Automata
Category: Robotics / Embodied AI
London-based lab automation company building fully integrated, AI-ready platforms for life sciences, combining modular robotics, orchestration software, and unified data infrastructure. Automata was founded in 2015. The company is led by Mostafa ElSayed. Based in London, United Kingdom. Team size: 101-500. Total funding raised: $152M. Latest round: Series C. Key investors include Dimension, Danaher Ventures, Tru Arrow Partners, Octopus Ventures, Entrepreneurs First, Hummingbird, A.P. Moller Holding, ABB Technology Ventures, LocalGlobe, Isomer Capital, Latitude Ventures, In-Q-Tel.
- Founded
- 2015
- Headquarters
- London, United Kingdom
- Team size
- 101-500
- Total funding
- $152M
Value proposition
Transforms physical wet labs into programmable, repeatable, AI-ready systems by combining modular robotics (LINQ Bench), orchestration software (LINQ Cloud), and unified data infrastructure — enabling scientists to program experiments rather than robots, removing manual bottlenecks in life sciences experimentation.
Products and solutions
LINQ platform (LINQ Bench modular robotic bench, LINQ Cloud orchestration software, LINQ Discover), node-based Workflow Canvas, Python SDK, developer experience tools, earlier product Eva (low-cost six-axis desktop robotic arm). Applications across genomics, cell biology, assay & screening.
Unique value
The only fully integrated, AI-ready lab automation platform that is modular, configurable, and open by design — building the operating layer between AI models and the physical lab for autonomous, closed-loop experimentation.
Target customer
Pharmaceutical companies, biotech firms, CROs/CDMOs, academic research institutions, hospital/NHS pathology labs, and advanced research environments.
Industries served
Life sciences, drug discovery & development, diagnostics, genomics, cell biology, assay & screening, biotech, pharma.
Technology advantage
Vertically integrated hardware+software platform; OEM-agnostic integration with third-party instrumentation; modular reconfigurable robotics; unified data infrastructure enabling closed-loop experimentation and AI-driven drug discovery; open/API-first design (Python SDK).
How they differentiate
Unlike legacy fragmented benchtop instruments, Automata delivers a fully integrated, modular, open-by-design platform that combines robotics, orchestration software, and unified data infrastructure — enabling scientists to program experiments (not robots) and run labs autonomously as AI-ready systems.
Main competitors
Opentrons Labworks, HighRes Biosolutions, Biosero, Tecan
Key partnerships
Danaher Corporation (strategic investment partnership, integration with Molecular Devices and Beckman Coulter Life Sciences), A.P. Moller Holding, NHS Trusts, Francis Crick Institute.
Notable customers
NHS Trusts (e.g. The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust), The Francis Crick Institute, HSL, AstraZeneca, bit.bio, five top pharma companies
Major milestones
Founded 2015, launched Eva desktop robot (2017/2019), pivoted to life sciences lab automation, launched LINQ platform (SLAS 2024), ISO 9001 certification, UK's first robotic genomic testing facility for cancer patients, $45M Series C with Danaher strategic partnership (Jan 2026).
Growth metrics
150% revenue growth between Jan 2022 and Oct 2023; 12x increase in live system hours in customer-deployed systems; nearly a million tests conducted by scientists/clinicians; five top pharma companies among customers.
Market positioning
Emerging leader in the AI-era lab automation market, building the reference architecture for autonomous wet labs; counts five top pharma companies among customers.
Geographic focus
Global, with strong presence in UK/Europe and US (Boston/Cambridge, MA operations).
Patents and IP
GB2615613B (Workbench system) granted 2025-05-14, status Active; GB2615525A (A workbench system) still pending. Both assigned to Automata Technologies Ltd.
About Mostafa ElSayed
Ex-Zaha Hadid Architects (Lead Designer, Computation and Design Group); Degree in Architecture from American University of Sharjah; Masters in Architecture and Urbanism; Fellow of the Royal Society for the Encouragement of Arts, Manufacturers and Commerce; course tutor at Architectural Association Design Research Lab.
Latest news about Automata
More Robotics / Embodied AI companies
Official website: https://www.automata.tech
