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Iris Automation

AcquiredYC S16

San Francisco, US · Founded 2015 · 5 employees on LinkedIn · 22 known investors

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Iris Automation develops artificial intelligence software that enables industrial drones to operate autonomously, with a focus on collision avoidance capabilities for safer operations.

Advanced ManufacturingAI & Machine LearningRoboticsDronesComputer VisionAIUnited States of AmericaAmerica / CanadaFully Remote

Founders & leadership· Y Combinator alumni (S16)

Iris Automation was founded in 2015 by Alexander Harmsen and James Howard.

AHAlexander Harmsen
Alexander HarmsenChairman & Founder2020–2022Alexander Harmsen founded Iris Automation, an autonomous vehicle software company that raised over $30M and obtained regulatory approvals in multiple countries before exiting. He is currently CEO and co-founder of PortfolioPilot.com, an AI-based financial advisory platform, and advises computational pharma and SaaS companies.
JHJames Howard
James HowardVP of Technology & Innovation and Founder2021–2023James Howard is founder and CTO of Iris Automation, which develops artificial intelligence software for autonomous industrial drone operations, including collision avoidance systems.
AB
Aaron Bailey
AS
Anita ShamTalent Acquisition Lead
CL
Cedric Lamy

Investors · 22

Bessemer Venture Partnerslisted by Bessemer Venture PartnersSan Francisco · $50K – $100M

How we know: Bessemer Venture Partners's portfolio page · a partner's Signal profile · funding news · brainstation.io · the VCSheet dataset · open dataset · 5k.vc investor directory · Y Combinator's founder network · Not right? Tell us

Flucas Ventureslisted by Flucas VenturesJupiter · $100K – $5Mvia Ashley Flucas · inferred

How we know: the VCSheet dataset · open dataset · 5k.vc investor directory · Not right? Tell us

Gaingelslisted by GaingelsNew York · $200K – $500K

How we know: Y Combinator's founder network · gaingels.com · Not right? Tell us

Ligo Partners LLClisted by Ligo Partners LLCMiami

How we know: Ligo Partners LLC's portfolio page · Not right? Tell us

Sony Ventures Corporationlisted by Sony Ventures CorporationTokyo

How we know: Sony Ventures Corporation's portfolio page · the VCSheet dataset · Y Combinator's founder network · Not right? Tell us

Y Combinatorlisted by Y CombinatorSan Francisco · $500K

How we know: the Y Combinator directory · open dataset · 5k.vc investor directory · Not right? Tell us

Bee PartnersreportedLafayette · $300K – $500K

How we know: a partner's Signal profile · funding news · brainstation.io · Y Combinator's founder network · Not right? Tell us

Blue Ivy VenturesreportedBoston

How we know: Y Combinator's founder network · Not right? Tell us

Ericsson VenturesreportedStockholm

How we know: Y Combinator's founder network · Not right? Tell us

GGV CapitalreportedMenlo Park

How we know: techcrunch.com · Not right? Tell us

Graph VenturesreportedNew York · $50K – $300K

How we know: Y Combinator's founder network · Not right? Tell us

HaystackreportedSan Francisco · $1M – $3M

How we know: Y Combinator's founder network · Not right? Tell us

Lateral Capitalreported$100K – $1M

How we know: Y Combinator's founder network · Not right? Tell us

Liquid VenturesreportedSan Francisco · $250K – $5M

How we know: Y Combinator's founder network · Not right? Tell us

Notable CapitalreportedSilicon Valley · $5M – $50M

How we know: funding news · Y Combinator's founder network · Not right? Tell us

OCA VenturesreportedChicago · $1M – $3M

How we know: Y Combinator's founder network · Not right? Tell us

Seven Seas PartnersreportedMenlo Park

How we know: Y Combinator's founder network · Not right? Tell us

Verizon VenturesreportedNew York City · $5M

How we know: Y Combinator's founder network · Not right? Tell us

XG VenturesreportedMenlo Park

How we know: Y Combinator's founder network · Not right? Tell us

Yamaha Motor VenturesreportedPalo Alto · $1M – $3M

How we know: Y Combinator's founder network · Not right? Tell us

Also in the syndicate · 1

Liquid 2

Funding

SEC filings, press & company announcements

Source: company announcements and press reports — follow each round's link for the claim.

