Gura Corporation

The Gura Corporation, stylized as GURACORP®, and commonly just GURA, is a Caphirian-based global advanced robotics and engineering company. Founded in 1976 by world-renowned robotics engineer Paulo Gura, the company develops robotic systems and applications in the industrial, agriculture, transportation, defense, and medical industries. Since 2018, it has been a subsidiary of Silver Lineworks - itself a subsidiary of Quicksilver Industries under its 'QS Innovations' division.

GURA is known for designing, engineering, and manufacturing tactical robot systems for law enforcement and military personnel under its MPDU product line (Multi-Purpose Deployment Unit), as well as products and services for task automation in the industrial processing of metallic and non-metallic materials for various industries including automotive, energy, aerospace, rail vehicles, and agricultural machinery. The company also develops a line of dynamic highly-mobile robots used in various applications. Over 5,000 of the company's robot systems have been deployed or are under contract.

The Gura Corporation is the largest subsidiary of Silver Lineworks with over 8,000 employees across four divisions - GURA-HARDWARE®, GURA-SOFTWARE®, GURA-TECH®, and GURA-LABS®. Each division works under a "separate but together" philosophy - operating semi-autonomosly under its own management and focusing on specific areas of the business, but working closely with the other divisions to ensure overall alignment and cohesion. Upon the company's acquisition by Silver Lineworks in 2018, founder Paulo Gura stepped down as Chief Executive and took the title of Chief Technology Officer. He has since created and runs his own autonomous research laboratory called Gura Advanced Design Solutions (GADS). While the projects it works on are secretive, it focuses on artificial intelligence, computational neuroscience, and biotechnology.

1976-2000
The company was founded on March 22, 1976, by Pauló Mesik Gurá. Inspired by the ability of animals to move with agility, dexterity, perception, and intelligence, Gurá set out to design and produce intricate animatronics for commercial use. After only 3 years, however, the company's burn rate was over $110,000 a month. With about 18 months of cash remaining, the company pivoted to producing low-cost domestic and municipal lighting and household appliances. By 1985, the company had doubled its workforce and made innovations in developing spot welding equipment and laser-roof-seam welding systems. These welding systems were then further expanded to adhesive bonding and sealing technologies the following year. In 1990, the company began creating robotic toys, such as a robotic eagle and a programmable Kikpari. These toys proved to be a massive financial success, and it allowed the company to hire Olfražetro Andonapaci as its CFO. Andonapaci was integral in landing the company its series A funding, raising $175 million in 1993.

In 1995, the company released its first automated product - BRACHI. The original BRACHI (BRACHI I) was a 4-axis robotic arm designed to achieve human-like dexterity and work safely around people. It has a wide range of motion, backdrivable actuators, and a hand that can grasp almost anything. Today, the BRACHI VIII system is highly configurable and available in 3, 5, 7, 9, and 12-axis systems and features custom high-performance servo-electronics that are the lightest in the world - at 35 grams. The BRACHI system has utilized interchangeable components since BRACHI II, making it versatile in specialized industries. Today, the company maintains exclusive licenses with many of the top medical, scientific, and industrial corporations in the world.

To meet the demand for its products, the company began to develop internal tools, software, and robotic modules that could assemble small goods, such as household appliances, tools, and electronics. The modules could be plugged together to create a small assembly line, and the robots could be programmed through the company's software to follow instructions.

2000-2012
Over the next decade, the Gura Corporation continued to grow and expand its product offerings, becoming a leader in the robotics and engineering industries. In 2002, GURA released the first iteration of its MPDU product line for law enforcement and military personnel, revolutionizing tactical operations and providing advanced robotics technology for dangerous and complex missions. In 2005, GURA developed the world's first self-driving mining truck, providing increased efficiency and safety for heavy industrial operations. In 2006, GURA's BRACHI system was used to assist with disaster relief efforts in the aftermath of the massive earthquake in Meceria. The system's dexterity and mobility made it the ideal tool for rescue and recovery operations in the unstable rubble of damaged buildings.

In 2008, GURA partnered with the Royal Moorden Hospital, one of the world's leading medical institutions to develop cutting-edge surgical robots, providing precise and minimally invasive surgeries for patients. The company's surgical robots became the gold standard in medical robotics, and over the next decade, GURA's robots were used in over a million surgeries worldwide.

