Venture Investing
Investing in Sanctuary AI | How to Buy Pre-IPO Shares
Sanctuary AI operates as a leading robotics manufacturer and AI control systems developer. The company continues to push the boundaries of autonomous machines via its cutting-edge Phoenix robots. These AI-powered devices are meant to work alongside humans, quickly learning new tasks and providing support where needed.
Sanctuary AI envisions a future where robots take over the mundane and dangerous tasks required by society. The company’s products and goal to create the first commercially viable, all-purpose AI-powered humanoid robot continue to attract the attention of both institutional and private investors seeking access to the AI and robotics sectors.
Despite growing demand for the company to go public, the firm hasn’t shared any plans to host an IPO. As such, you need to undertake several additional tasks to qualify for access to Sanctuary AI Pre-IPO shares. Here’s what you need to know.
What is Sanctuary AI?
Vancouver-based Sanctuary AI entered the market in 2017. Its founders include Geordie Rose, Ajay Agrawal, Suzanne Gildert, and Olivia Norton. Notably, Rose is the founder of both D-Wave and Kindred.ai. His years of experience and building a network within the AI sector helped the company gain valuable insight into the market.
Notably, Sanctuary AI launched its AI-powered general-purpose robotics operations. They envisioned their machines looking and processing information like a human. This approach would enable the company to create a general-purpose robot that could easily pick up tasks after a quick learning session.
If you review the history of robotics, you will notice that nearly all of the devices in use today are for specific purposes, meaning that they were designed to be great at only a few exact tasks. Sanctuary AI devices are general-purpose, meaning that they can be taught to perform nearly any task that a human can do.
Labor Crisis
Sanctuary AI’s team realized that the growing population and aging demographics will result in severe labor shortages in the future. Already, labor shortages have begun to affect workplaces, factories, healthcare facilities, and more. According to recent reports, as much as 75% of employers can’t fill job vacancies.
Sanctuary AI’s products address current and future global labor challenges. The company wants to manufacture and deploy millions of industrial-grade robots to offset the shrinking population and growing demands of running an aging society. These autonomous devices could understand their surroundings and learn new tasks just like a normal person.
Phoenix Robots
The Phoenix Robot is Sanctuary AI’s most advanced humanoid robot. It stands at 5’7″, weighs 155lbs, and can navigate complex work environments at 3mph. The device measurements are equal to the average person, as it was designed to work side-by-side with other employees.
Source – Sanctuary AI
Phoenix robots feature mechanical hands that integrate advanced tactile sensors, giving the device an artificial sense of touch. The mechanical hand was designed to have the same dexterity as its human counterpart and is capable of fine motor skills needed to accomplish critical tasks.
In 2023, the sixth-generation Phoenix robot launched. It features an advanced exoskeleton and the most advanced suite of AI capabilities yet. Notably, the device was powered by Sanctuary AI’s in-house built AI controller called Carbon.
| Year | Milestone | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 2017 | Company Founded | Founded by Geordie Rose and team in Vancouver, BC. |
| 2022 | $59.5M Series A | Largest public funding round to date. |
| 2023 | Phoenix Gen-6 Robot | Launched with advanced exoskeleton and Carbon AI. |
| 2024 | Magna Partnership | Deployed Phoenix in international manufacturing. |
| 2025 | Hydraulic Hand Sensors | Introduced real-time pressure-sensitive tactile feedback. |
Carbon
Carbon is a pioneering AI control system that combines aspects of deep learning, reinforcement learning, symbolic, and logical reasoning. It provides Sanctuary AI devices with the ability to learn and make real-time decisions.
Carbon was built from day one to enable Phoenix bots to process senses and mimic brain functions, including memory, sound, sight, and touch. The latter sense is achieved via an integrated advanced tactile feedback system. Additionally, Carbon enables the robots to be operated in three distinct modes – direct pilot, pilot-assist, or fully autonomous.
