From Early-Stage to Nasdaq: The Complete Journey for Robotics Companies

April 30, 2025

Navigating public markets has never been straightforward, especially for robotics companies. The robotics industry is experiencing unprecedented growth, with innovation outpacing traditional funding methods. Companies today face the dual challenges of capital-intensive product cycles and complex regulatory landscapes. To successfully reach exchanges like Nasdaq or NYSE, robotics firms must embrace strategic capital raising, harness retail investor interest, and foster investor relationships with thoughtful planning and transparent communication.

Laying the Groundwork: Building a Public-Ready Robotics Firm

Understanding Capital Needs for Growth

Every robotics company has a distinct journey, yet they all share one critical necessity: robust funding. Accurately calculating your capital requirements at each developmental stage—from prototype development and manufacturing scalability to full commercialization—is vital. Creating an effective capital raising roadmap isn’t simply about funding; it's about strategically aligning financial milestones with broader business goals. Successful firms leverage sophisticated digital capital platforms that streamline processes, reducing administrative burdens and facilitating seamless investor interactions.

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The Importance of Robust Governance

Governance is more than ticking compliance boxes; it's the foundation of trust for investors. A public-ready robotics firm requires experienced leadership and impeccable governance practices. Companies like Miso Robotics have demonstrated exceptional governance, allowing them to confidently raise significant capital through Reg CF and Reg A offerings. Such success stories highlight the necessity of building strong governance frameworks, transparent financial reporting systems, and a proactive approach to compliance.

Early Funding Strategies: Fueling Robotics Innovation

Maximizing Regulation A+ Opportunities

Regulation A+ (Reg A) has emerged as a powerful capital formation tool, especially suited for ambitious robotics companies. This pathway allows companies to raise up to $75 million annually, engaging both accredited and non-accredited investors, thus broadening the investor base. Robotics pioneers like EnergyX have effectively utilized Reg A offerings to bolster financial strength while simultaneously building strong market presence and credibility.

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Cultivating Strong Investor Relationships

Retail investors can be transformative allies, far beyond their financial contributions. Engaging these investors through transparent communication, educational resources, and consistent updates turns them into loyal advocates and brand ambassadors. Companies employing integrated capital raising CRM solutions can automate personalized outreach, nurture investor relationships, and foster a loyal investor community. For robotics firms, this community not only funds innovation but also provides crucial market validation and long-term stability.

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Transitioning to the Public Market: Choosing Your Path

Direct Listing vs. Traditional IPO: Strategic Considerations

Deciding between a traditional IPO and a direct listing is critical. Traditional IPOs generate fresh capital and leverage underwriting support but come with higher fees and lock-up periods. Direct listings, conversely, offer liquidity without raising new capital, granting existing shareholders immediate flexibility. Companies must evaluate their capital needs, investor base, and market timing carefully. Robotics companies with substantial retail investor bases often prefer direct listings to leverage existing market enthusiasm without traditional constraints.

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Leveraging the Nasdaq Advantage

Nasdaq is synonymous with innovation and technology, making it a prime destination for robotics companies. Notable companies such as Apple, Microsoft, and NVIDIA have thrived post-listing, demonstrating Nasdaq’s appeal. The exchange’s investor community understands and values technology-driven businesses, offering robotics companies unique advantages, including enhanced visibility, credibility, and favorable perceptions among growth-focused investors.

Post-IPO: Strategies to Sustain Growth and Engagement

Sustaining Retail Investor Engagement

The IPO is not the endpoint but a new beginning in capital raising. Maintaining robust retail investor relations post-IPO is essential. Hosting digital shareholder events, regular informational updates, and exclusive opportunities for customer-investors ensures ongoing support. Monogram Orthopedics illustrates this perfectly. After listing on Nasdaq, Monogram leveraged its loyal investor base, successfully raising an additional $13 million in a private round, underscoring the power of ongoing investor relationships.

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Balancing Institutional and Retail Investors

The most successful robotics companies maintain a strategic balance between institutional and retail investors. Institutional investors offer substantial capital and industry credibility, while retail investors provide brand advocacy and community support. A diversified investor base mitigates risk and ensures resilience across market fluctuations. Leveraging effective capital raising marketing strategies tailored to different investor types ensures clear communication and regulatory compliance.

Advanced Capital Raising Tools and Technologies

Embracing Digital Platforms for Capital Formation

Advanced digital platforms facilitate smoother, more efficient capital raising campaigns. By integrating sophisticated capital raising software, robotics companies benefit from streamlined processes, enhanced investor management, compliance automation, and actionable analytics. These tools empower companies to manage complex capital campaigns effectively, from initial offerings through public listings and subsequent raises.

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Robotics Sector-Specific Insights and Resources

Robotics firms face unique capital raising challenges and opportunities. Leveraging resources like DealMaker’s detailed guides on robotics crowdfunding and capital raising can provide invaluable insights. Companies equipped with specific sector knowledge can better anticipate investor expectations, regulatory nuances, and industry-specific fundraising strategies.

