Mind Robotics, a startup spun out of Rivian, has appointed Doug Field as its new leader. Field, who previously directed electric vehicle strategies at Ford and led Apple’s Project Titan, will oversee product, engineering, and operations. RJ Scaringe, the CEO of Rivian, remains involved with the company.
The startup has secured over $1 billion in funding. Investors include Accel, Andreessen Horowitz, Eclipse, Kleiner Perkins, and the venture arms of Volkswagen and Salesforce. The company is developing industrial robots powered by foundation models to automate manufacturing tasks.
Unlike humanoid robotics projects, Mind Robotics focuses on industrial applications rather than mimicking human biomechanics. The company utilizes Rivian’s manufacturing facilities as a training ground for its technology, with Rivian serving as its first customer.
Mind Robotics operates as an independent entity, though Rivian maintains a minority stake. As of June 30, 2026, Rivian held approximately one-third of the startup. This is the second company Scaringe has spun out of Rivian, following the micromobility firm Also.