In 2024, Sanctuary AI inked a deal with Magna. Magna is an international auto parts and systems manufacturer that employs +166k people across 445 facilities located in 28 countries. This strategic partnership saw Phoenix Robots deployed in these facilities.
This year saw more innovation from Sanctuary AI as they unveiled new touch sensor technology that allows the robot to feel how much pressure it is applying and how the item is reacting to the applied pressure. Additionally, they unveiled a new design for dexterous robotic hands that rely on miniaturized hydraulic valves to handle fragile items safely.
Historical Funding Rounds
Summary of Sanctuary AI Funding:
Total Funding: Sanctuary AI secured $100M across 6 funding rounds
Largest Round: Sanctuary AI’s largest funding round secured $59.5M on Mar 02, 2022.
Investors: A total of 18 institutional investors back Sanctuary AI
Latest Round: The latest funding round raised $2.5M and was a Series A round held in January, 2025.
Funding Rounds Breakdown:
- 5 Early-Stage
- 1 Grant
Key Investors:
Sanctuary AI secured investment funding from Bell, Verizon Ventures, Export Development Canada, and Chris Hadfield. Also, the company received a grant from the Canadian government via the Strategic Innovation Fund (SIF).
Why Invest in Sanctuary AI?
Sanctuary AI has caught the attention of investors who see the project’s potential to transform the workplace and improve efficiency and safety across the manufacturing, logistics, automotive, and healthcare sectors. Its network and positioning make it a smart add for those seeking access to the robotics and AI sectors via a single asset.
Sanctuary AI is a Leader in Robotics and AI Tech
Another reason to consider investing in Sanctuary AI is that it remains a pioneering force in both the AI and robotics sectors. These fast-paced markets are worth billions and are projected to see exponential growth in the coming years.
Sanctuary AI’s goal to create the world’s first human-like intelligence-powered general-purpose robots could be a game changer. Notably, the company already holds +51 US patents for its robotics breakthroughs. Additionally, the company vertically integrates its technology, meaning that every aspect of its design was built and is owned by the company directly.
Built for Industrial-grade Tasks
The Phoenix Robot is a durable machine that was created to handle the demands of modern industry. If Sanctuary AI achieves its goal, there will be millions of their devices undertaking the many jobs that are too dangerous, monotonous, physically demanding, or dirty for the average person to do.
Sanctuary AI is an Award-Winning Firm
Sanctuary AI has received several accolades for its continued innovation in the AI and robotics sectors. The company was recently listed as a global IP leader in humanoid robotics by PatentVest. Morgan Stanley also praised the company’s innovation and ranked it 3rd on its humanoid 100 list.
Strategic Partnerships
The strategic partnerships that Sanctuary AI secured since its launch are another reason to take a deeper look at the company. The firm has some high-level collaborations in the works. For example, Sanctuary inked a deal with computer giant Microsoft to further AI research. The deal would have Sanctuary AI systems utilizing Microsoft Azure cloud resources.
Funding and Investor data sourced from Tracxn
1. Pre-IPO Secondary Marketplace
Secondary markets are purpose-built exchanges that connect pre-IPO shareholders with potential investors. These marketplaces can offer these assets because they work closely with employees, early-stage investors, and venture capitalists, who are crucial to the company’s pre-IPO growth.
Investing in pre-IPO shares of Sanctuary AI could offer strong returns if the company’s valuation increases following its IPO. It’s common for company valuations to increase following an IPO. As such, it makes sense to add pre-IPO shares to your portfolio before the firm announces plans to go public.
Secondary marketplaces have many requirements. Here are some concerns you should be made aware of:
Eligibility: This approach requires you to be an accredited investor, meaning you will have to show at least $1M in liquid assets to qualify for access.
2. Private Equity Firms
Private equity firms gain access to pre-IPO shares during investment rounds. They then offer these shares to high-net-worth accredited investors with a commission. Notably, private equity firms are known to have extra stipulations, including blocking the sale of shares for years in some cases.