Key figures

latest reported
HeadcountAug 20265

Company-reported or press-reported figures, each dated to when it was claimed — not independently audited.

Founder mafia

3 people who came through Iris Automation went on to found or lead other companies.

Celeste FordBoard MemberFounded SvcAlexander HarmsenCEOFounded PortfolioPilotJames HowardCTOFounded Real Artists

Related companies · 10

Drone DeployDroneDeploy provides a robotics and AI platform used for data collection and site intelligence across construction, energy, infrastructure, and agriculture. The platform integrates aerial drones, ground robots, and AI to help field teams digitize and monitor job sites across 180 countries.
Degla IncDegla provides a natural language platform for coordinating autonomous drone fleets for search and rescue, emergency response, infrastructure inspection, and critical field operations. The system automatically plans missions, assigns aircraft, and adapts to real-time conditions without requiring flight plans or specialist training.
SkydioSkydio designs and manufactures autonomous drones using computer vision and AI technology for consumer and commercial applications. The company's products are designed, assembled, and supported in the United States.
Seeing SystemsSeeing Systems develops intelligent unmanned systems and autonomous drone platforms for advanced defense applications, combining AI and robotics expertise to deliver cost-effective solutions for training and contested military operations.
DJI (大疆创新)DJI is a hardware manufacturer that designs and sells drones, handheld cameras, and stabilizers for consumers and content creators. The company operates a direct-to-consumer e-commerce store with local warehouse fulfillment in Mexico.
Vernius Systems, Inc.Vernius makes drop-in hardware modules that add autonomous or operator-assisted targeting to existing FPV interceptor drones. The module sits between the drone's receiver and flight controller to provide beyond-visual-range sensing, autonomous guidance, or target bearing data for manual pilots, aimed at low-cost, high-volume defense deployment.
ElsightElsight develops proprietary hardware and software connectivity technology, including its Halo platform, that provides reliable communications links for unmanned aerial and ground systems such as drones and robots. The company serves the autonomous systems industry, including drone manufacturers, defense contractors, and public safety and BVLOS delivery operators.
OrnadyneOrnadyne makes flapping-wing unmanned aircraft designed to resemble birds for covert reconnaissance missions. The company addresses limitations of conventional drones by engineering systems optimized for stealth, endurance, and autonomous operation in field environments.
AloftAloft operates an FAA-approved airspace and fleet management platform for drone operations, offering LAANC authorizations, airspace advisories, mission planning, and fleet tracking. It serves individual drone pilots, enterprise UAS programs, developers, and government agencies, and is now part of Versaterm with a focus on public safety drone operations.
Censys TechnologiesCensys Technologies designs and manufactures fixed-wing VTOL drones, dock systems, and AI-powered edge computing platforms for autonomous inspection of critical infrastructure, primarily serving utilities and energy providers for power line monitoring and vegetation management.

Companies working in the same space as Iris Automation.

Legal entities · 1

corporate structure
Iris Automation Inc.

In the news

Iris Automation Closes $13 Million in Series B Venture Capital Financingprnewswire.com · Dec 2020

Frequently asked questions

What does Iris Automation do?
Iris Automation develops artificial intelligence software that enables industrial drones to operate autonomously, with a focus on collision avoidance capabilities for safer operations.
Who founded Iris Automation?
Iris Automation was founded by Alexander Harmsen, James Howard in 2015.
Who are Iris Automation's investors?
Iris Automation's investors include ARC Angel Fund, Bessemer Venture Partners, Flucas Ventures, Gaingels, Ligo Partners LLC, Sony Ventures Corporation, Y Combinator, Bee Partners and 13 more.
Where is Iris Automation headquartered?
Iris Automation is headquartered in San Francisco, US.