Augmentus is a deep-tech robotics software company that provides an AI-powered, no-code platform to help manufacturers automate complex industrial processes like welding and finishing, significantly reducing programming time and technical barriers. Pulse 2.0 interviewed Augmentus co-founder and CEO Daryl Lim to learn more.
Daryl Lim’s Background
Could you tell me more about your background? Lim said:
“Before founding Augmentus, my co-founders and I spent years at A*STAR working on cutting-edge automation projects in aerospace — one of the most complex, high-variation industries in the world. We saw the incredible potential of robotics, but we also experienced the painful reality: countless hours wasted programming robots manually and building custom solutions from scratch. That contrast gave us two big insights — robotics can transform manufacturing, but not if the process of deploying them remains so difficult, costly, and unsustainable.”
Formation Of The Company
How did the idea for the company come together? Lim shared:
“We saw a billion-dollar paradox: factories were investing heavily in robots, but most of those robots were underutilized because programming was a bottleneck. That was the spark for Augmentus. We built the world’s first no-code, AI-powered Scan-to-Path platform — where robots can 3D scan a part, interpret its geometry, and automatically generate motion paths without a single line of code. Our mission is simple: erase downtime and complexity so manufacturers can finally scale automation.”
Favorite Memory
What has been your favorite memory working for the company so far? Lim reflected:
“Signing our first customer will always stand out. After years of proving and refining the concept, we watched their engineers’ jaws drop as a robot that used to take days to program was production-ready in minutes. That moment wasn’t just validation of our technology — it was proof that we were rewriting the rulebook for industrial robotics.”
Core Products
What are the company’s core products and features? Lim explained:
We’ve structured Augmentus into three tiers that match different stages of automation readiness:
- Core → CAD-to-Path in minutes, no coding. Teams can upload CAD or pre-scanned 3D models and instantly generate optimized robot motion paths with built-in collision detection and offline simulation.
- Pro → Vision-driven automation. Adds Augmentus Vision for 3D scanning and automatic robot-to-part calibration, enabling digital twins and scan-based toolpaths for high-mix environments.
- Auto → Adaptive execution. The most advanced tier: detects part deviations or surface defects and adjusts toolpaths on the fly, ensuring consistent results even when every part is different.
All three tiers share the same DNA: no-code simplicity, robot-agnostic integration, and the ability to handle variability that traditional automation can’t.”
Challenges Faced
Have you faced any challenges in your sector of work recently? Lim acknowledged:
“The hardest barrier isn’t technology — it’s mindset. For decades, manufacturers have seen robots as rigid, expensive, and slow to deploy. Many fear robots because they equate them with long downtime and uncertain ROI. We’ve overcome that by focusing on proof, not promises. In pilot projects, customers see setup times collapse from 30 hours to under one, or processes they thought were “too variable” suddenly become automatable. Once they witness robots adapting in real time, fear flips instantly to excitement.”
Evolution Of The Company’s Technology
How has the company’s technology evolved since launching? Lim noted:
“We started by solving the hardest problem: generating toolpaths from vision data. Since then, we’ve evolved into adaptive robotics — robots that rescan, self-correct, and optimize their paths dynamically. It’s no longer static automation. It’s physical AI that learns and adapts continuously on the shop floor.”
Significant Milestones
What have been some of the company’s most significant milestones? Lim cited:
In just five years, Augmentus has raised over $17M, tripled revenue, expanded into six countries, and deployed more than 50 systems worldwide. Some highlights:
- 2019–2020 → Breakthrough in no-code 3D vision, toolpath generation, and adaptive motion. First successful proof-of-concept trials in Singapore and Germany.
- 2022 → Customer base expanded 4x across seven countries; recurring revenue tripled. Featured at Rockwell Automation Fair in Chicago to showcase in the U.S. market.
- 2023 → Secured an oversubscribed $5M Series A, launched our Austin Experience Center, expanded into processes like thermal spray and shot peening, and won the TechBlazer Silver Award.
- 2024–2025 → Closed another oversubscribed $12.5M round, scaled deployments to 50+ systems, and rolled out major innovations like Path Optimizer, Hole Avoidance, and global partner training.
Every milestone brings us closer to one vision: making advanced automation universally accessible.”
Customer Success Stories
Can you share any specific customer success stories? Lim highlighted:
“A Tier-1 aerospace MRO service provider used Augmentus Auto to automate closed-loop blasting of turbine blades. Before Augmentus, this was considered impossible — every blade was slightly different, requiring human intervention for reprogramming. With our system, they finally automated the entire blasting process end-to-end. They told us, “This is the first time we’ve been able to automate turbine blade blasting without human reprogramming.” That’s the kind of transformation we aim to deliver.”
Funding/Revenue
Are you able to discuss funding and/or revenue metrics? Lim
“In the last 2 years, we’ve raised over $17M across oversubscribed rounds backed by Woori VP, EDBI, Sierra Ventures, and Cocoon Capital. Revenue has scaled with repeat customers, and our integrator partnerships are expanding globally.”
Total Addressable Market (TAM)
What total addressable market (TAM) size is the company pursuing? Lim assessed:
“We’re addressing a $74 billion opportunity in high-mix surface-intensive automation. This spans aerospace, marine, MRO, and automotive — sectors where part variation makes automation notoriously difficult. And we’re not replacing robots; we’re unlocking the 1.05 million robots already on factory floors that sit underutilized because they’re too rigid for today’s demands.”
Differentiation From The Competition
What differentiates the company from its competition? Lim affirmed:
“Traditional automation requires CAD files, expert coding, and precise part placement. Augmentus removes all of that. Scan, plan, run. No CAD, no coding, no downtime. And because we’re robot-agnostic, manufacturers don’t need to replace hardware — they can retrofit instantly. In a world where programming robots can take weeks, we make it plug-and-play.”
Future Company Goals
What are some of the company’s future goals? Lim emphasized:
“We want Augmentus to become the default operating system for adaptive automation. Over the next 3–5 years, we’ll launch deeper integrations for inspection, multi-robot collaboration, and OEM tool partnerships. Our vision is that if you’re still programming robots manually by then, you’ll be doing it the old-fashioned way.”
Additional Thoughts
Any other topics you would like to discuss? Lim concluded:
“Only this: automation shouldn’t be reserved for elite manufacturers. Our goal is a world where every shop floor — whether in Chicago, Osaka, or Johannesburg — can automate in minutes, not months. We want people to work with robots, not like robots.”