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Pioneering a New Era in Robotics Capital Raising

The path from early-stage innovation to Nasdaq listing requires meticulous planning, strategic funding decisions, and sustained investor engagement. Robotics companies leveraging sophisticated capital raising tools, innovative digital platforms, and strategic investor relations are well-positioned to navigate this journey successfully. Firms like Miso Robotics, EnergyX, and Monogram Orthopedics exemplify the potential of strategic capital formation, illustrating a clear roadmap for CEOs aiming to take their robotics companies public.

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By cultivating strong governance, embracing retail investor advocacy, and strategically navigating regulatory pathways, robotics firms can confidently chart their course towards sustainable growth and impactful innovation on the public market.

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Monogram Case Study - DealMaker (Embed)

When VCs said no, Monogram turned to retail investors. That decision powered their rise from startup to publicly traded company—and even helped them raise an additional $13M privately after their Nasdaq debut.

The Challenge: Raising Capital on Their Terms

The Challenge: Raising on Their Terms

Monogram Technologies was founded with a bold vision: to revolutionize orthopedic surgery with a robotic joint replacement system using custom 3D-printed joints. The market for this technology is massive—approximately $19.6 billion, with over 1 million knee replacements per year. But it's a capital-intensive, regulation-heavy space—and traditional VCs weren't biting.

Instead of compromising, co-founders Dr. Doug Unis and Ben Sexson went all-in on a different path: retail capital. Why?

Control and ownership: Not only were they able to raise the capital they needed to grow the business—they did it on their own terms.
Long-term asset: They wanted to build an army of true believers who wanted to see the company succeed and would continue to reinvest over the years.
A value-add network: Raising from retail allowed Monogram to amass a waiting list of thousands of patients eager to participate in future trials.
Aligned incentives: Their mission to improve patient outcomes and build a better future for those struggling with joint pain resonated with retail investors.

The Power of Retail: Monogram's Capital Journey

Start Date	End Date	Type	Platform	Amount Raised	# Investors
3/13/19	3/31/20	A+	SeedInvest	$14,588,668	6,000
11/16/20	1/16/21	A+	StartEngine	$2,965,501	8,000
1/17/21	2/18/22	A+	StartEngine	$23,647,853	14,082
7/15/22	3/16/23	CF	DealMaker	$4,673,000	2,249
3/1/23	4/8/23	A+	Republic	$232,275	120
3/1/23	5/23/23	A+	DealMaker	$15,958,364	5,198
5/18/23	-	Nasdaq listing
7/24	10/24	Unit Offering	DealMaker	$12,990,103	2,745

Monogram Capital Raise Timeline

Monogram's first direct-to-investor raise was a $14.6M round in 2019. Since then, Monogram has raised retail capital six additional times, using Reg A+ as a springboard to a Nasdaq listing in 2023.

Each raise brought in new believers—and more importantly, kept bringing them back. That's the long-term power of retail capital. It's not just one campaign—it's a compounding asset that grows with the business.

$80M+

Raised across seven campaigns

~40,000

Investors championing Monogram's vision

20%

Of each raise came from previous investors

Marketing Excellence

DealMaker Reach provided strategic investor acquisition services, helping Monogram connect with the right audience through high-impact channels.

Premium Publications

Targeted campaigns in premium publications like Morning Brew captured qualified investors

High-Engagement Webinars

Engaging events that generated over $4.3 million in investments

Community Building

Strategic approaches that fostered a loyal shareholder base

Investment Momentum

Innovative approaches that amplified investment momentum

Monogram's Journey to Success

Monogram's journey has been defined by relentless innovation, strategic fundraising, and breakthrough advancements in robotic-assisted joint replacement. From early-stage research to a Nasdaq listing and beyond, Monogram's milestones reflect its evolution into a pioneering force in orthopedic surgery:

Filed its first patent application in 2017
Conducted clinical studies at UCLA and University of Nebraska
Expanded the team with key hires
Attracted a top-tier advisory board to guide clinical innovations
Signed their first distribution partnerships
Made headlines with cutting-edge live demonstrations
Secured 501(k) FDA clearance for the mBôs surgical system

Nasdaq Debut & Beyond

In May 2023, Monogram Orthopaedics successfully listed on the Nasdaq—a significant milestone offering liquidity and growth opportunities for the company.

For most companies, that would be the end of their story in the private markets. But for Monogram, it was just the beginning of a new chapter.

Public perception says you can't raise privately post-IPO. Monogram proved that wrong.

Defying conventional fundraising norms, Monogram raised an additional $13 million from private investors, powered by DealMaker. This move highlighted the power of a dedicated investor community and provided additional strategic growth capital. Meanwhile, strategic digital marketing for the private offering helped boost the public share price—a win-win for the company and its investors, both public and private.

This was retail capital at its best: strategic, repeatable, and aligned.

One vision. Zero compromises.

This wasn't a one-time raise. It was a multi-year capital strategy.

Retail capital helped Monogram:

Go from concept to commercialization without relying on VCs
Retain ownership and control in a high-burn industry
Build a base of loyal shareholders who invested not once, but over and over again
Uplist to the Nasdaq, and still keep raising post-IPO

This is what makes retail capital different. It doesn't expire—it compounds. And DealMaker is built to maximize that long-term value.

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