FORT Robotics Secures $20 Million in New Funding to Expand Physical AI Safety Technology

Tiger Global and Mark Cuban Companies back FORT Robotics as the company prepares for a proposed Nasdaq listing and expands safety infrastructure for autonomous robots, humanoid machines and industrial automation.

Philadelphia, 3 November 2026 – FORT Robotics, a US technology company developing safety systems for autonomous machines, has announced approximately $20 million in additional investment commitments from existing backers, led by Tiger Global with participation from Mark Cuban Companies. The funding will support the company’s expansion as manufacturers introduce more robots and AI-powered machines into industrial environments.

Announced on 22 October 2026, the investment includes an approximately $10 million financing led by Tiger Global, alongside a further $10 million commitment to a private investment in public equity (PIPE) transaction associated with FORT’s planned public listing. The company said the new commitments bring total capital committed in connection with its proposed business combination to more than $50 million.

FORT develops hardware and software designed to help robots operate safely around people and other machines. According to the company, its technology has been deployed across more than 19,500 units for over 600 customers worldwide, including Agility Robotics, DoorDash, Cobot, Zoox, Textron and Google DeepMind.

Tiger Global Increases Investment as FORT Prepares for Nasdaq Listing

Tiger Global, which has backed FORT Robotics since 2022, is increasing its investment as the company pursues a merger with Newbury Street II Acquisition Corp., a special purpose acquisition company listed on Nasdaq under the ticker NTWO.

The transaction, first announced in August 2026, values the combined business at an implied enterprise value of approximately $556.6 million. Subject to shareholder and regulatory approvals, the combined company will operate as FORT Robotics Holdings, Inc., with plans to trade on Nasdaq under the ticker FROB.

The proposed merger was initially expected to provide approximately $201 million in gross proceeds, assuming no shareholder redemptions, including previously announced equity commitments. Actual proceeds will depend on redemptions, transaction expenses and the completion of financing arrangements.

FORT intends to expand its engineering and operational teams, increase production capacity and pursue customers in warehousing, construction, transportation and defence. The company has not disclosed a revised transaction valuation following the latest investment announcement.

The funding commitments and proposed public listing remain separate from completed financing. The additional PIPE investment is expected to close alongside the business combination, which has not yet received all required approvals.

FORT’s Safety Platform Supports More Than 19,500 Robotic Systems

Founded in 2018, FORT Robotics develops what it calls the Trust Layer for Physical AI, a combination of safety technologies intended to help manufacturers deploy autonomous machines in environments shared with human workers.

Its systems provide emergency-stop controls, secure wireless communications, remote supervision and methods for monitoring how robots interact with their surroundings. They are designed to work across different machine types, allowing manufacturers to integrate safety controls without developing every component independently.

The company’s approach includes three main elements: human-in-the-loop control, onboard safety systems and external environmental monitoring. These allow operators to intervene when necessary, while sensors and predefined safety rules help machines respond to conditions in their operating environment.

FORT says its platform has been certified to Safety Integrity Level 3 under IEC 61508, an international functional safety standard. This certification relates to the relevant safety system and does not mean that every robot using FORT technology is automatically certified for all operating conditions.

The company reported that revenue increased by 62% year over year in 2025. It also holds 25 patents and serves customers across manufacturing, logistics, agriculture, mining, energy and other industries.

Partnership with Agility Robotics Extends Safety Controls for Humanoid Robots

FORT’s expansion includes a partnership with Agility Robotics, the developer of the Digit humanoid robot. On 1 October 2026, the companies announced an agreement to strengthen the safety infrastructure of Digit 5, Agility’s next-generation humanoid platform.

The collaboration will introduce an external safety interface connecting the robot to systems operating elsewhere in a facility. It builds on an existing relationship involving emergency-stop devices, onboard communications and hardware used by operators during maintenance and setup.

The companies are also developing safety systems that can respond to information collected outside the robot itself. In warehouses and manufacturing facilities, this could allow robots to account for conditions detected by external cameras, sensors and other safety equipment.

According to Agility, earlier versions of Digit have accumulated more than 65,000 operating hours, with deployments at organisations including GXO, Schaeffler and Toyota Motor Manufacturing Canada.

The partnership will cover hardware development, engineering support, regulatory compliance and deployment assistance as Digit 5 moves towards broader commercial use.

New Connectivity Software Aims to Prevent Loss of Robot Control

FORT has also introduced Connectivity Aggregation, a software product designed to maintain communications with autonomous and remotely operated machines when individual networks become unreliable.

Announced on 14 October 2026 at the Association of the United States Army Annual Meeting & Exposition, the system combines cellular, satellite, Wi-Fi and tactical radio connections into a single communications link.

The software monitors network performance and redistributes traffic when signal quality deteriorates. Rather than relying on a single connection, operators can use multiple available networks to maintain contact with equipment operating in remote or obstructed environments.

The company said the technology was already being introduced to several defence customers when it was announced. It can operate on customer-owned hardware and does not require proprietary communications equipment.

Maintaining reliable communications is a safety concern for remotely operated industrial machinery, autonomous vehicles and robots working in areas where network coverage is inconsistent. A lost connection can interrupt operations or prevent an operator from intervening when equipment encounters an unexpected situation.

Physical AI Expansion Creates New Safety Requirements

As robots take on more tasks in warehouses, factories and other industrial settings, companies must account for risks that extend beyond conventional software failures. Autonomous machines can interact with workers, move heavy equipment and operate in environments where conditions change without warning.

Safety requirements therefore include reliable communications, emergency intervention, collision avoidance, cybersecurity and compliance with industrial standards. These systems must also be tested under the conditions in which robots will operate, rather than relying exclusively on laboratory demonstrations.

FORT’s proposed public listing would give investors exposure to a company focused on safety infrastructure rather than robot manufacturing. Its business model depends on manufacturers and operators adopting independent safety systems as autonomous equipment becomes more widely deployed.

The company has identified further investment in safety intelligence, monitoring software and cybersecurity as priorities following the proposed merger. However, its growth plans remain dependent on financing, regulatory approvals and demand from commercial customers.

FORT’s latest funding announcement adds financial support to its existing partnerships and product development programme. With more than 600 customers and thousands of deployed systems, the company is seeking to expand its role as a supplier of safety technology for increasingly autonomous industrial machinery.