Emesent Raises $25M to Scale Autonomous Robotics and AI Platforms
Synopsis
The Queensland robotics company has secured $25 million in funding, including a $10 million investment from the National Reconstruction Fund, to expand its AI software platforms and manufacturing capabilities.
Robotics and mapping company Emesent secured $10 million in venture debt from the National Reconstruction Fund (NRF) alongside continued support from existing investors Main Sequence, Hostplus and NGS Super.
The Queensland-based company plans to use funds toward expanding manufacturing, developing the company's AI software platforms, speeding up product development and adding more employees.
It marks NRF’s maiden investment in a debt deal.
Venture debt is fundamentally a capital financing that does not involve the founders diluting their ownership stake, unlike equity financing, and represents an alternative source of funding for technology companies when they are looking to scale commercial operations.
CSIRO spin-out builds on Hovermap technology
Emesent, founded in 2018 from CSIRO's Data61, is developing LiDAR mapping systems and software for environments where GPS fails, such as underground mines, tunnels and industrial facilities.
The flagship product Hovermap can be installed on drones, vehicles and backpacks, and hand-operated, creating detailed three-dimensional maps of difficult or hazardous areas.
Fusion's technology integrates LiDAR sensors, autonomous navigation and mapping software to enable surveying and inspection activities in the mining, construction, engineering, oil and gas, and public safety and geospatial markets.
Major mining companies like BHP and Rio Tinto are among the customers, while Emesent has also branched out into defence work involving reconnaissance and site awareness.
The Emesent funding round follows previous rounds of investment, which helped build the company. The company raised A$3.5 million in seed funding, and subsequently raised A$32 million in Series A funding in 2022, to enable its business to expand internationally, manufacture and develop products.
Robotics investment continues to expand globally
The recent Emesent fundraising follows a continued impressive investment trend in industrial automation globally. The International Federation of Robotics (IFR) World Robotics 2025 Report estimates 542,000 industrial robots were installed around the world in 2024, representing the fourth consecutive year of over half a million annual installations.
China, South Korea, and Japan were the biggest markets in Asia, which accounted for 74% of the new installations. Manufacturing automation continues to be a priority investment in important industrial economies, as seen by the 16% of investment in Europe and the 9% in the Americas.
The IFR estimates that the value of all installed industrial robots in the world was US$16.5 billion. Currently Emesent has 109 employees, with plans to hire approximately 20 more after securing the funding.
While the venture debt market is established in overseas technology markets, it's still in its early stages in Australia and can complement equity financing to scale manufacturing, said NRF Chief Investment Officer (CIO) Mary Manning.
FAQs
Q1. How much funding did Emesent raise?
Emesent raised A$25 million, including A$10 million from the National Reconstruction Fund.
Q2. What will Emesent use the funding for?
The company will invest in AI software, manufacturing, product development and hiring.
Q3. What is Hovermap?
Hovermap is Emesent's LiDAR-based autonomous mapping system for GPS-denied environments.
Q4. Who founded Emesent?
Emesent was founded in 2018 by Dr. Stefan Hrabar and Dr. Farid Kendoul as a CSIRO Data61 spin-out.
Source: Capital Brief
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Pooja Malik is a business journalist with over six years of experience covering startups, entrepreneurship, and emerging trends. She has previously worked with leading media platforms such as YourStory Media and BW BusinessWorld, where she reported on business, policy, and market developments. Currently, she serves as Editor at The Inspirepreneur Magazine, where she writes and edits stories across business, lifestyle, and travel, with a focus on clarity, accuracy, and reader relevance.
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