Mobot raises $12.5M, launches robotic app testing platform

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Mobot uses robots to quality test apps. | Source: Mobot

Mobot announced that it brought in $12.5 million in Series A funding and that it launched its quality assurance-as-a-service (QA-as-a-service) platform for app testing. The company uses mechanical robots to automate the testing of repetitive, human-like functions in a real-world setting.

To use Mobot’s platform, you start by recording a video of the test you want to be performed. This step doesn’t require users to write out test plans or code anything, just to record a simple video. Next, users will upload the video using the company’s self-serve test plan tool, and tell Mobot how they want the test to be run, whether it be on iOS, Android or another platform. 

The Mobot team then converts the recorded test into an automated test using the Mobot platform and mechanical robots. Then, it’s time for the robots to take over and begin testing the mobile app. During testing, the robot record all results, data and reports within the platform. 

Users can view all of the results in the Mobot platform, and compare them with baseline test results, pass or fail flags and bug notes from their CSM that ensure noise is eliminated. 

Mobot’s platform can automate tests for a number of challenging use cases, including complex hardware and software interaction, streaming data stability, backward compatibility testing and critical action stability. The platform is currently being used by companies like Citizen, Persona, Branch, Mapbox and Radar. 

“Mobot has helped us increase our App Store rating from 4.2 to 4.8 and achieve a 99.9% crash-free rate,” Swamy Ramaswamy, CTO and COO at Sandboxx, said. “Our app is responsible for helping military service members send and receive physical letters with family, so stability is crucial. Mobot is a critical part of our QA workflow and regularly uncovers issues that weren’t surfaced by our internal software testing process.”

The platform eliminated thousands of hours of manual testing, increases testing efficiency and captures more bugs in-app before app store launches than software can do on its own. Mobot’s funding round was led by Cota Capital and included participation from Heavybit, Uncorrelated Ventures and more. 

“The limitations of QA software mean too many people hours are burned testing mobile apps to make sure they ship right the first time. Mobot’s non-obvious insight to use physical robots for manual testing is an ingenious solution,” Adit Singh, partner at Cota Capital, said. “Its fleet of robots are more reliable and do the job with accuracy and consistency. Mobot helps eliminate tedious, manual testing so customers can ship their mobile apps with confidence, every time.”