Destro AI is a Brooklyn based robotics and artificial intelligence company that develops software for autonomous warehouse and factory operations. Its technology helps enterprise logistics and warehouse operators coordinate robots, human workers, inventory, and business systems through one shared software layer. Founded in 2025 by CEO Manthan Pawar and a team with backgrounds at HAI Robotics, Dexterity, and Matic, Destro works with enterprise logistics operators including Yusen Logistics and is already running its technology in production.
Destro AI has raised $8 million in seed funding, co led by Base10 Partners and Bonfire Ventures, with participation from CoFound Partners. The funding will support more enterprise deployments, further product development, and the expansion of its engineering and research teams.
The financing comes as warehouse operators are adding more AI and digital tools to daily logistics operations. A September 2026 analysis from McKinsey found that AI tools, digital twins, and visibility platforms are becoming part of core logistics operations as companies deal with labor constraints, network disruptions, regulatory uncertainty, and pressure to improve productivity.
Destro has already generated commercial revenue and is live in production with global third party logistics providers. The company has also won head to head evaluations against larger competitors by focusing on production deployments rather than demonstration environments.
Modern warehouses can use several types of machines at the same time. Autonomous mobile robots move goods around a facility, robotic arms handle items, and autonomous forklifts transport pallets. The challenge is coordinating all that activity. Warehouses also need machines to work alongside people and connect with inventory tools and other business systems.
Research published by Interact Analysis in March 2026 found that complexity was the main challenge for companies adopting automation in order fulfillment operations. The research also identified labor and skills shortages, demand for faster and more accurate deliveries, and limited warehouse space as factors encouraging companies to automate more of their operations.
Destro addresses this problem by providing a shared coordination layer that is not tied to one robot manufacturer. This gives warehouse operators a way to manage different machines and software systems through the same operational framework.
“We invested in Destro because we believe the next wave of AI will be physical. The winners won't simply be the companies building robots. They'll be the companies that make robots useful inside real-world operations. We've spent enough time around warehouses and logistics networks to know that operational complexity is where good ideas go to die. The gap between a successful demo and a successful deployment is enormous. Destro understands that gap.” — Jennifer Richard, Principal at Bonfire Ventures
The new capital will support three main areas. Destro plans to expand deployments with enterprise customers, continue developing its two main AI systems, MothershipOS and VisionOS, and grow its engineering organization.
Its engineers and AI researchers work directly with warehouse operators on active production floors. This gives the development team access to real operating conditions while the company continues improving its software.
The funding will also support research and development across both products as Destro expands into more warehouse environments and works with additional enterprise customers.
Destro's platform is built around two systems that handle different parts of warehouse automation.
MothershipOS manages decisions across the facility. It monitors warehouse activity, decides what work should happen next, and assigns tasks to robots and workers as priorities and conditions change. The system can also use digital simulations to assess possible execution paths before making operational decisions.
VisionOS runs on the robot itself. It is designed to identify products, count inventory, and control physical actions such as picking and placing items. The system can learn from real world interactions and from human demonstrations, helping robots perceive, grasp, and handle different objects.
Together, the two systems connect warehouse level planning with physical work on the floor. Destro's software can work with autonomous mobile robots, autonomous forklifts, humanoids, workers, inventory systems, and other enterprise software. This allows operators to introduce different types of hardware without rebuilding the workflow logic that manages the facility.
“We believe the next breakthrough won’t come from another robot. It will come from the intelligence layer that enables any robot to work together. Customers aren’t buying robots; they’re investing in throughput, reliability, and business outcomes. That’s what we’re building.” — Manthan Pawar, Founder and CEO of Destro AI
Base10 Partners and Bonfire Ventures co led the round, with CoFound Partners participating.
Base10 is a San Francisco venture capital firm that invests in companies automating sectors such as transportation, retail, logistics, and construction. Its portfolio includes companies such as Nubank, Stripe, Figma, Notion, Motive, and HappyRobot.
Bonfire Ventures is a seed stage venture capital firm focused on B2B technology and AI companies. The firm manages more than $1 billion in assets and typically invests at the early stages of company development.
CoFound Partners also participated in the round. The firm invests in early stage startups and has described Destro as a software layer connecting robots, workers, and inventory systems across warehouse operations.