In 2010, GURA created the first fully automated assembly line for the production of consumer electronics, providing increased efficiency and reducing human error in the production process. The assembly line was adopted by many leading electronics companies, most notably Petalstone Electronics, leading to significant improvements in their manufacturing processes. Petalstone attempted to outright buy the company and upon failing that, tried to settle for a majority stake. After several years of negotations, Gura accepted a small investment from Petalstone in exchange for a minority controlling interest in the company.

2012-2020
In March 2012, the company had a private valuation at $3.6 billion and underwent a signifigant restructuring proccess: all of the consumer hardware teams would merge under the GURA-HARDWARE division, as well as the company's "micro-factories" that build its products; a GURA-SOFTWARE division would be created to develop software tools to improving efficiencies in the manufacturing process, as well as maintaining its open control architecture across its hardware products and even provides source code for customers who wish to develop software for different platforms, or to modify the code for their own use cases. A third division, GURA-TECH was formed to offers standard and customized products for industrial production automation; joining technologies and component handling are amongst their activity. The technologies are tested and the production processes are fully optimized prior to the development. In addition, GURA-TECH offers engineering consultations to individuals and corporations. In 2014, GURA's BRACHI system was used in the restoration and preservation of ancient ruins and artifacts in Zaclaria, providing precise and delicate handling for sensitive historical objects.

By 2016, GURA was awarded the prestigious "Robotics Company of the Year" award for the 4th time at the International Robotics Conference for its contributions to the field of robotics and its impact on various industries. At the IRC, executives from Quicksilver Industries were present and were impressed with the cutting-edge technology and the market dominance of Gura in the tactical robotics sector. They saw the potential for significant growth and expansion through a strategic partnership with Gura, as they planned to restructure their robotics division and rebuild it with Gura at the center.

Paulo Gura, being the visionary and perfectionist that he is, was initially resistant to the idea. He was fiercely protective of his company and its legacy, and did not want to see it being absorbed by another corporation. An initial meeting was set up between the two companies to discuss potential collaboration and business opportunities. During the meeting, Silver Lineworks presented their vision for the future of robotics and how the Gura Corporation could play a significant role in shaping that future. Despite seeming interested during the meeting, Gura ultimately rejected any sort of acquisition or merger, but welcomed specific contracts.

After months of negotations, Silver Lineworks entered into a strategic partnership with the Gura Corporation, which allowed them to acquire a sizeable but minority stake in the company. The partnership was aimed at leveraging the synergies between the two companies and providing additional resources to drive growth and innovation. This partnership allowed Gura to further develop its line of dynamic highly-mobile robots, offering innovative solutions for various industries including transportation, agriculture, and defense. It also allowed the company the ability to focus on other projects.

Under the guidance of Silver Lineworks, the Gura Corporation's GURA-TECH division was able to redirect its focus to developing cutting-edge technology solutions for the Internet of Things (IoT) and Industry 4.0. The division leveraged its expertise in automation and engineering to create sophisticated automation systems that could monitor, analyze, and control industrial equipment, processes, and networks. The GURA-TECH division became known for its innovative Industry 4.0 solutions that were utilized in various industries, including manufacturing, energy, and healthcare.

On the other hand, the GURA-SOFTWARE division had the opportunity to expand its capabilities in software development, focusing on creating powerful and intuitive user interfaces for robotic systems. The division utilized its knowledge in robotics, artificial intelligence, and data analytics to design and develop software solutions that provided real-time insights and control over the performance of the company's robotic systems. Additionally, the GURA-SOFTWARE division began developing custom software solutions for various industries, including transportation, aerospace, and agriculture, to meet the demands of the modern, technology-driven world.

Acquisition by Silver Lineworks
By the end of 2019, the Gura Corporation was given the "Robotics Company of the Decade" award from the IRC and was valued at aproximately $10 billion. Silver Lineworks once more approached Gura to reasses their partnership. The company wanted to form a joint venture with Gura, aimed at expanding their operations globally and ultimately lead to a full acquisition. Much like last time, Gura was largely uncooperative in the business dealings.

