RISE Robotics Awarded $100,000 MassVentures START Grant to Commercialize Beltdraulic™

SOMERVILLE, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--RISE Robotics today announced it has been awarded a $100,000 START Grant from MassVentures, a competitive non-dilutive award from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts recognizing the company's progress in commercializing its Beltdraulic™ technology. As a Stage I awardee, RISE is also eligible to compete for up to $800,000 in total funding as it advances through subsequent program stages.

The START Grant provides additional support from the Commonwealth to help transition federally funded innovation into commercial products and job creation within Massachusetts. RISE was selected through a competitive review process, recognizing both the strength of its underlying technology and its progress toward commercialization.

RISE Robotics has developed Beltdraulic™, a new category of high-force electric actuation designed to replace traditional hydraulic systems. The technology delivers hydraulic-class force while improving efficiency, precision, and control without using fluids.

The START Grant complements RISE’s ongoing technology development with the U.S. Department of Defense. In February 2026, RISE received a $3 million U.S. Air Force Tactical Funding Increase (TACFI) award to advance SuperJammer, its fluid-free munitions handling system, toward test and evaluation. 

“This award is a strong validation of the progress we’ve made translating advanced engineering into real-world systems,” said Hiten Sonpal, CEO of RISE Robotics. “Massachusetts continues to be an important partner in helping companies like ours move from breakthrough technology to commercial deployment.”

While the TACFI award supports the continued development and productization of SuperJammer for defense applications, the START grant supports RISE's efforts to commercialize the underlying technology for broader markets. Together, the programs allow RISE to advance the technology through demanding defense applications while building toward wider commercial adoption.

About MassVentures START Program
The START Grant Program, administered by MassVentures, provides non-dilutive funding to Massachusetts-based companies with active SBIR/STTR Phase II awards to support the commercialization of advanced technologies and drive economic growth in the Commonwealth.

About RISE Robotics
RISE Robotics is a deep tech, clean tech and defense tech company replacing hydraulics in the $750B heavy machinery industry with Beltdraulic™, a clean fluid-free linear actuator technology that delivers hydraulic-like power without the disadvantages. Using a belt-and-pulley system instead of oil, Beltdraulic is 3x faster (increasing revenue), 3x more efficient (reducing expenses) and 100% digital (enabling teleoperation and autonomy). 

RISE has generated more than $9M in total revenue, and is a Reg CF company, allowing both accredited and non-accredited investors to own a piece of its innovative technology.