This Robotics Startup Plans to Fund Engineering Courses for the People it Plans to Put Out of a Job

An aspiring early-stage Tel Aviv-based robotics company wants to partially fund engineering courses for the people it plans to put out of a job, namely, window cleaners. Software developed by Skyline Robotics Ltd. enables upgrading existing machinery like cranes and lifts into window-cleaning robots, according to the company’s CEO Yaron Schwarcz.

The company is “in the business of putting people out of business,” Schwarcz said in a Tuesday phone interview with Calcalist. Founded in 2017 by Schwartz and chief technology officer Avi Abadi, Skyline employs six people and is currently recruiting more staff. The company is already developing a corporate social responsibility (CSR) program, as part of which it plans to partially fund engineering education for window cleaners left without a job, he said. To do so, the company plans to partner with online education companies and fund the first two years of their engineering education.

On Tuesday, Skyline Robotics announced a $3 million Seed round, led by U.S.-Israeli investment fund Gefen Capital, with participation from ICONYC, the Israeli government, and several real-estate family-run businesses, including Vancouver’s Bosa Properties and Israeli Sufrin Group.

Robotic machinery powered by the company’s software will finish cleaning an office tower in Tel Aviv by the end of the month, a first for the company when it comes to entire buildings start-to-finish, Schwarcz said. He expects to use the software outside of Israel by the start of 2019. Pricing, according to Schwarcz, is based on the total area cleaned.

Relevant to a wide range of activities and professionals, including gutter cleaning, and ice removal, Skyline intends to expand the uses of its software.