After months of negotiations and five failed proposals, Silver Lineworks presented Paulo Gura with a sixth and final proposal: it would would allow him to retain creative control over the Gura Corporation while giving him access to the resources and expertise of Silver Lineworks (and by extension, Quicksilver Industries). The deal was structured as an asset purchase, with Gura Corporation becoming a subsidiary of Silver Lineworks, but with Gura staying on as the Chief Innovations Officer. The deal would also give Gura his own research laboratory called Gura Advanced Design Solutions.

Gura was intrigued by the prospect of having access to a massive pool of resources and cutting-edge technologies, but was wary of losing control over the company he had built from the ground up. In the end, he agreed to the asset purchase on the condition that the Gura Corporation would maintain its operational autonomy within the Silver Lineworks umbrella and that GADS would be given full autonomy to pursue its research without any interference from Silver Lineworks. Gura's agreement to the asset purchase came as a surprise to many, as he was known for being fiercely independent and protective of his company. But the prospect of having the resources and expertise of Silver Lineworks at his disposal was too enticing to pass up, and he saw it as an opportunity to take the Gura Corporation to the next level. The deal was finalized in mid-2018 and the purchase completed in 2019.

Today, the Gura Corporation is the largest subsidiary of Silver Lineworks, with over 5,000 employees across four divisions. Under Gura's leadership, Gura Corporation continued to innovate and push the boundaries of robotics and engineering, solidifying its position as a leader in the industry.

Corporate structure
The Gura Corporation operates under a highly structured corporate model, with four distinct divisions - GURA-HARDWARE, GURA-SOFTWARE, GURA-TECH, and GURA-LABS. Each division operates under its own management and focuses on specific areas of the business, but works closely with the other divisions to ensure alignment and synergy throughout the company.

GURA-HARDWARE is responsible for the design, engineering, and manufacturing of the company's robotic systems, including the MPDU product line and mobile robots. This division is responsible for ensuring the quality and performance of the company's products, and works closely with the GURA-SOFTWARE and GURA-TECH divisions to ensure that the hardware and software components of the systems are fully integrated and optimized.

GURA-SOFTWARE is responsible for the development of software tools and applications that support the company's hardware products. This division focuses on improving the efficiency and reliability of the manufacturing process, as well as providing customers with the software they need to modify or develop new applications for their own use cases. The GURA-SOFTWARE division works closely with the GURA-HARDWARE and GURA-TECH divisions to ensure that the software components of the systems are fully integrated with the hardware and are optimized for performance.

GURA-TECH is responsible for the development of standard and customized products for industrial production automation. This division works closely with the GURA-HARDWARE and GURA-SOFTWARE divisions to develop and integrate new technologies and processes into the company's product offerings. The GURA-TECH division also provides engineering consultations to individuals and corporations, helping them to optimize their production processes and find the most efficient and effective solutions for their needs.

GURA-LABS is a research laboratory division that focuses on artificial intelligence, computational neuroscience, and biotechnology, and works on a wide range of projects to advance the field and drive innovation within the company. The GURA-LABS division operates under its own management, and its projects are highly secretive. However, its research often drives new products and applications for the company, and provides a platform for the company to stay ahead of its competitors in terms of technological advancements.

Leadership
Paulo Gurá, who founded the company in 1976 and remains a key figure in the company's success, currently holds the title of Chief Technology Officer and Chairman of the Board of Directors, and is responsible for setting the company's technical direction and overseeing the research and development of its products. Under his leadership, Gura has grown into a leading robotics and engineering company, with a strong presence in the industrial, agriculture, transportation, defense, and medical industries.

The current Chief Executive of the Gura Corporation is Olfražetro Andonapaci, who also served as CFO from 1990 to 2020. Andonapaci is credited with securing the company's Series A funding in 1993, which helped the company expand into new markets and develop innovative products. Today, he is responsible for the company's financial strategy and ensuring that the company has the resources it needs to achieve its goals.

The Vice Executive is Amir Ali, who has extensive experience in the field of software engineering and artificial intelligence. He is responsible for overseeing the software division of the company, GURA-SOFTWARE, and ensuring the development of innovative solutions for the various industries that Gura serves.