“Building Robots to Do the Jobs Humans Shouldn’t Have to Do” — Inside Leo Ma’s $10M Mission to Transform Labor

Under the Arizona sun, Leo Ma stood on a solar farm, watching workers labor across blistering, hazardous terrain to secure solar panels. For Ma, these scenes of human toil in unforgiving conditions were a clear signal that innovation was overdue. Years of visiting factories, mines, and drilling sites had convinced him of one thing: many of the world’s most demanding jobs shouldn’t require human hands at all.

It was this belief that led Ma to found RoboForce in 2023, a Milpitas-based robotics startup on a mission to address labor shortages and industrial challenges with the power of advanced AI robotics. This week, RoboForce announced a $10 million early-stage funding round, with backing from Nobel Laureate Myron Scholes, prominent venture capitalist Gary Rieschel, and Carnegie Mellon University. With this funding, the company is set to roll out its Robo-Labor systems, which promise to fill critical workforce gaps and tackle the most hazardous tasks with speed, precision, and safety.

The RoboForce Philosophy: Practicality Over Novelty

RoboForce isn’t just building robots—it’s rethinking what robots should be. Guided by three core principles, the company focuses on creating systems that are practical tools for solving real human needs, rather than novelties or attempts to mimic human forms.

1. Solving Human Needs, Not Emulating Human Forms
   RoboForce’s robots are designed to meet specific challenges rather than replicate human appearance or behavior. “Robots should be seen as tools to bridge the gap where human capabilities are limited,” said Ma. This philosophy underpins the development of Robo-Labor systems, positioning them as essential tools for industries facing workforce shortages and high-risk environments.
2. Direct and Simple Solutions
   The company prioritizes simplicity in design and functionality, adhering to the principle that solutions should be “direct and simple” rather than overly complicated. This ensures faster deployment, reduces costs, and minimizes potential failures. It’s a strategy that saves “time, people, and money,” making RoboForce’s systems scalable and business-viable for industries worldwide.
3. Leveraging Diverse Form Factors
   RoboForce embraces diversity in robot design, moving beyond humanoid forms to create machines optimized for specific domains, environments, and tasks. This approach, which Ma refers to as “Domain-Intelligence,” allows the company to extend the usefulness of robots far beyond conventional applications.

Addressing Critical Industry Challenges

Industries like solar energy, mining, and manufacturing face growing labor shortages and hazardous working conditions. According to Wood Mackenzie, 53 gigawatts of solar projects were delayed in 2024 due to a lack of skilled workers and long equipment wait times. The U.S. Bureau of Labor has also reported a rise in workplace injuries in sectors exposed to extreme temperatures and other risks.

RoboForce’s systems aim to fill these gaps by deploying robots that can endure extreme conditions, work continuously, and perform tasks faster and more efficiently than humans. These robots offer unmatched precision—achieving 1mm accuracy in fine motor tasks like pressing, twisting, and assembling—and are operational within just four weeks, a stark contrast to the year-long hiring and training cycles typical in many industries.

“Our robots are helping solar developers complete projects faster, more efficiently, and at a reduced cost,” Ma explained. “This way, we push critical sustainability and renewable energy developments across the finish line faster than ever for immediate impact.”

Building a Workforce for the Future

RoboForce’s flagship Robo-Labor system is more than just a technological marvel; it’s a practical, scalable workforce solution. These robots, equipped with all-terrain mobility, advanced manipulation capabilities, and robust safety compliance, deliver $300,000 worth of value for only $100,000 in cost. Capable of working 24/7, they represent a transformative step for industries facing significant operational challenges.

RoboForce is starting with the solar energy sector, where the need for skilled labor is particularly acute. The company plans to launch pilot projects in 2024, working with developers to accelerate the construction of large-scale solar farms. These robots are designed to withstand the extreme temperatures and remote conditions where most utility-scale projects are located, helping companies stay on schedule and reduce costs.

Behind RoboForce is a team of robotics pioneers from institutions like CMU Robotics, Michigan Robotics, Amazon Robotics, and Tesla Robotics. This collective expertise has enabled the company to develop technology that investors see as both innovative and essential.

“Labour shortages and decarbonisation are the two largest trends that are happening at a global scale, and RoboForce is uniquely positioned to address both,” said Myron Scholes, Nobel Laureate and one of RoboForce’s investors. “RoboForce has a great team working on innovation very valuable for the world.”

Gary Rieschel, co-founder of SoftBank VC, echoed this sentiment, highlighting the startup’s ability to tackle some of the most pressing global challenges with its solutions.

For Ma, RoboForce is the culmination of a career dedicated to AI robotics. Previously, he co-founded Cyngn, an autonomous driving company, and worked on advanced robotics at Baidu USA. “Building AI robotics is all I do,” Ma said.

While the company’s immediate focus is on industries like solar and mining, Ma envisions a future where RoboForce plays a pivotal role in space exploration. “Helping build the moon base on the moon” is one of the company’s ambitious goals, reflecting its broader mission to create practical tools for humanity’s most challenging endeavors.

“Our mission is to create robotics for humanity to boost the world’s economy with the power of Robo-Labor,” Ma emphasized. “We are building the most advanced Robo-Labor system to take on the most tedious, physically demanding, and dangerous jobs that humans shouldn’t have to do.”