Robotics startup Filics bags €13.5m in funding for product development and expansion push
Filics, a Munich-based developer of solutions for autonomous load carrier handling, has announced completion of a financing round.
The new backers include Sandwater, Alven, F-LOG Ventures, and the Amazon Industrial Innovation Fund, alongside Bayern Kapital, business angels Andrei Danescu (Founder and CEO at Dexory) and Helmut Schmid (CCO at Filics and former CEO at Agilox), and with continued participation from Capnamic and 10x Founders.
The funds raised (€13.5 million) will mainly be used to expand product development and its robotics platform, as well as to internationalise the business model. Filics plans to make the Filics Unit, a double runner system for automated pallet handling, available for floor block storage systems by the end of 2025 and to prepare for market entry in other European markets in 2026.
"With the new financing round, we are taking the next big step in our growth strategy. Thanks to the strong support, we can further optimise and scale the technology. The trust of our investors is both a tailwind and an obligation," says Gregor Kolls, Co-founder and CEO at Filics.
Filics develops robots that can move weights of up to 1.2 tonnes, encompassing all standard weights, in intralogistics. These also operate autonomously and can flexibly drive under a wide variety of load carriers.
“Our business continues to evolve at a rapid pace and we are constantly exploring innovative ways to use space, personnel, and energy more efficiently, which ultimately benefits our employees and customers,” says Franziska Bossart, Head of the Amazon Industrial Innovation Fund. “We are excited about Filics’ innovative approach to advancing the logistics industry by exploring significant space savings with more flexible and scalable automation.”
“The Filics technology offers not only substantial space efficiency but also a flexible, scalable path to automation of warehouses. For Sandwater, this represents a solution that can truly revolutionise how warehouses are run, requiring less building space, providing increased productivity and a smaller footprint form a genious neat hardware/software combo. We have been truly impressed by the team,” says Morten E. Iversen, Partner at Sandwater.
The founders started at the Technical University of Munich (TUM) and have been developing the technology since 2021, with early stage support from backers, such as Dr. Klaus Dieter Rosenbach, former Chief Technology Officer at Jungheinrich, Alexander Glasmacher of ELOKON , Arnold Vetter of Vetter Industries, Navid Thielemann and Christian Flick of ThielemannGroup as well as the ProGlove founders with their investment vehicle OMA Business Angels.
The technology is being tested by companies such as Bosch, the DHL Group and the Nagel Group.
"Our goal is to redefine pallet handling and transform the logistics industry with comprehensive automation solutions. The strong demand for our technology confirms, that we have hit the nerve of the times with our solution,” says Helmut Schmid, CCO at Filics.
2025 RTIH INNOVATION AWARDS
Supply chain technology will be a key focus area at the 2025 RTIH Innovation Awards.
The awards, which are now open for entries, celebrate global tech innovation in a fast moving omnichannel world.
Our 2024 hall of fame entrants were revealed during an event which took place at RIBA’s 66 Portland Place HQ in Central London on 21st November, and consisted of a drinks reception, three course meal, and awards ceremony presided over by comedian Lucy Porter.
In his welcome speech, Scott Thompson, Founder and Editor, RTIH, said: “The event is now into its sixth year and what a journey it has been. The awards started life as an online only affair during the Covid outbreak, before launching as a small scale in real life event and growing year on year to the point where we’re now selling out this fine, historic venue.”
He added: “Congratulations to all of our finalists. Many submissions did not make it through to the final stage, and getting to this point is no mean feat. Checkout-free stores, automated supply chains, immersive experiences, on-demand delivery, next generation loyalty offerings, inclusive retail, green technology. We’ve got all the cool stuff covered this evening.”
“But just importantly we’ve got lots of great examples of companies taking innovative tech and making it usable in everyday operations - resulting in more efficiency and profitability in all areas.”
Congratulations to our 2024 winners, and a big thank you to our sponsors, judging panel, the legend that is Lucy Porter, and all those who attended November's gathering.
For further information on the 2025 RTIH Innovation Awards, please fill in the below form and we will get back to you asap.
