– Fort Robotics, a startup developing a safety and security platform for robots, today announced it has raised $13 million in a funding round led by Prime Movers Lab.
– With the new investment, Fort says it will more than double the size of its workforce and expand its product offerings in “key markets.”
– Worker shortages attributable to the pandemic have accelerated the adoption of automation. According to ABI Research, more than 4 million commercial robots will be installed in over 50,000 warehouses around the world by 2025, up from under 4,000 warehouses as of 2018. In China, Oxford Economics anticipates 12.5 million manufacturing jobs being automated, while in the U.S., McKinsey projects machines will take upwards of 30% of such jobs.
– Founded in 2018, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania-based Fort is CEO Samuel Reeves’ second startup.

– Cipher Skin, a startup developing a network of wraparound sensors that can deliver big data diagnostics, today announced it has raised $5 million in a series A round led by Boyett Group.
– The company says the funds, which bring Cipher’s total raised to date to $7.8 million, will bolster development of the company’s existing product line and new products in markets like oil, gas, and winemaking.
– After his career in the U.S. special operations forces, Cipher CEO Phillip Bogdanovich started training in the gym with Craig Weller, a physical coach he met while serving in Baghdad.
– Bogdanovich says that as soon as he was separated from Weller, he noticed his recovery began slowing and his progress dropped off.

– WiTricity announced an additional $18m to its previously announced October fund raise of $34m.
– The extension included investments from Tony Fadell’s Future Shape and other private investors. Fadell also joins WiTricity’s newly formed Board of Advisors.
– Stage 1 Ventures led the first tranche of $34m with participation from Air Waves Wireless Electricity and a strategic investment by Mitsubishi Corporation through its U.S. subsidiary, Mitsubishi Corporation (Americas).
– As global automakers race to support both consumer and government-generated demand for zero-emissions vehicles, they are also developing wireless charging capabilities that will improve the owner experience.

– Plume, a mesh-Wi-Fi platform, raised $270m funding.
– The round was led by Insight Partners and values the company at $1.35 billion.
– The company has deals in place with some 170 carriers around the globe that provide residential broadband services, reselling Plume’s mesh technology as a way to improve home Wi-Fi connectivity.