The 2026 Robotics Startup Radar is open: here is how to apply
The Robot Report is accepting submissions from young robotics companies until 6 October 2026. A spot on the list puts a startup in front of investors and engineers who are actively looking for what comes next.
Key points
- The Robot Report opened submissions for its 2026 Robotics Startup Radar, with a deadline of Tuesday, 6 October 2026.
- Eligible startups must be five years old or younger and offer something novel: a full robotic system, an enabling component technology, or a different business approach.
- Last year's list featured 100 startups spanning autonomous mobility, humanoid design, and industrial automation.
- The 2026 programme is sponsored by Maxon Precision Motors and PTC.
- Submitting does not guarantee a place; the editorial team reviews every entry.
A fresh wave of robotics companies arrives each year with new ideas and no audience. This list is one of the cleaner ways to fix that.
The Robot Report, a trade publication covering robotics, is collecting entries for its annual spotlight. Submissions close Tuesday, 6 October 2026, after which editors work through every entry and select the companies they consider most worth watching.
Who can apply?
Any startup founded in 2021 or later is eligible, regardless of which industry it targets. The company needs to offer something genuinely new: a full robotic system, a component other builders depend on, or a business model that works differently.
The application asks for basic company details and a description of around 300 words explaining the technology. Founders can also attach a product video and links to further background. The form covers target markets from healthcare through to construction.
What does a startup actually get out of this?
Visibility, mainly. Last year's 100-company list reached investors, seasoned engineers and fellow founders. For a young company with a thin marketing budget, that kind of third-party endorsement carries real weight. Our 4 September report on Lyte AI's $165 million raise showed how quickly a credible platform can pull a robotics startup into wider conversations about the sector's direction.
There's no prize money and no guaranteed deals. What's on offer is a credible platform at a moment when the robotics sector is growing fast and the noise level is high.
What happens next?
After the 6 October cut-off, editors build the final list. Selection depends on editorial judgment alone, not on how early or how often a company applies.
Maxon Precision Motors, a Swiss maker of precision drive systems, and PTC, an industrial software company, are sponsoring the 2026 programme. Sponsorship enquiries go to Jami Brownlee; editorial questions go to Brianna Wessling at The Robot Report.
If your company fits the five-year window and has something concrete to show, you've got time to pull together a strong submission before October.
