Exotec
 | |
| Industry | Warehouse automation |
|---|---|
| Founded | 2015 |
| Founders |
|
| Headquarters | Wasquehal , France |
| Products | Warehouse robots and software |
| Revenue | 340,000,000 (2026)  |
Number of employees | 1,300 employees (2025) |
| Website | www |
Exotec is a French warehouse robotics company headquartered in Wasquehal, near Lille. Founded in 2015 by Romain Moulin and Renaud Heitz, it develops robots and software for storing goods and preparing orders.[1][2]
Its main system, Skypod, uses mobile robots that travel across warehouse floors and storage racks to retrieve containers and deliver them to workers.[1]
History
[edit]Moulin and Heitz founded Exotec after working in industrial and medical robotics. Amazon's acquisition of warehouse robotics company Kiva Systems helped inspire them to start the business.[3]
French online retailer Cdiscount became an early customer. It ordered robots in 2016, before Exotec had completed a working demonstration of its system. In December that year, Exotec raised €3.3 million from investment firms 360 Capital Partners and Breega. The first Skypod robots began operating at Cdiscount's warehouse in Cestas in 2017. Cdiscount later installed the system at its warehouse in Réau.[4]
In June 2018, Exotec raised another €15 million in a funding round led by Iris Capital.[5] By September, the company was assembling robots in Croix and preparing to expand into other European markets.[6]
By September 2020, Exotec had opened offices in Atlanta and Tokyo. That month, it raised US$90 million in a funding round led by 83North to support development, manufacturing, and international expansion.[7][8]
In January 2022, Exotec raised US$335 million at a valuation of US$2 billion.[9] Goldman Sachs Asset Management led the funding round.[10]
In early 2026, Exotec opened its global headquarters in Wasquehal. Named Imaginarium, the approximately 25,000-square-metre (270,000 sq ft) facility brought together research, production, and offices that had previously occupied several sites.[2]
Technology
[edit]Exotec supplies warehouse systems that combine robots, storage racks, containers, workstations, and software. Skypod robots move across the floor and climb racks to collect containers. They deliver these to workers, who select the items needed for each order. The robots also carry containers back to storage when goods are restocked.[1]
Skypod robots move individual containers rather than entire shelving units. They use laser navigation to find their way around and return to charging stations automatically. Installations can be expanded by adding robots and racks.[4]
The company also developed Skypicker, a robotic arm that transfers individual items between containers. Its software coordinates the robots and the preparation of orders.[11]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- 1 2 3 Gros, Maryse (9 January 2019). "Exotec Solutions déploie ses robots logistiques chez les e-commerçants". Le Monde Informatique (in French).
- 1 2 Soury-Lavergne, Élodie (4 February 2026). "La licorne française Exotec change d'échelle avec l'Imaginarium, son nouveau siège mondial près de Lille". Le Journal des Entreprises (in French).
- ↑ Fagot, Vincent (20 April 2021). "A Croix, les robots logistiques d'Exotec se déploient". Le Monde (in French).
- 1 2 Manens, François (12 July 2019). "La startup de la semaine : les robots d'Exotec défient ceux d'Amazon". La Tribune (in French).
- ↑ Degeler, Andrii (12 June 2018). "French warehouse robotics startup Exotec secures €15 million from Iris Capital". Tech.eu.
- ↑ Magnien, Jeanne (September 2018). "Exotec Solutions veut voir ses robots gagner l'Europe" (PDF). Le Journal des Entreprises (in French) (Nord–Pas-de-Calais ed.). p. 20.
- ↑ Keane, Jonathan (29 September 2020). "Exotec raises $90 million to ramp up its autonomous warehouse robots". Tech.eu.
- ↑ "Exotec Solutions lève 90 millions de dollars pour mieux exporter ses robots". Le Journal des Entreprises (in French). 29 September 2020.
- ↑ Dillet, Romain (16 January 2022). "Warehouse robotics system Exotec raises $335 million". TechCrunch.
- ↑ Manens, François (17 January 2022). "French Tech : Exotec, cette première licorne industrielle qui veut multiplier ses revenus par... 10 d'ici à 2025". La Tribune (in French).
- ↑ Treilles, Clarisse (2 August 2021). "Les robots de logistique d'Exotec font un carton". ZDNet (in French).