Berkshire Grey
Berkshire Grey, founded in 2013 by Tom Wagner (former CTO of iRobot), is an AI-powered robotics company headquartered in Bedford, Massachusetts.
Profile
Build AI-powered robotic systems that automate picking, sorting, unloading, and packing in warehouses and fulfillment centers.
Berkshire Grey, founded in 2013 by Tom Wagner (former CTO of iRobot), is an AI-powered robotics company headquartered in Bedford, Massachusetts. The company develops integrated software and hardware systems for automated fulfillment, picking, sorting, and dock operations in warehouses, ecommerce, retail, and logistics environments. Wagner assembled a founding team of 20 PhDs in embedded systems and motion planning, and the company holds over 300 patents in robotics technology.
The company operates a portfolio of four main robotic platforms: Core™ for piece-picking with adaptive gripping, Dispatch™ for parcel sortation, Stride™ for shuttle-based sorting with 99%+ accuracy, and the recently launched Scoop™ for trailer unloading. Major customers include Walmart, Target, FedEx, and Maersk. In 2023, Berkshire Grey reported $65.9 million in revenue and operated with approximately 400 employees.
Berkshire Grey secured $263 million in Series B funding led by SoftBank in August 2019 and went public via SPAC merger in February 2021 at a $2.7 billion valuation. SoftBank acquired remaining outstanding shares in July 2023 for $375 million, taking the company private. The company has since announced a new CEO, Dave Paratore, a veteran technology executive from fusion, advanced alloys, and carbon capture ventures. In 2024, Berkshire Grey formalized a global partnership with Kardex to integrate its robotic picking into AutoStore systems. Most recently, in February 2026, Berkshire Grey launched Scoop, designed for high-variability dock automation, with FedEx committing to deploy the system starting in mid-2026.
Products by Berkshire Grey
- D Dispatch™ Dispatch™ is a high-speed parcel sorting solution designed for logistics, e-commerce, and retail operations facing increasing SKU diversity Be the first to review →
- S Scoop™ Scoop™ is a robotic trailer unloading system designed by Berkshire Grey for parcel, retail, eCommerce, and 3PL distribution Be the first to review →
Who buys this
- Large retailers and ecommerce platforms requiring high-throughput automated picking and sortation (Walmart, Target)
- Parcel and logistics operators automating dock and trailer unloading (FedEx, Maersk)
- 3PLs and fulfillment centers deploying brownfield robotics solutions
- Global retailers seeking AI-driven returns and package identification automation
- Warehouses integrating robotic automation with existing AutoStore carousels via Kardex partnership
Publicly disclosed clients
- Walmart
- Target
- FedEx
- Maersk
- Bealls
Strengths and what to watch
Strengths
- 300+ patents in robotics and over a decade of customer deployments at scale (Walmart, Target, Maersk); production systems already handling high-volume real-world variability
- Full-stack integration: proprietary perception, gripping, and AI control reduce customer dependency on third-party software and hardware suppliers
- Owned by SoftBank with capital for long-term R&D and customer support; no public market pressure to cut costs or force premature unit-economics improvements
Watch for
- Leadership transition: Dave Paratore appointed CEO in 2024 after Tom Wagner transitioned to Chairman; track execution against FedEx and other enterprise commitments under new leadership
- Customer concentration risk: Walmart and Target represent significant portion of revenue; supply chain shifts or retailer profitability pressure could impact growth
- Production ramp uncertainty on Scoop: Launched February 2026 for dock automation, FedEx piloting with first units expected mid-2026; delays or early technical issues would signal execution risk
Recent moves
Key Information
- Industry
- AI Hardware
- Founded
- 2013
- Employees
- 626
- Headquarters
- Bedford, Massachusetts
- Country
- United States
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Berkshire Grey?
Berkshire Grey is an AI-powered robotics company founded in 2013 by Tom Wagner, former CTO of iRobot. Headquartered in Bedford, Massachusetts, it develops integrated software and hardware systems for automated fulfillment, picking, sorting, and dock operations in warehouses and logistics environments.
What are Berkshire Grey's main robotic platforms?
Berkshire Grey operates four main robotic platforms: Core for adaptive piece-picking, Dispatch for parcel sortation, Stride for shuttle-based sorting with 99%+ accuracy, and Scoop for trailer unloading. These integrated systems handle picking, sorting, dock operations, and package identification across warehouse and fulfillment environments.
Which companies use Berkshire Grey robots?
Major customers include Walmart, Target, FedEx, and Maersk. Other notable clients are Bealls and various 3PLs and fulfillment centers. These enterprise organizations deploy Berkshire Grey systems for high-throughput automated picking, sorting, dock operations, and returns processing across their global supply chain networks.
What is Berkshire Grey's Scoop?
