**FORT Robotics Takes Safety Stack Public Via SPAC Merger: Building The Trust Layer For Physical AI**
The robotics industry is racing towards mass adoption, but a critical challenge remains: ensuring these machines operate safely and reliably alongside humans. FORT Robotics, a pioneer in safety and compliance platforms for autonomous systems, is positioning itself as the answer to this problem. The company has announced a merger with Newbury Street II Acquisition Corp., a special-purpose acquisition company (SPAC), aiming to go public and accelerate its mission to become the universal “trust layer” for physical AI.
### **Building The Trust Layer For Physical AI**
FORT Robotics’ core mission is simple yet ambitious: **”to ensure robots cause no harm.”** As robots transition from pilot programs to scalable deployment in warehouses, factories, hospitals, and public spaces, the need for a robust, interoperable safety framework has never been greater. The company calls its solution “The Trust Layer,” a multi-layered platform designed to ensure robot manufacturers, integrators, end-users, and regulators can all operate with confidence.
*”How we trust physical AI will be one of the defining questions of our time, and answering it will be a key enabler that will move these next-generation machines from isolated pilot programs to real, scalable adoption,”* said Samuel Reeves, founder and CEO of FORT Robotics.
The Trust Layer is not a single product but a comprehensive stack. It integrates hardware and firmware for foundational safety compliance, cloud-based intelligence for telemetry and AI insights, and ecosystem interfaces like APIs and monitoring dashboards. This modular approach allows different robot brands to communicate and operate safely in shared environments.
### **A Platform For Safety, Scale, and Growth**
The company’s platform is already recognized as a critical standard in the industry. It is backed by 25 patents and certified to meet **Safety Integrity Level 3 (SIL 3)** per IEC 61508, one of the highest safety standards available. FORT’s CTO has also joined the U.S. Technical Advisory Group for ISO TC 200, the International Organization for Standardization committee dedicated to robotics safety.
Recent product launches underscore FORT’s commitment to proactive safety. In early 2026, the company released the **Wireless E-Stop Pro**, a safety-certified wearable device for workers, and **FORT 2.61**, an updated software suite that enhances control and safety behaviors. In May 2026, FORT expanded its Trust Layer by acquiring Mapless AI, a teleoperation company, adding remote human-in-the-loop control and active safety features. This was followed by a strategic collaboration with NVIDIA in June, integrating FORT’s safety protocols into the Halos for Robotics ecosystem.
FORT Robotics already boasts an impressive client list, including Agility, Google DeepMind, Zoox, Ocado, and DoorDash. Its 600 customers span humanoid robotics, warehousing, transportation, manufacturing, construction, and agriculture.
### **Strong Financials And Market Validation**
FORT’s business case is strong. The company reported **62% year-over-year revenue growth in 2025**, with operating expenses growing only 19%. This demonstrates significant operational efficiency. Gross margins remained robust at **70% in 2024 and 66% in 2025**. The company has also aggressively expanded its enterprise customer base, growing six-figure customers by **3.8x since 2021** without over-reliance on a single client (no one customer accounts for more than 9% of revenue).
*Griffin Schroeder, a partner at Tiger Global, notes:* **”As physical AI moves into core industrial infrastructure, safety is paramount. FORT has built a critical, machine-agnostic trust layer that enables enterprise autonomy to scale safely.”**
### **The SPAC Deal: A New Chapter**
The merger with Newbury Street II Acquisition Corp. is set to value the combined company at **$556.6 million**. The deal is expected to provide FORT with approximately **$201 million in gross proceeds** and **$182 million in net cash** after transaction costs.
This influx of capital will be used to accelerate the development of next-generation safety intelligence and cybersecurity software, scale global sales and channel partnerships, and pursue strategic acquisitions. Existing shareholders will retain a controlling **67% ownership** in the new entity.
The combined company, to be named **FORT Robotics Holdings Inc.**, will begin trading on the Nasdaq under the ticker “FRT.”
—
### **FAQ**
**Q1: What is FORT Robotics’ “Trust Layer”?**
A: The Trust Layer is a comprehensive safety and interoperability platform designed to enable the safe deployment of autonomous robots in human-centric environments. It combines hardware, software, cloud intelligence, and ecosystem tools to ensure robots operate reliably and cause no harm.
**Q2: Why is FORT Robotics going public via a SPAC?**
A: The SPAC merger with Newbury Street II provides FORT with significant capital ($201M gross proceeds) to scale its technology, expand its market reach, and accelerate growth in the rapidly evolving physical AI sector.
**Q3: Who are FORT Robotics’ key customers?**
A: FORT serves a diverse range of industries with major clients including Agility, Google DeepMind, Zoox, Ocado, DoorDash, Textron, and Forterra, among others.
**Q4: What recent products and partnerships has FORT announced?**
A: In 2026, FORT launched the Wireless E-Stop Pro and FORT 2.61 software. It also acquired Mapless AI for teleoperation capabilities and formed a strategic collaboration with NVIDIA to integrate its safety protocols.
**Q5: What are the financial highlights of FORT Robotics?**
A: FORT reported 62% YoY revenue growth in 2025, 70% gross margins in 2024, and has demonstrated strong cost management with operating expenses growing only 19% last year.
—
### **Conclusion**
FORT Robotics’ merger to go public marks a significant milestone for the physical AI industry. By building and scaling a universal trust layer, the company is addressing the fundamental safety concerns that have historically slowed down robotic adoption. With a proven track record of growth, strong financials, and a robust pipeline of customers and partners, FORT is well-positioned to become the foundational safety standard for the next generation of autonomous machines. The capital from the SPAC merger will be the catalyst, enabling FORT to move from a critical platform to a global leader in safe and scalable robotics deployment.
