Built on ROS2, OLO is compatible with thousands of existing robots and drivers while removing the complexity that has traditionally required specialist knowledge and experience.
Previously known as BOW, the company raised a £4 m seed round early in 2025. Thompson made the strategic decision to pivot the company’s technical approach, rebuilding the platform from the ground up using ROS2 at its foundation rather than pursuing a proprietary architecture, in response to clear market demand.
The OLO platform features an industry-first JavaScript SDK, Python support, AI-assisted programing, high fidelity cloud-based simulation, real-time 3D visualization, remote teleoperation, and data recording capabilities through a web browser.
“We focus on making powerful robotics tools usable for any software developer.” said Eleanor Tang-Smith, COO and co-founder of OLO Robotics.
Robot manufacturers InMotion Robotics and FictionLab are testing OLO bundled with their hardware to reduce customer setup time from weeks to hours. Software development companies are evaluating whether existing developers can deliver robotics projects without specialist hires. Universities are assessing the platform for courses starting in spring 2026.
Open beta launches spring 2026, with commercial launch later in the year.
“We're building with our users, not for them.” Tang-Smith said. “The beta phase allows us to refine the platform based on real-world use cases before broader release."