleaning robots designed to enhance efficiency in restroom maintenance within office buildings. These robots utilize a virtual reality programming system to spray and wipe down surfaces effectively. Additionally, they are equipped with capabilities to open doors and operate elevators, which streamlines the cleaning process. By implementing Somatic's technology, clients can significantly reduce cleaning costs and improve staff retention while also enhancing overall hygiene in their facilities.

Augmented Radar Imaging

Seed Round in 2018
Augmented Radar Imaging is building safety and autonomy-enabling next-generation radar systems. Augmented Radar Imaging delivers radar and advanced machine learning algorithms to power autonomous vehicles and warehouse robots.
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