Mind Robotics, a startup founded by Rivian CEO RJ Scaringe, has appointed former Ford executive Doug Field to lead its daily operations. Field will oversee product development, engineering, and business operations for the company.
The startup has secured over $1 billion in funding from investors including Accel, Andreessen Horowitz, Eclipse, Kleiner Perkins, and the venture arms of Volkswagen and Salesforce. The company focuses on building a full-stack robotics platform for industrial manufacturing.
Mind Robotics utilizes foundation models to automate manufacturing tasks. Unlike humanoid robotics projects, the company is not attempting to replicate human biomechanics. Rivian serves as the startup's first customer and provides a high-volume environment for training and deploying its robots.
Rivian holds a minority stake in Mind Robotics, reporting ownership of approximately one-third of the company as of June 30, 2026. Mind Robotics operates as a stand-alone entity, similar to Scaringe’s other venture, the micromobility firm Also.
