HaaS 100 (late September 2025)

Hardware-as-a-service (HaaS) is gaining momentum across a variety of industries. Many of the early adopters of HaaS are in robotics, offering robots-as-a-service (RaaS) to decrease barriers to entry and improve overall value to customers. Others offer machine-as-a-service (MaaS), device-as-a-service (DaaS), or equipment-as-a-service (EaaS).

Some companies pitch outcomes more than assets, offering data-as-a-service or platform-as-a-service models. From network-as-a-service to facades cleaning; managed service providers (MSPs) to managed security service providers (MSSPs); and autonomous construction equipment to diagnostic sensors and 3D printers, these companies are on the cutting-edge of their fields.

This post is part of a series about modern hardware companies, their business models, and the future of HaaS. For more, see posts from early and late June, early and late July, early and late August, and early September.

Anyware Robotics

• Founded date: 2023
• Location: Fremont, California
• Employees: ~25
• What they do: Robotic box handling in the warehouse, including container and trailer unloading and mobile (de)palletization
• Customers: Deployed commercially with several leading third-party logistics providers (3PLs)
• Website: anyware-robotics.com

Anyware Robotics builds AI-powered mobile robots designed to automate one of the most hazardous and labor-intensive tasks in logistics: unloading boxes from containers and trucks. Their flagship product, Pixmo, combines an autonomous mobile robot (AMR) base with a six-degree-of-freedom collaborative robot arm and a vacuum-powered end effector tailored for case handling across multiple applications. Pixmo is powered by proprietary embodied AI, fusing perception algorithms with learning-based motion planning to navigate shifting box layouts, varied carton sizes, and unpredictable warehouse conditions. A patent-pending conveyor add-on for unloading boosts throughput to up to 1,000 boxes per hour, making Pixmo one of the most efficient unloading solutions on the market.

Pixmo is available for commercial deployment via both direct purchase and Robots-as-a-Service (RaaS) models. The RaaS offering allows warehouses and 3PLs to deploy automation without upfront CapEx, instead opting for a subscription-based model that aligns with variable throughput needs. This model offers a low-friction path to scale, making automation more accessible and allowing customers to adapt to seasonal or peak demand without overcommitting capital.

“We designed Pixmo to solve a very real, very painful problem for logistics teams; and we knew we couldn’t ask them to take on more risk just to reduce it,” said Thomas Tang, CEO and co-founder of Anyware Robotics. “That’s why we’re offering a RaaS model from day one. It gives our customers the flexibility to scale up or down as their needs evolve, while letting our robots shoulder the hard labor.”

Intuitive

• Founded date: 1995
• Location: Sunnyvale, California
• Employees: ~11,200
• What they do: Robotic-assisted surgical systems for minimally invasive procedures
• Key customers: Mayo Clinic, Cleveland Clinic, Kaiser Permanente, Stanford Health Care, Johns Hopkins Hospital
• Website: intuitive.com/en-us

Intuitive develops robotic-assisted surgical systems designed to enhance minimally invasive procedures and optimize patient outcomes. The company’s da Vinci Surgical System is used in hospitals worldwide, offering precision, haptic feedback, and AI-powered assistance to surgeons performing complex procedures. The latest da Vinci 5 system incorporates Force Feedback technology, allowing surgeons to feel real-time tactile sensations while operating, reducing the force applied to tissue by up to 43%. Alongside its robotic systems, Intuitive provides Ion Robotic Bronchoscopy, an advanced platform for minimally invasive lung biopsies, helping doctors diagnose lung cancer earlier. The company’s Intuitive Hub also enables automated surgical video recording, data capture, and remote collaboration, improving training and case analysis for healthcare teams.

Intuitive's hybrid pricing model blends capital equipment sales with a growing “as-a-service” approach. While hospitals typically purchase da Vinci systems outright, the company generates recurring revenue through service contracts, instrument and accessory sales, and subscription-based software solutions. The Surgical Science platform, integrated into all da Vinci 5 systems, has transitioned to a fully subscription-based model, allowing hospitals to pay for AI-driven training and simulation software over time. Additionally, Intuitive offers long-term maintenance agreements, financing options, and per-procedure pricing structures, ensuring that hospitals can access the latest advancements in robotic-assisted surgery without requiring large, upfront investments.