Scoop is Berkshire Grey's newly launched robotic system designed for high-variability trailer unloading and dock automation. Launched in February 2026, it automates package identification and trailer unloading operations. FedEx committed to deploying Scoop starting mid-2026 as part of their logistics automation strategy.
What is Berkshire Grey's AutoStore integration?
In 2024, Berkshire Grey formalized a global partnership with Kardex to integrate its robotic picking technology into AutoStore carousel systems. This integration combines Berkshire Grey's AI-powered picking capabilities with Kardex AutoStore's automated storage solutions, enabling brownfield automation for warehouses and fulfillment centers.
Who is the current CEO of Berkshire Grey?
Dave Paratore, a veteran technology executive from fusion, advanced alloys, and carbon capture ventures, was appointed CEO in 2024. Tom Wagner, the founder and former CTO of iRobot, transitioned to Chairman. Paratore leads the company through its growth phase with record orders and revenue.
How Berkshire Grey compares
Direct head-to-head against 3 competitors. Picked by 7wData.
Berkshire Grey
- Positioning
- Build AI-powered robotic systems that automate picking, sorting, unloading, and packing in warehouses and fulfillment centers.
- Customer segments
- Large retailers and ecommerce platforms requiring high-throughput automated picking and sortation (Walmart, Target)
- Strengths
- 300+ patents in robotics and over a decade of customer deployments at scale (Walmart, Target, Maersk); production systems already handling high-volume real-world variability
- Watch for
- Leadership transition: Dave Paratore appointed CEO in 2024 after Tom Wagner transitioned to Chairman; track execution against FedEx and other enterprise commitments under new leadership
- Recent moves
- FedEx announces multi-year partnership with Berkshire Grey for autonomous Scoop trailer unloader deployment
Symbotic
- Positioning
- Full-facility warehouse automation platform for large retail and grocery distribution; publicly traded; $22.5B contract backlog.
- Customer segments
- Large retailers and grocery distributors; supply chain VPs buying end-to-end facility automation at multi-site scale.
- Strengths
- 1,050+ patents; SymBot AMR fleet in production at Walmart-scale distribution centers; $2.2B reported FY2025 revenue from live deployments.
- Watch for
- Walmart accounts for 85% of FY2025 revenue; any Walmart capex reduction directly threatens backlog conversion and growth rate.
- Recent moves
- Acquired Walmart Advanced Systems and Robotics division for $200M in January 2026; Walmart simultaneously invested $520M in Symbotic.
Pickle Robot
- Positioning
- Focused entirely on automated truck and trailer unloading for parcel carriers, 3PLs, and retail distribution at dock level.
- Customer segments
- Parcel carriers and 3PLs with high-volume inbound freight; operations directors managing dock throughput and labor reduction.
- Strengths
- UPS committed $120M for 400 units; 30+ production orders confirmed by Q4 2024; unloads up to 1,500 cases per hour.
- Watch for
- $50M Series B raises capital runway questions for fulfilling the 400-unit UPS deployment through late 2027.
- Recent moves
- Closed $50M Series B in November 2024; secured 30+ production orders including $120M UPS commitment for 2026 deployment.
Boston Dynamics
- Positioning
- Hyundai-owned robotics company; Stretch robot targets high-volume case unloading and trailer handling across global logistics operators.
- Customer segments
- Global 3PLs and logistics operators; DHL deploying 1,000+ Stretch units across North America and Europe.
- Strengths
- Stretch unloaded 20 million boxes globally since 2023; DHL signed MOU for 1,000+ additional units in May 2025.
- Watch for
- Hyundai deploying Atlas humanoid for its own automotive factories; internal demand may divert engineering resources away from Stretch roadmap.
- Recent moves
- DHL signed MOU for 1,000+ additional Stretch units in May 2025, expanding North America deployments into Europe.
Sources
- www.berkshiregrey.com — Company overview, product portfolio (Core, Dispatch, Scoop, Stride), key customers (FedEx, Maersk, Walmart), and current positioning
- en.wikipedia.org — Founding in 2013 by Tom Wagner, Series B funding of $263M from SoftBank in August 2019, SPAC merger in February 2021 valuing company at $2.7B, SoftBank acquisition completed July 2023 for $375M
- www.globenewswire.com — September 4, 2024 partnership announcement with Kardex for AutoStore integration; 99.99% picking accuracy claims
- techcrunch.com — FedEx partnership announcement March 31, 2026 for Scoop trailer unloader deployment strategy
- www.supplychaindive.com — FedEx Scoop deployment details, pilot testing, and mid-2026 production timeline
- www.berkshiregrey.com — Dave Paratore appointment as CEO; Tom Wagner transition to Chairman; company in growth transition with record orders and revenue
- www.robotics247.com — Maersk deployment of Berkshire Grey's Robotic Shuttle Put Walls in UK warehouse, July 2023
- pitchbook.com — Employee count of 291 as of December 31, 2024; recent funding and valuation information