Proving that Central and Eastern Europe remains a powerhouse of hardware engineering matched with software, Gideon Brothers (GB), a Zagreb, Croatia-based robotics and AI startup, has raised a $31 million Series A round led by Koch Disruptive Technologies (KDT), the venture and growth arm of Koch Industries Inc., with participation from DB Schenker, Prologis Ventures and Rite-Hite. The round also includes participation from several of Gideon Brothers' existing backers: Taavet Hinrikus (co-founder of TransferWise), Pentland Ventures, Peaksjah, HCVC (Hardware Club), Ivan Topčić, Nenad Bakić and Luca Ascani. The investment will be used to accelerate the development and commercialization of GB's AI and 3D vision-based "autonomous mobile robots" or "AMRs". These perform simple tasks such as transporting, picking up and dropping off products in order to free up humans to perform more valuable tasks. The company will also expand its operations in the EU and U.S. by opening offices in Munich, Germany and Boston, Massachusetts, respectively.

Proving that Central and Eastern Europe remains a powerhouse of hardware engineering matched with software, Gideon Brothers (GB), a Zagreb, Croatia-based robotics and AI startup, has raised a $31 million Series A round led by Koch Disruptive Technologies (KDT), the venture and growth arm of Koch Industries Inc., with participation from DB Schenker, Prologis Ventures, and Rite-Hite. The round also includes participation from several of Gideon Brothers' existing backers: Taavet Hinrikus (co-founder of TransferWise), Pentland Ventures, Peaksjah, HCVC (Hardware Club), Ivan Topčić, Nenad Bakić, and Luca Ascani. The investment will be used to accelerate the development and commercialization of GB's AI and 3D vision-based'autonomous mobile robots' or'AMRs'. These perform simple tasks such as transporting, picking up, and dropping off products in order to free up humans to perform more valuable tasks. The company will also expand its operations in the EU and US by opening offices in Munich, Germany and Boston, Massachusetts, respectively.

Global logistics service provider DB Schenker has introduced autonomous robots from the manufacturer Gideon Brothers at its location in Leipzig. DB Schenker is thus relying on the flexible solution for automating logistics processes in existing warehouses. The robots, which are equipped with cutting-edge technology, allow productivity gains without the need to modify facilities. "In our drive to offer strategic advantages for our clients in the increasingly complex digital environment, DB Schenker continuously explores opportunities to integrate innovations from visionary start-up companies", said Xavier Garijo, Member of the Board for Contract Logistics at Schenker AG. "Delivering automation possibilities for logistics and warehouse operations is a foundation for building the next generation supply chain."