Glacier

• Founded date: 2019
• Location: San Francisco, California
• Employees: ~70
• What they do: AI-powered robots for automated recycling sortation
• Partners: Amazon, Colgate-Palmolive, waste management facilities
• Website: endwaste.io

Glacier builds AI-powered robots that automate the sorting of recyclable materials in waste management facilities. Their system combines computer vision with a proprietary robotic arm to identify and pick over 30 different materials—including black plastics, thermoforms, PET, HDPE, aluminum, and aseptic containers—at speeds of up to 45 picks per minute. The robot’s AI vision system scans waste as it moves along conveyor belts, recognizing items with high accuracy and learning over time from a growing data set of images. With its compact design, Glacier’s robot is easy to install and requires minimal retrofitting, making it a practical option for facilities looking to enhance sorting precision, increase throughput, and divert more recyclable material from landfills.

Glacier’s robots are designed for rapid ROI, with payback possible in as little as one year. The company delivers both the hardware and AI software, with a subscription model that covers ongoing access to analytics, updates, and system support. The robots are easy to deploy, require minimal downtime, and come backed by strong customer service—making Glacier’s offering a hybrid HaaS or hybrid recurring sales model: the hardware is purchased or financed, while the intelligence layer is delivered as a service.

FarmWise

• Founded date: 2016
• Location: Santa Clara, California
• Employees: ~70
• What they do: AI-powered precision weeding for sustainable farming
• Key customers: Taylor Farms, Barkley Farms
• Website: farmwiselabs.com

FarmWise develops advanced AI-powered agricultural machinery to automate weeding and cultivation for specialty crop farmers. The company’s Vulcan precision weeding implement uses computer vision, machine learning, and high-speed actuators to accurately distinguish between crops and weeds, mechanically removing weeds without the need for herbicides. Built for durability and adaptability, Vulcan features brighter-than-the-sun lighting, high-frame-rate cameras, and real-time calibration, ensuring consistent performance across different field conditions, crop growth stages, and weed pressure levels. With over-the-air software updates, in-cab interface controls, and a modular component design, the company’s technology maximizes uptime and efficiency, offering farmers a scalable, high-precision alternative to labor-intensive manual weeding.

FarmWise offers flexible pricing options, including outright sales, lease-to-own programs, and financing plans to help farmers integrate its technology with minimal upfront costs. The company sells Vulcan as a tractor-pulled smart implement, allowing farmers to own the equipment while benefiting from ongoing software improvements and an annual service and support package for an additional recurring fee. This hybrid model—hardware sales combined with recurring subscription fees—ensures that farmers receive continuous updates and assistance to maximize performance.

Asimetrix

• Founded date: 2011
• Location: Durham, North Carolina
• Employees: ~25
• What they do: Livestock analytics through AI-powered sensors and environmental monitoring
• Key customers: Grupo Bios, Operadora Avícola
• Website: asimetrix.co

Asimetrix is a precision livestock technology company that helps producers optimize animal health, performance, and sustainability through smart data systems. Their platform integrates real-time sensor data from across the farm—tracking everything from feed levels to weight gain, CO2 and ammonia levels, and temperature fluctuations—and translates it into clear, actionable insights. Their solutions include hardware such as PigVision cameras, Insylo silo monitors, and Ambient Nodes, paired with machine learning models and intuitive dashboards that help identify issues, predict trends, and improve outcomes. With tools like “Mind the Gap,” a data consulting service that uses AI to uncover hidden inefficiencies, Asimetrix empowers smarter decision-making across protein production systems.

Asimetrix offers its technology as a hybrid hardware-as-a-service (HaaS) model. The company provides access to its integrated hardware-software systems through bundled service contracts, which typically include installation, data access, analytics, maintenance, and cloud-based dashboards. This approach ensures customers always benefit from the latest software improvements and sensor calibrations without managing the tech themselves. By removing upfront hardware costs and offering subscription-style pricing, Asimetrix makes smart farming accessible for producers of all sizes.