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Robot maker · early

Sensate Robotics

Corporate marketagriculturefoodCurated record

Veteran-owned Los Angeles company building tactile robotic quality-control cells for postharvest produce handling. Its stack combines the PolySkin multi-modal tactile sensor (pressure, slip, texture, material properties), the Sensate Gripper end-effector, and the SpiraVision 3D perception system into the Pick-E Sorter, a drop-in robotic cell that grades and packs fresh produce in a single grasp, reading firmness and ripeness per piece. Founded by SynTouch/Perception Robotics veteran Nicholas Wettels; authorized FANUC integrator. NSF and NASA SBIR Phase I awardee; joined Techstars Spring 2026; pilot recruitment underway for avocados and apples.

HeadquartersLos Angeles, US
Founded2022
Corporate funding$305K
TeamNot listed
Deployments0
Open roles0
01

Company overview

Identity and operating footprint

Company typeRobot maker
Market segmentCorporate
StageGrant
FoundersNicholas Wettels (Co-founder & CEO), Jason McAuley (Co-founder & CTO)
Regions servedUS
Countries deployedNot listed
Service footprintNot listed
Last reviewed2026-07-05
LinkedInNot listed
MX

Robot models

Specifications remain vendor-claimed

Machinefood

Pick-E Sorter

  • Grades and packs fresh produce in a single grasp, reading firmness, ripeness and interior quality on every piece

    Drop-in tactile robotic cell integrating PolySkin sensor, Sensate Gripper and SpiraVision 3D perception

    Claim source
CA

Funding history

Publicly announced rounds

Investors on recordTechstars
TL

Company timeline

Milestones and announcements

2026-03-01Selected for Techstars Spring 2026 acceleratorTechstars
2025-11-01Awarded NASA SBIR Phase I ($156,122) for tactile sensor projectLinkedIn
SC

Source ledger

4 unique public sources