Gather AI, an innovative startup specializing in AI-driven solutions for warehouse management through drones and cameras, has successfully completed a $40 million Series B funding round, spearheaded by Smith Point Capital, a venture capital firm established by former Salesforce co-CEO Keith Block.
The partnership between Gather AI and Smith Point began a year ago at a logistics conference, where co-founder and CEO Sankalp Arora noted that it took just five minutes for Block and his team to grasp the potential of their technology.
What sets Gather AI apart is its unique approach. The four co-founders, who initially met as PhD students at Carnegie Mellon University, previously developed one of the first autonomous helicopters, tested on FBI training grounds.
In 2017, they leveraged their experience with flying robots to establish Gather AI. By utilizing commercially available cameras mounted on moving equipment like forklifts, along with drones navigating the warehouse, the system monitors on-site operations and integrates findings into warehouse management systems.
The AI's operation is not random; it is designed to be "curious," as Arora describes. This curiosity enables the system to focus on boxes, barcodes, and workflows.
Beyond scanning barcodes, the AI identifies lot codes, text, expiration dates, case counts, damages, and occupancy levels. This proactive approach aims to uncover and anticipate challenges such as low inventory, misplaced items, and potential safety hazards.
Moreover, Gather AI's technology is adept at functioning in environments that are not conducive to human presence, such as freezers and cold storage facilities.
Notably, the foundational technology of Gather AI predates the era of large language models, employing classical Bayesian techniques combined with neural networks, rather than relying on end-to-end neural networks.
These Bayesian methods utilize probability-based techniques to help computers interpret visual data effectively. This allows the technology to learn from data and previous experiences, avoiding the hallucination issues commonly associated with LLMs.
As Arora puts it, the system becomes "curious" to gather relevant information, aligning perfectly with the startup's name.
While this methodology may sound traditional, Gather AI is at the forefront of the emerging field of "embodied AI," where robots interact dynamically with the physical world, contrasting with LLMs that engage through digital interfaces.
In December, Gather AI was honored with the 2025 Nebius Robotics award for Vision AI and Streaming Video Analytics, recognizing their contributions to the field.
Currently, the company employs around 60 individuals, with notable clients including Kwik Trip, Axon, GEODIS, and NFI Industries. With the latest funding, Gather AI has raised a total of $74 million, attracting investments from firms such as Bain Capital Ventures, XRC Ventures, and Hillman Investments.