The Ukrainian robot manufacturer Deus Robotics, which is already automating facilities for Nova Poshta, is preparing to launch a pilot project in the United Kingdom. According to founder Pavlo Pikulin, the startup's name is inspired by the cyberpunk series Deus Ex, Forbes Ukraine reports.
The name was inspired by the popular cyberpunk video game series Deus Ex, which plays on the ancient concept of a "god from the machine."
"I see an unexpected solution to our future in robotics," says Pikulin. A more pragmatic motivation is the desire to automate the cash-intensive construction industry, which has been dominated by human labor for centuries.
Deus Robotics' first products—robots for parquet grinding and tile laying with a cost of $20,000—have not yet entered the market due to the conservatism of the construction industry. Instead, Deus Robotics has begun automating another niche—warehouse logistics.
"Today, Deus Robotics robots transport thousands of parcels, increasing the efficiency of an important business for the country—Nova Poshta. Other clients are in line. The heart of Deus Robotics is AI technology for navigation and coordination of robots in space, which quickly integrates into warehouse operators' processes," wrote Vlad Tislenko, a partner at the SMRK fund, which invested $1.5 million in Deus Robotics, last year.
In March 2024, Deus Robotics is launching a pilot project in the United Kingdom and plans to ramp up production to 140 robots per year.
"We are currently non-profitable. The goal is to become profitable next year, and it's entirely possible," says Pikulin.
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According to the founder, the startup operates on two models. The first involves selling robots and then providing maintenance. The second is a subscription-based model, known as robotics as a service, offered in Europe and the USA. The average contract is around $200,000 per year, but Deus Robotics plans to work with larger clients and move towards $500,000 per year.
"In Ukraine, the model of selling robots works because we have relatively cheap labor, and subscription does not pay off. In Ukraine, we sell robots for an average of $500,000 and a monthly service subscription," said Pavlo Pikulin.
