Rivian has launched its second spin-off of the year: an industrial AI and robotics startup named Mind Robotics.
According to the company’s third-quarter letter to shareholders released Tuesday, this new initiative is centered on applying “industrial AI to transform the way businesses in the physical world function, utilizing Rivian’s operational data as the backbone for a robotics data flywheel.”
That description is heavy on jargon, and Rivian did not provide further details. During an investor call on Tuesday, Rivian CEO RJ Scaringe explained that the company recognized an opportunity to “create products and robotic systems that help us manage and operate our manufacturing facilities with greater efficiency.” Scaringe will act as chairman of Mind Robotics’ board, according to a regulatory filing, and Rivian will retain a stake in the company, he confirmed on the call.
“While AI has already changed the way we manage and conduct business through the broad use of LLMs, its ability to revolutionize our approach to operations in the physical world is, in some respects, almost beyond imagination,” Scaringe stated during the call. “Establishing this company is the result of our decision to take a hands-on role in shaping and advancing sophisticated AI robotics, with a strong emphasis on industrial use cases.”
Mind Robotics has secured $115 million in seed funding, led by venture capital firm Eclipse. Jiten Behl, a partner at Eclipse and a former Rivian employee, disclosed the investment in a LinkedIn update following TechCrunch’s earlier report on the firm’s involvement.
This is the second time this year Rivian has spun off a new independent business. Back in March, the company separated its experimental micromobility unit into a startup called Also Inc. That venture also received investment from Eclipse, along with additional backing from Greenoaks Capital.
It remains uncertain whether Rivian staff are transitioning to Mind Robotics, as happened with Also. A Rivian representative declined to comment, though the company alluded to the possibility in Tuesday’s letter.
“Thanks to our deep pool of tech expertise and a culture that prioritizes innovation, we’ve been able to spot new opportunities to broaden our mission’s impact, all while keeping Rivian’s core focus intact,” Scaringe wrote.
Currently, robotics and industrial AI are attracting significant investment. Numerous companies, including Tesla, are developing humanoid robots and seeking to bring them to market. General Motors is also building out its own robotics and AI division.
Aside from Rivian’s announcement on Tuesday, little else is known about Mind Robotics’ plans. The company has almost no online presence yet, except for a trademark application. That filing is extremely broad, suggesting Mind Robotics could use the name for products ranging from machinery and vehicles to “incubators for eggs.”
This article has been revised to include updated details from a regulatory filing in the third paragraph, a LinkedIn post in the fifth paragraph, and additional information from the investor call throughout.
