When you talk about power in motion, most folks still think hydraulics, old-school muscle running on oil and prayers. But in Somerville, where tech grit meets industrial grind, RISE® Robotics has been quietly building something that doesn’t just push the needle, it breaks the dial. And now, with $1.5 million fresh in the tank, they’re not just rising, they’re charging headfirst into a future that’s leaner, cleaner, and smarter.
Let’s get one thing straight: RISE isn’t just swapping oil for electricity. They’re redefining how machines move. Their Beltdraulic™ tech? It delivers the punch of hydraulics, minus the mess, inefficiency, and maintenance headaches. Think: hydraulic power without the dinosaur juice, with up to 90% energy savings. Yeah, that kind of disruptive. If you’re still thinking about fluid systems in 2025, you might as well be selling pagers.
Props where they’re due, co-founders Arron Acosta (VP Biz Dev), Blake Sessions (CTO), Toomas Sepp (Chief Engineer), and Kyle Dell'Aquila (Head of CX & Design), Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Rhode Island School of Design minds who knew machines could hustle harder and cleaner. Under the sharp eye of CEO Hiten Sonpal, with ops led by Tom Phelps and finance wrangled by Scott Bryce, RISE is pivoting from the lab to the loading dock. And they’re not shy about where they’re headed: targeting a $50B market across construction, defense, material handling, and beyond.
This round, led by Walter Winshall with KINGSCROWD Capital and backed by institutional powerhouses like MIT's The Engine, FORTISTAR CAPITAL, INC, and Techstars, is fuel for RISE to hit the gas. After a $14.36M Series A and about $26.29M total raised, they’re now finalizing a lift gate system so clean, even the United States Air Force is strapping in, testing next-gen bomb loader arms, no less. Forget about “sustainability goals.” This is about performance without compromise.
2023 saw them clock $4.38M in revenue, up 224% from the year before. Burn rate? $287K/month as of Jan 2025. Revenue per employee? A solid $282,400. This isn’t hype; it’s hard metrics from a team that’s been in the trenches.
So here’s where the rubber meets the road: RISE isn’t chasing trends, they’re building the backbone of an electrified industrial world. And if you’re still betting on hydraulics to carry you through, don’t say we didn’t warn you. RISE is coming, belt-driven, fluid-free, and all-in. Let’s move.
Let’s connect and keep the momentum going across the tech ecosystem. Whether you’re a founder shaping the future, a leader driving change, a VC backing bold ideas, or an investor spotting the next big thing—together, we’re pushing boundaries. Proud to be building the future with you.
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