A startup that builds other startups raised $100M, and is all-in on physical AI | TechCrunch

The corporate venture-building firm Vantora, formerly operating under the name UP.Labs, has secured a $100 million investment from private equity firm Silversmith Capital Partners.

This funding marks the company's inaugural outside capital infusion since its inception in 2022. Alongside the funding and rebranding, the organization is implementing a significant shift in its core business strategy. Rather than developing standalone startups designed to sell products to the broader public market, Vantora is transitioning toward a proprietary merger and acquisition model. Under this new framework, the firm will build custom technological solutions exclusively for its enterprise clients, who will then have the option to acquire and fully integrate these businesses into their own operations.

This strategic redirection has led Vantora to heavily prioritize "physical AI" projects, which involve applying artificial intelligence to real-world industrial environments, such as automating heavy machinery or upgrading transportation logistics. By shifting to a private acquisition model, Vantora can now pursue sensitive, high-value projects that corporate clients previously blocked due to intellectual property and competitive concerns. The firm has already established partnerships with several prominent companies, including Porsche, Alaska Airlines, and shipping giant J.B. Hunt, helping them build sovereign AI layers that remain entirely under corporate ownership.