Labour scarcity continues to plague European distribution networks, where physically taxing positions remain difficult to fill, particularly in remote locations. Temporary workers command premiums of up to 40 percent above permanent staff costs, while turnover rates persist at elevated levels and recurring training drains operational budgets.
Logibot, a Belgian software firm that layers intelligent automation onto humanoid robots used in warehousing, has closed a €1.4 million funding round spearheaded by BeamBerlin, the venture arm of German industrial conglomerate BEUMER (BG). The round also included participation from RDY Ventures, PMV and the BAN Business Angels network.
The continent's logistics sector still relies on roughly 2.5 million workers performing manual tasks—unloading parcels, repositioning containers, managing dock operations. Logibot's approach centres on a straightforward principle: deploying the right tool for each specific job. Rather than requiring complex multi-limbed systems, most warehouse assignments function adequately with simpler robotic hardware. The startup identifies the most suitable off-the-shelf solution available and applies its proprietary AI layer to enhance performance.
Logibot's platform operates across the entire implementation spectrum. It begins by examining current workflows to identify automation prospects, then models performance in a digital simulation before physical installation, manages robot training for designated tasks, oversees integration into existing systems, and maintains continuous oversight with remote operation capabilities. The system incorporates multiple cameras that Logibot calibrates to each specific use case. Should a hardware manufacturer cease operations or fall short of requirements, the software continues functioning without interruption, preventing customers from becoming dependent on any single vendor.
According to Louis Verspreeuwen, CEO and co-founder, warehouse executives at major logistics enterprises face four primary obstacles when pursuing automation:
They don't know where to start, they don't want to be locked into a contract with a single robot supplier, they're looking for solutions that fit existing operations without turning everything upside down, and they want models with variable, predictable costs, without tying up capital in heavy equipment.
Louis Verspreeuwen, CEO and co-founder of Logibot
The startup currently operates with seven team members. Verspreeuwen brings twelve years of logistics and international commerce experience, including assignments across China and Hong Kong. Co-founder Salimzhan Gafurov, serving as CTO, holds dual PhDs in robotics and artificial intelligence. He previously managed a 110-person robotics engineering division at a major e-commerce corporation and later served as CTO at Verne, Europe's inaugural robotaxi venture, which counted Bugatti and Rimac among its backers. Additional team members bring backgrounds from competitive AI racing, including experience from A2RL.
Early adopters comprise logistics operators ranging from 8,000 to 21,000 employees in headcount, alongside one of the Nordic region's largest logistics and postal operators. A robot currently operates at a facility in Denmark.
Verspreeuwen articulates the company's vision: "Our mission is to become the temp agency for robots: a robot as a temp worker, ready whenever the warehouse needs him, without a contract that ties him to a single supplier."
The funding will support deployment of initial robots at customer sites and assembly of a second robotic unit, with sensor installation occurring in Zellik, located in Flemish Brabant.
Source: Tech.eu
