Sheffield-based tech innovator BOW has raised €4.7 million in a Seed funding round to disrupt the robotics industry by simplifying robot programming. The startup’s universal robotics software platform aims to eliminate barriers to entry for developers and unlock new potential across industries.
The funding was led by Northern Gritstone, with additional investment from Finance Yorkshire and Praetura Ventures through the Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund II. The announcement follows a major milestone for BOW: the appointment of Liz Upton, co-founder of Raspberry Pi, as Chair of the Board in November 2024.
Breaking Barriers in Robotics Development
Founded in 2020 by Daniel Camilleri and Nick Thompson, BOW is addressing a critical bottleneck in robotics: the high cost and complexity of programming robots. The platform allows developers to create portable applications for any robot, regardless of the programming language or operating system.
“The robotics industry has long been hindered by fragmented software ecosystems,” said Daniel Camilleri, CTO and Founder of BOW. “Our platform changes that. By enabling cross-platform compatibility, we’re opening up robotics to all developers—not just specialists—and empowering them to shape the future of this industry. This investment validates our vision and marks a defining moment for BOW.”
The robotics market is projected to hit €247 billion by 2030, but innovation has been slowed by the lack of standardization. Applications built for one robot often can’t be used on others, limiting widespread adoption. BOW’s robot-agnostic software development kit (SDK) solves this problem, allowing developers to easily port applications, manage robot fleets, and integrate AI capabilities.
Accelerating Robotics Innovation in the North
BOW’s roots trace back to the University of Sheffield, where it was spun out in 2020. The company collaborates with Original Equipment Manufacturers, system integrators, and software development firms to accelerate robotics innovation.
Nick Thompson, CEO of BOW, emphasized the transformative potential of the platform: “The robotics market is growing fast, but its growth could be exponentially higher if programming weren’t so expensive and complex. Our universal platform eliminates this obstacle, enabling software developers to create portable, interoperable applications that work across all robot types. This funding will allow us to expand our team, accelerate product development, and scale our impact on a global scale.”
The investment also highlights Northern England’s growing reputation as a hub for technology innovation. Duncan Johnson, CEO of Northern Gritstone, praised BOW’s achievements: “BOW is a testament to the world-class talent and innovation coming out of the North. Their groundbreaking robotics platform has the potential to drive transformative change across industries and help solve global challenges.”
Building a Future for All Developers
BOW’s mission is to democratize robotics by enabling generalist software developers—not just roboticists—to build and deploy complex robotics applications. The platform simplifies processes and opens up opportunities for industries that have been underserved by robotics due to cost or expertise barriers.
With this significant injection of capital, BOW is poised to accelerate its vision of creating a robotics ecosystem where “there’s an app for that” becomes a reality.
