Sanctuary AI Company Profile: History, Funding, Technology and Leadership Changes
Updated: 7 days ago
Sanctuary AI is a Canadian company that builds the Phoenix humanoid robot and the Carbon AI system that controls it, with a particular focus on dexterous hands. Founded in Vancouver in 2018, it has raised more than USD 140 million, and went through a change of chief executive and layoffs in late 2024. This profile sets out its history, funding, technology and leadership.
Sanctuary AI at a Glance
Fact | Detail |
Company | Sanctuary AI |
Founded | 2018 |
Headquarters | Vancouver, Canada |
Funding | More than USD 140 million as of 2024 |
Robot | Phoenix |
AI system | Carbon |
Stock listing | None; privately held |
Chief Executive Officer | James Wells, since late 2024 |
Company History
Sanctuary AI was founded in 2018 and unveiled its general-purpose humanoid, Phoenix, in 2022. The first commercial test of the robot took place in a Mark's clothing store in Canada. In March 2022 it raised a Series A of USD 58.5 million, and it later received USD 30 million from the Canadian government's Strategic Innovation Fund.
The 2024 upheaval
April 2024: co-founder Suzanne Gildert leaves.
November 2024: the board removes co-founder and chief executive Geordie Rose; James Wells, until then chief commercial officer, takes over.
Around the same time: more than 30 employees are laid off.
January 2025: the company seeks USD 10 million through a convertible note, with half committed and existing shareholders asked to cover the rest.
The company said it would concentrate on its core assets: AI models, robotic hands and its intellectual property in embodied AI.
Funding and Investors
Item | Detail |
Total raised | More than USD 140 million |
Series A | USD 58.5 million, March 2022 |
Government | USD 30 million from Canada's Strategic Innovation Fund |
Investors | Magna, Bell, Verizon Ventures, Accenture, Workday Ventures, Export Development Canada, BDC Capital's Thrive Venture Fund and InBC Investment Corp. |
Technology
Element | Description |
Phoenix | General-purpose humanoid robot for industrial tasks |
Carbon | AI system for recognition, scene understanding, decision-making and adaptation |
Hands | Hydraulic hands with 21 degrees of freedom, 17 of them active, and tactile sensing |
Sanctuary has a partnership with the automotive supplier Magna to deploy Phoenix in factories, and released new tactile sensor technology in December 2024. It is credited with the third-largest patent portfolio in its field.
Leadership
Name | Role |
James Wells | Chief Executive Officer |
Olivia Norton | Co-founder, Chief Technology Officer and Chief Product Officer |
Philip Smith | Chief Financial Officer |
Can You Invest in Sanctuary AI?
Not on a public market. It is privately held.
Strengths and Challenges
Strengths
Advanced hands and tactile sensing.
A large patent portfolio.
An industrial partner in Magna.
Challenges
Loss of two co-founders and a round of layoffs.
Small-scale fundraising compared with rivals that raise hundreds of millions.
A narrower strategy than at its founding.
Current Catalogue Coverage
Catalogue checked on 15 October 2026: 1 associated product records. The links below are representative entries, rather than a claim that every historical model is currently available.
Sanctuary AI FAQ
Where is Sanctuary AI based?
In Vancouver, Canada.
What is Phoenix?
Sanctuary AI's general-purpose humanoid robot.
Who is the CEO of Sanctuary AI?
James Wells, who replaced co-founder Geordie Rose in November 2024.
How much has Sanctuary AI raised?
More than USD 140 million.
Who are Sanctuary AI's investors?
They include Magna, Bell, Verizon Ventures, Accenture and Canadian public funds.
Sources
OODA Loop: Sanctuary AI company profile
The Logic: Sanctuary AI fundraising efforts
