Metacognition AI Raises $10M to Build Software Layer for Robots
Synopsis
Australian AI startup Metacognition AI has raised $10 million from Main Sequence to develop a software layer that could let businesses control robots and complex systems through natural language while keeping AI actions safer, more controlled and easier to manage.
Australian AI startup Metacognition AI has raised $10 million from deep-tech venture capital firm Main Sequence to develop an AI software layer designed to let businesses control robots and complex systems through natural language.
The funding gives the company capital to pursue its vision of becoming a “Windows for robots”, with safety and control built into the way AI interacts with machines.
The Adelaide-based company was founded by AI researchers Anton van den Hengel and Stephen Gould, alongside research strategist Paul Dalby.
Its first product, Zeus, is described as an “operating system for agents” that sits beneath large language models and manages how they interact with machines and other systems.
Van den Hengel said that the technology is intended to make deploying AI in real-world business environments more controlled and responsible.
Building a Control Layer for AI
Metacognition is not trying to build another frontier model to compete directly with OpenAI or Anthropic. Instead, its focus is on the software infrastructure around existing AI models.
The company says its technology combines persistent memory, reasoning and environmental understanding, allowing AI systems to retain information over time and work toward longer-term goals. Its broader vision is to make robots capable of learning from people through spoken instructions while placing limits on what they can safely do.
That approach could extend beyond household or industrial robots. Van den Hengel told Capital Brief that controlling a robot has similarities to managing other complex systems, including electricity grids, where businesses may want to issue high-level instructions while software handles decisions in real time.
Betting on Software as Robots Become Cheaper
Metacognition's investment thesis is that robot hardware will become increasingly affordable and standardised, shifting more value toward the software that determines what machines can actually do.
The startup currently has around 10 employees and plans to expand to about 100 over the next year, according to van den Hengel. The company also expects to raise more capital as it develops its technology and targets specific enterprise applications, including industries such as mining.
The $10 million round is significant by Australian early-stage standards. Forbes Australia reported that it is roughly 10 times the median Australian pre-seed round in 2025, highlighting the level of investor interest in AI infrastructure and research-led startups.
Source: Capital Brief
Vishal is an experienced Editor at Inspirepreneur Magazine with key interests in artificial intelligence, eCommerce, entrepreneurship, lifestyle and startup sector. Prior to joining Inspirepreneur, he was a Content Writer cum Correspondent at Siliconindia Magazine, where he worked on Company Profiles, Cover Stories, Executive Profiles, Feature Articles and Thought Leadership content.
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