Retina Robotics
Retina Robotics is a Chicago-based early-stage company that builds the WAM™, a compact AI-powered plug-and-play device that mounts on forklifts to automate warehouse inventory tracking, auditing, and pallet management for warehouse operators and logistics companies.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2025
- HeadquartersChicago, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Retina Robotics does
Retina Robotics is a Chicago-based, privately held early-stage company founded in 2025 that builds the WAM™ (Warehouse Automation Module), a compact plug-and-play robotic device which mounts onto existing forklifts and material handling equipment to provide real-time inventory management via onboard computer vision and AI. The system is designed to continuously track pallets, perform drive-by inventory auditing, and operate on labeled or unlabeled inventory, eliminating manual scanning, validation, and auditing workflows while purportedly doubling picking and putaway speeds. Two of WAM's feature sets—Real-Time Pallet Tracking and Continuous Drive-By Auditing—are currently live, with additional capabilities stated as in development.
The company's revenue model combines WAM hardware device sales with an implied software/AI services component for ongoing model updates and platform functionality, though pricing is not publicly disclosed and prospective buyers must request quotes via a website contact form or schedule a demo through Calendly. Its go-to-market is a sales-led enterprise field motion targeting warehouse operators and logistics companies, executed through direct outreach, a Calendly-driven demo funnel, and a LinkedIn presence; the company describes its distribution scope as Global despite a 1–10 person team.
Retina Robotics completed a $150,000 seed round in July 2025 from Array Ventures, Forum Ventures, and Right Side Capital Management. It has no publicly listed customers, named management team beyond a single point of contact (Maanav), partnerships, or disclosed financials, placing it firmly in the pre-commercial or very early pilot stage. Its primary intellectual property asset identified is the WAM™ trademark.
Retina Robotics firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Retina Robotics
- Legal name
- Retina Robotics
- Website
- https://retinarobotics.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2025
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Retina Robotics is a Chicago-based early-stage company that builds the WAM™, a compact AI-powered plug-and-play device that mounts on forklifts to automate warehouse inventory tracking, auditing, and pallet management for warehouse operators and logistics companies.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Retina Robotics industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Warehouse Automation
- NAICS
- Material Handling Equipment Manufacturing (33392)
- SIC
- Special Industry Machinery (No Metalworking Machinery) (3550)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Industrial & Warehouse Robotics (HDAAAIAA)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- WMS for Automation & Robotics Orchestration (WES/WCS Integration) (TLAEABAI), Warehouse Automation Systems (AS/RS, Shuttle Systems, Vertical Lift Modules) (IMAHABAK)
Keywords
Where Retina Robotics is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Chicago
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Markets served
Retina Robotics business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Technology or R&D, Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- WAM Hardware Device Sales: Sale of the WAM robotic device which mounts to existing forklifts and MHEs. The company sells the hardware unit that provides computer vision and AI-powered inventory management capabilities.
- Software/AI Services (implied): Likely includes ongoing software services for AI model updates, data analytics, and platform functionality to support the WAM device during its operational lifecycle.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels4 records
Retina Robotics product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Retina Robotics sells WAM™ (Warehouse Automation Module), a compact, plug-and-play robotic device that mounts onto existing forklifts or material handling equipment. The device runs onboard computer vision and AI to provide real-time pallet tracking and continuous drive-by auditing, managing warehouse inventory with or without labels and eliminating the need for manual scanning, validation, and auditing.
Product overview
Retina Robotics offers a single unified product called WAM™ (Warehouse Automation Module), a compact plug-and-play robotic device that mounts to existing forklifts or Material Handling Equipment. The system uses onboard computer vision and AI to provide real-time pallet tracking and continuous drive-by auditing capabilities, eliminating the need for manual warehouse inventory scanning and validation while doubling picking and putaway speeds.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- WAM™ (Warehouse Automation Module)
Quantifiable outcome
- Doubles picking and putaway speeds
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Retina Robotics
Customer profileSegments1 record
Ideal customer profiles1 record
Retina Robotics technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
AI capability3 records
Feature4 records
Retina Robotics partnerships and signals
Strategic signalRecent moves4 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Retina Robotics competitors and assessment
Company assessmentEmerging players
- Covariant: AI-first company building foundation models for robotic picking, sorting, and handling across warehouses. Comparable to Retina Robotics as an AI-vision-driven warehouse automation peer, though Covariant focuses on robotic picking arms rather than forklift-mounted inventory tracking.
