BotBuilt
US construction robotics company using AI-guided robotic arms to automate residential wood framing, based in Durham, NC, founded 2020.
BotBuilt is a Durham, North Carolina-based construction robotics company founded in 2020 by Barrett Ames (PhD in AI and robotics, Duke University), Colin Devine, and Brent Wadas, an Army veteran. The company automates residential wood framing — one of the most labor-intensive and shortage-prone steps in homebuilding — using industrial robotic arms repurposed from the automotive sector.
BotBuilt operates an off-site manufacturing facility in the Durham area where its robots fabricate structural framing components: wall panels, floor trusses, and roof trusses. These pre-built assemblies are then shipped directly to job sites, allowing framing that would normally take weeks of manual labor to be completed in a matter of hours. The company reports framing speeds up to five times faster than conventional methods.
The system combines computer vision, AI-guided motion planning, and precise robotic manipulation to cut and assemble dimensional lumber to specification. Because components are fabricated in a controlled factory environment rather than outdoors on site, waste is reduced and quality consistency is improved.
BotBuilt was admitted to Y Combinator and closed a $12.4 million seed round in January 2024, with investors including Y Combinator, Owens Corning Ventures, Ambassador Supply, and Shadow Ventures, at a pre-money valuation of $22.6 million. As of early 2024, the company had completed framing for approximately 40 homes and reported a pipeline of over 2,000 homes through partnerships with regional homebuilders.
The company's business model is factory-based: builders contract BotBuilt to supply pre-fabricated framing packages rather than purchasing equipment. This positions BotBuilt as a manufacturing and RaaS (Robotics as a Service) provider to the residential construction industry, addressing a structural labor shortage in the trades.
Primary type & automation activities this supplier delivers:
Robotic Framing System
AI-guided robotic arm system that prefabricates residential wood framing panels, trusses, and structural assemblies off-site.
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Contact BotBuilt
WEBSITE
https://botbuilt.com/PHONE
+1 (919) 371-0675HEADQUARTERS
United States
Company Facts
Founded
2020
Primary Role
Manufacturer
Company Size
-
Primary Region
North America
Annual Sales
-
Funding Stage
-
Funding Total
-
