Robotics industry fundings, acquisitions & IPOs: January 2018

Twenty-five different startups were funded in January cumulatively raising $784 million; a great start for the new year. Four acquisitions were reported during the month while the IPO front lay waiting for something to happen. According to Silicon Valley Bank's annual survey of 1,000 executives, startup founders are confident 2018 will be a good year for funding and for business conditions – except hiring and retaining foreign talent. More than half of startups surveyed (51%) reported that at least one of their founders is an immigrant. One-third of startups said laws and regulations prompted them to locate facilities (or move non-sales operations) offshore.