Broad incumbents
- Manhattan Associates: Major WMS and supply chain software vendor that integrates with warehouse robotics and automation. Adjacent incumbent comparable to Retina Robotics because Manhattan Associates competes for the same warehouse-operator IT budget and increasingly bundles automation/robotics orchestration features.
- Symbotic: Public, large-scale warehouse automation vendor building end-to-end robotic systems for retailers and wholesalers. Broad incumbent serving the same warehouse-automation category as Retina Robotics but at much larger deal sizes and with fixed-infrastructure solutions rather than forklift retrofits.
- 6 River Systems (Shopify): Shopify-owned warehouse execution system with collaborative robots ('Chucks') used for picking and inventory tasks. Adjacent peer to Retina Robotics because both improve warehouse operator productivity through hardware-software automation, though 6 River Systems is now embedded within Shopify's broader commerce platform.
- Berkshire Grey: Provides AI-enabled robotic solutions for e-commerce, retail, and logistics fulfillment, including picking, sorting, and mobile manipulation. Comparable thematically as an AI-driven warehouse automation peer, but at a much broader scale and with different hardware form factors than WAM.
Direct peers
- Vecna Robotics: Develops autonomous material handling robots and orchestration software for warehouses, distribution centers, and manufacturing. Comparable to Retina Robotics as both deploy AI-driven hardware for warehouse inventory handling, with overlapping GTM into warehouse operations teams.
- Fetch Robotics (Zebra Technologies): Now part of Zebra Technologies, Fetch builds autonomous mobile robots for warehouse picking, material handling, and inventory workflows. Comparable to Retina Robotics in product category (warehouse robotics) and end-customer profile, though Fetch focuses on autonomous carts rather than forklift retrofits.
- Locus Robotics: Provides autonomous mobile robots that work alongside warehouse staff for picking, putaway, and inventory tasks. Directly comparable to Retina Robotics because both target warehouse operators with hardware-software solutions that automate inventory movement and tracking workflows.
- Hai Robotics: Provides warehouse automation systems using autonomous case-handling robots and AI software to improve storage density and throughput. Comparable to Retina Robotics because both target warehouse operators seeking AI-enabled inventory automation, with Hai focused on AS/RS-style tote handling vs. WAM's forklift retrofit.
- Geek+: Global mobile warehouse robotics vendor offering picking, moving, and sorting robots for warehouses and factories. Highly comparable to Retina Robotics in customer base (warehouse operators) and use case (automated inventory movement and tracking), though Geek+ sells autonomous robots rather than forklift-mounted retrofits.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights5 records
Customer concentration
Retina Robotics social profiles
Digital presenceRetina Robotics financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Retina Robotics leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Retina Robotics funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds1 record
Investors3 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Retina Robotics M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Retina Robotics
What does Retina Robotics do?
Retina Robotics sells WAM™ (Warehouse Automation Module), a compact, plug-and-play robotic device that mounts onto existing forklifts or material handling equipment. The device runs onboard computer vision and AI to provide real-time pallet tracking and continuous drive-by auditing, managing warehouse inventory with or without labels and eliminating the need for manual scanning, validation, and auditing.
Is Retina Robotics a public or private company?
Retina Robotics is a private company. It is classified as venture growth investor backed and is currently operating.
When was Retina Robotics founded?
Retina Robotics was founded in 2025. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Retina Robotics based?
Retina Robotics is headquartered in Chicago, United States, in the North America region.
How does Retina Robotics make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. WAM Hardware Device Sales are the primary driver. The others are software/AI Services (implied).
Who are Retina Robotics's main competitors?
Covariant is listed as an emerging player. Broad incumbents are Manhattan Associates, Symbotic, 6 River Systems (Shopify) and Berkshire Grey. Direct peers are Vecna Robotics, Fetch Robotics (Zebra Technologies), Locus Robotics, Hai Robotics and Geek+.
Does Retina Robotics have an API?
No public API is recorded for Retina Robotics.
What industry is Retina Robotics in?
Retina Robotics's product category is Warehouse Automation. Its primary akta.pro industry code is HDAAAIAA, Industrial & Warehouse Robotics, with a secondary code of TLAEABAI, WMS for Automation & Robotics Orchestration (WES/WCS Integration). Its NAICS code is 33392 and its SIC code is 3550.