ARTI’s founding story reads like a textbook example of a high-tech start-up success: Four founders meet at Graz University of Technology as part of the student team TEDUSAR, competing in the international robotics competition “RoboCup” – back then in the Search & Rescue category. It quickly becomes clear: they share a deep passion for autonomous mobile robotics and spot a promising gap in the market. The decision to launch a company together is made.
They apply with their idea to the renowned high-tech incubator Science Park Graz, are accepted, and spend the next year refining their business concept. In 2019, the company is officially founded – and successfully begins selling its innovative software modules for autonomous mobile robots to the world.
Securing a strong Strategic Investor
In summer 2025, this success story reached another major milestone: ARTI secured its first strategic investor. Since its inception, ARTI had deliberately operated in “bootstrapping” mode – building the company without external investors, with the clear intention of only bringing on board a partner who could offer genuine strategic value. The founding team is therefore especially proud to welcome KNAPP AG as an ideal strategic partner and new shareholder.
The KNAPP Group, headquartered in Hart bei Graz, is a global technology leader in intelligent automation solutions – and in many ways, the perfect match for ARTI. The regional proximity facilitates collaboration, while KNAPP’s expertise in digitalization and automation across the entire value chain – from production and distribution to the point of sale – offers tremendous synergy potential.
The partnership between ARTI and KNAPP is far from new: ARTI has previously made successful contributions to the development of innovative AGV projects in the field of mobile robotics. A recent example is KNAPP’s latest innovation in intelligent warehouse robotics – the AeroBot system – where ARTI was able to contribute its expertise in software development and sensor integration. The result: a groundbreaking, multidimensional, and flexible robotics system – efficient, robust, and forward-looking. ARTI is proud to have played a part in this development.
Our growth is built on trust, technical excellence, and solving complex challenges together. With KNAPP, we have found a partner at eye level who shares the same commitment to quality. This strategic partnership enables us to scale internationally and successfully implement larger projects.
Konstantin Mautner-Lassnig, ARTI CEO
This productive and collaborative relationship is now set to deepen through KNAPP’s investment. KNAPP benefits from ARTI’s innovation-driven mindset and research orientation, while ARTI gains a stable, long-term partnership that strengthens its position as a reliable, professional partner to the industry. At the same time, KNAPP’s international network opens doors to exciting, forward-looking projects and impulses – all while ARTI retains its curiosity and independence to explore new, uncharted applications and environments for autonomous mobile robotics.
The entire ARTI team stands firmly behind this pivotal step in the company’s development and looks forward to many more milestones and successes ahead!
Robi
https://arti-robots.com/
Hi folks, my name is Robi and I have the honor to keep you up to date with the latest information about events, stories and technical innovations @ ARTI.