3. Employee Equity Sales
Many consider employee equity sales as the best way to acquire pre-IPO shares in Sanctuary AI. This method of acquiring pre-IPO shares requires you to connect with former employees. It’s common for companies to issue shares as part of an incentive package. Notably, this profit-sharing method has become more popular, leading to more pre-IPO share opportunities for investors.
Private Transactions: There are a lot of hoops you will need to jump through to complete a private pre-IPO transaction, including creating specific legal agreements, conducting valuations, and setting in place any limitations on the transfer of the asset.
Brokerage: Brokers will take a lot of the confusion out of the pre-IPO process. These professionals can guide you through each step, ensuring full compliance and avoiding common errors untrained professionals make.
There are several risks that you should consider before jumping into the pre-IPO shares investment arena. Here are the top concerns:
Liquidity Risk
If you are looking for an asset that you can sell right away, pre-IPO shares are not the best option.
These investments can include sales and transfer clauses that prevent the transfer of the asset until certain criteria, such as the IPO’s completion, are met. It’s even common for pre-IPO shares to require you to wait years before gaining the ability to sell your assets.
Finding a Broker
If you meet the requirements and are comfortable with the risks, several platforms offer access to pre-IPO opportunities:
Forge Global: One of the largest private stock marketplaces, offering shares in late-stage startups like SpaceX, Stripe, and Databricks. Minimums typically start around $100,000.
EquityZen: A popular platform allowing accredited investors to buy into private companies with minimums as low as $5,000. Past offerings include companies like Discord and UiPath.
Rainmaker Securities: A full-service broker that helps source and negotiate private share sales, including opportunities in companies like OpenAI, Stripe, and Palantir.
Hiive: A newer platform with live bid/ask pricing for hundreds of private companies. Transparent and low-fee, with minimums starting around $25,000.
MicroVentures: Offers pooled access to late-stage companies through special purpose vehicles (SPVs), including past investments in SpaceX and Instacart.
EquityBee: Allows investors to fund employee stock option exercises at startups, often at discounted valuations, with minimums around $10,000.
Augment: A digital-first marketplace showing real-time pricing for pre-IPO shares, targeting tech-savvy investors and offering lower transaction fees.
StartEngine Private: Launched in late 2023, this platform offers accredited investors access to Regulation D offerings in later-stage, venture-backed companies. In its first nine months, it generated $16.5 million in revenue, with average investments around $32,000
Important: Always perform thorough due diligence and consult a financial advisor before investing in private company shares.
Valuation of Sanctuary AI and Future IPO
Sanctuary AI hasn’t received an official valuation yet. However, it has an estimated value of $120M based on its investment capital. This value is impressive when you consider that the firm is only a few years old, employs under 200 workers, and is competing against hugely funded conglomerates.
Sanctuary has always had a practical approach towards the future of robotics. Those who invest in the company see its business model as the right way to position the company for future success. Their focus on general-purpose robotics sets it apart from competitors and could help it to secure future gains for its current shareholders.
Sanctuary AI Conclusion
Sanctuary AI offers investors the ability to tap into multiple fast-paced tech sectors. Today, it may seem hard to envision a fully autonomous robotics workforce. However, there’s a lot of data pointing towards this outcome. Consequently, Sanctuary AI is seen as providing an exciting opportunity to its shareholders.
Remember, there are several restrictions on pre-IPO shares that you should consider. For example, there are sales restrictions and other limiting factors. Also, you should consider the technical hurdles to developing advanced robotics systems and how new advancements can render planned technologies obsolete before they even launch. If you conduct your research, find that Sanctuary AI meets your risk appetite, and can qualify for Sanctuary AI shares, it could open the door for future gains as the benefits of autonomous robotics become undeniable.
Learn about Other Pre-IPO Opportunities Now
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial, legal, or investment advice. Pre-IPO shares are typically available only to accredited investors and carry significant risk. Always perform thorough due diligence and consult a financial advisor or legal expert before making investment decisions.
