PaintJet
Series ARaised Since FeaturedIndustrial painting with the push of a button
Robotics company automating large-scale industrial painting for warehouses, marine vessels, and wind turbines.
About
PaintJet combines advanced robotics with material sciences to automate industrial painting at scale. Founded by Nick Hegeman, Dr. Sonia Chacko, and Steve Wasilowski, the company deploys its Bravo robot — which paints 14x faster than humans — to tackle labor shortages in the $2 trillion U.S. construction sector. Rather than selling robots, PaintJet operates as a full-service provider: the Bravo system attaches to standard lifts, uses cameras and AI to scan surfaces, determines optimal paint coverage via predictive analytics imaging, and applies paint with 25% less waste than manual methods. The company also developed Alpha Shield, a proprietary paint that lasts twice as long as conventional coatings and reduces air conditioning costs by an average of 9%. PaintJet has completed projects for clients including Clayton Homes, Paddywax, and Brinkman Construction. The company raised a $10M Series A in December 2023 led by Outsiders Fund, bringing total funding to $14.75M.
DailyDropout Take
PaintJet is tackling the massive labor shortage in construction with robots that paint 14x faster than humans while using 25% less paint. Their full-service model and proprietary Alpha Shield paint create a defensible moat in the $2T construction industry.
Discovery signal: Innovative robotics + materials science combination addressing acute labor shortage in $2T industry, strong early traction with major construction clients
What Makes Them Unique
Full-service model (not just selling robots) combined with proprietary Alpha Shield paint that lasts 2x longer and insulates buildings, creating a recurring revenue stream tied to maintenance cycles.
14x faster than humans
Painting Speed
25% less paint used
Paint Savings
$14.75M
Total Funding
9% avg with Alpha Shield
AC Cost Reduction
Target Markets
Founders
Nick Hegeman
Co-Founder & CEO
Former CertaPro Painters franchise owner. Drew inspiration from running a painting franchise in greater Nashville to found PaintJet and bring robotics to industrial painting.
Dr. Sonia Chacko
Co-Founder & VP of Technology
Lead roboticist at PaintJet with a PhD in robotics. Oversees the development of the Bravo robot and predictive imaging technology.
Steve Wasilowski
Co-Founder & VP of National Accounts
Former Architect and Design Manager at PPG Industries and Regional Production Manager at CertaPro Painters. Brings over 15 years of commercial painting experience.
Funding History
Lead: Outsiders Fund