Search company, investor...

Founded Year

2010

Stage

Dead | Dead

Total Raised

$24.47M

About QBotix

QBotix uses mobile, rugged, and intelligent robots in the operation of solar power plants to reduce the Levelized Cost of Energy (LCOE). It reduces the levelized cost of energy by providing the added benefit of higher reliability and system intelligence. The company was founded in 2010 and is based in Menlo Park, California.

Headquarters Location

1080 O’Brien Drive

Menlo Park, California, 94025,

United States

Loading...

Loading...

Research containing QBotix

Get data-driven expert analysis from the CB Insights Intelligence Unit.

CB Insights Intelligence Analysts have mentioned QBotix in 1 CB Insights research brief, most recently on Aug 1, 2023.

Expert Collections containing QBotix

Expert Collections are analyst-curated lists that highlight the companies you need to know in the most important technology spaces.

QBotix is included in 2 Expert Collections, including Robotics.

R

Robotics

2,342 items

This collection includes startups developing autonomous ground robots, unmanned aerial vehicles, robotic arms, and underwater drones, among other robotic systems. This collection also includes companies developing operating systems and vision modules for robots.

R

Renewable Energy

4,043 items

Companies in the Renewable Energy space, including solar, wind, hydro, geothermal, and nuclear energy providers, as well as related software developers.

QBotix Patents

QBotix has filed 14 patents.

patents chart

Application Date

Grant Date

Title

Related Topics

Status

7/9/2013

5/29/2018

Automotive transmission technologies, Translation, Mechanisms (engineering), Rotating shaft couplings, Photovoltaics

Grant

Application Date

7/9/2013

Grant Date

5/29/2018

Title

Related Topics

Automotive transmission technologies, Translation, Mechanisms (engineering), Rotating shaft couplings, Photovoltaics

Status

Grant

Latest QBotix News

RIP QBotix: Robotic Solar Tracking Fails to Reach the Market

Sep 21, 2015

RIP QBotix: Robotic Solar Tracking Fails to Reach the Market Gonzo Carles Creative Commons Eric Wesoff September 21, 2015 According to several sources close to the company, solar tracker startup QBotix dismissed most of its staff and shuttered its operations last month. The company's website is offline, as is its phone service. CEO Mike Miskovsky confirmed that QBotix ceased operations as of August 2015. QBotix had a novel solar-tracking solution that maximized output and could lower balance-of-system costs in ground-mounted PV installations. The startup invented a two-axis tracker system where the motors, instead of being installed two per tracker, were moved around by a rail-mounted robot that adjusted each tracker every 40 minutes, resulting in a reduction in the number of (failure-prone) motors. But while QBotix was trying to gain traction, single-axis solar trackers were also evolving and driving down cost by reducing motors and lowering the labor requirements and costs of foundations. Earlier this month, Flextronics acquired tracker startup NEXTracker for up to $330 million. QBotix's engineering issues might be confronted and costs could be driven down, but new, risky technologies just don't get used by solar project developers -- the most conservative players in a conservative utility power market. Market acceptance and adoption did not happen anywhere fast enough to allow this startup to scale. In order to get to market, QBotix recently attempted to pivot to a licensing and software sales model "and away from low-margin tracker structure design/manufacture. "   Miskovsky notes, "Throughout this strategic 'pivot' process -- which included layoffs, several months of negotiations with potential licensees and/or acquirers of the company, and a continuously diminishing cash balance -- management maintained an open dialogue with the QBotix staff. Each member of our now pared-down team knew exactly how much runway the company had remaining, the status of our strategic talks, and the acknowledged long odds we faced as a going concern. To their credit, they remained focused, productive and on-task until our final day -- a remarkable expression of dedication to the mission and to each other. Sadly, and in spite of the achievements, we simply ran out of time and cash to finish the job. "  In 2012, QBotix raised $7.5 million from Firelake, NEA, DFJ JAIC, Siemens Ventures, and angel investors. In 2014, the company raised $12 million led by E.ON and Iberdrola. When the company was unveiled in 2012, we asked: How does QBotix get this new product deployed in commercial solar fields at scale with conservative engineering, procurement and construction firms as customers -- and even more conservative banks backing the solar projects? How does a tiny VC-funded firm back up its product in a fashion that quells the doubts of its staid channel partners? QBotix never answered those questions.

May 19, 2014
BioEnergy Bytes

QBotix Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

  • When was QBotix founded?

    QBotix was founded in 2010.

  • Where is QBotix's headquarters?

    QBotix's headquarters is located at 1080 O’Brien Drive, Menlo Park.

  • What is QBotix's latest funding round?

    QBotix's latest funding round is Dead.

  • How much did QBotix raise?

    QBotix raised a total of $24.47M.

  • Who are the investors of QBotix?

    Investors of QBotix include Firelake Capital, New Enterprise Associates, DNX Ventures, E.ON, Iberdrola and 5 more.

Loading...

Loading...

CBI websites generally use certain cookies to enable better interactions with our sites and services. Use of these cookies, which may be stored on your device, permits us to improve and customize your experience. You can read more about your cookie choices at our privacy policy here. By continuing to use this site you are consenting to these choices.