Apptronik stated its Apollo humanoid is the fruits of almost a decade of growth. | Supply: Apptronik
Apptronik Inc. at this time stated it has raised a $520 million Sequence A-X funding spherical. This brings the Austin, Texas-based humanoid robotic developer’s complete Sequence A to greater than $935 million and its complete capital raised to just about $1 billion.
After its preliminary Sequence A announcement, totaling $415 million, inbound traders continued to indicate curiosity, stated Apptronik. In response, the firm prolonged the spherical, which is now closing at thrice the quantity of its authentic valuation.
“In the present day’s funding is a robust vote of confidence in our mission to ship humanoid robots which are designed to work alongside people, not simply as instruments however as trusted collaborators,” said Jeff Cardenas, co-founder and CEO of Apptronik..
“With the backing of our longstanding traders and strategic companions, we’re poised to unveil the latest model of Apollo and maximize the affect of embodied AI throughout industries,” he added. “Collectively, we’re remodeling workflows, reimagining manufacturing facility flooring, and writing a brand new chapter for next-generation humanoid robots which are designed and constructed to drive significant societal progress.”
Apptronik stated Apollo is predicated on almost a decade of growth on 15 earlier robots, together with NASA’s Valkyrie. The corporate began out of the Human Centered Robotics Lab on the College of Texas at Austin and has almost 300 staff.
Apptronik plans to put money into Apollo functions
Apptronik stated it has designed its Apollo humanoid robots to collaborate with folks, initially in industries resembling manufacturing and logistics, with potential functions in healthcare and the dwelling. Apollo is meant to tackle bodily demanding work resembling transporting elements, sorting, and kitting.
Apptronik has inked partnerships with Mercedes-Benz, GXO Logistics, and Jabil. The corporate additionally has a strategic partnership with Google DeepMind to construct the subsequent era of humanoid robots, powered by Gemini Robotics.
With its newest capital, Apptronik stated it’ll ramp up manufacturing of Apollo and broaden its international community of economic and pilot deployments. The corporate additionally claimed that the funding will speed up its time to market and allow it to put money into tasks to resolve the use instances of its giant variety of retail, manufacturing, and logistics prospects.
As well as, Apptronik stated it plans to construct state-of-the-art amenities for robotic coaching and information assortment. The corporate stated it expects end growing its newest robotic mannequin, which is ready to debut on this yr.
The spherical included participation from present traders, together with B Capital, Google, Mercedes-Benz, and PEAK6, and new traders, together with AT&T Ventures, John Deere, and Qatar Funding Authority (QIA).
“Apptronik is setting the usual in embodied AI at scale,” stated Howard Morgan, chair and basic accomplice of B Capital. “At this pivotal second, we’re proud to deepen our help because the workforce accelerates manufacturing and real-world deployment of AI-powered collaborators designed to work alongside folks and reshape manufacturing, logistics, and different mission-critical industries.”
Humanoid funding is booming
From left to proper: Unitree’s humanoid, Boston Dynamics’ Atlas, Determine AI’s 02, Apptronik’s Apollo, and Tesla’s Optimus robotic. | Supply: Unitree, Boston Dynamics, Determine, Apptronik, and Tesla
Apptronik is way from the one humanoid firm elevating giant funding rounds. Final yr, Agility Robotics introduced in $400 million, Determine AI raised $1 billion in its Sequence C spherical, Leju Robotics raised $200 million, and Neura Robotics raised $123 million. Already this yr, LimX Dynamics has raised $200 million.
Whereas investor curiosity is excessive for humanoids, industrial deployments are nonetheless gradual. Agility Robotics leads the way in which in rollouts. Final yr, it deployed its Digit humanoid with Mercado Libre, a number one commerce and fintech ecosystem in Latin America, in a facility in San Antonio, Texas.
Digit was first deployed with GXO in June 2024. That is broadly thought-about to be the primary deployment of a humanoid at a industrial buyer website. Determine has additionally deployed its robots with a paying buyer since December 2024.
As well as, Boston Dynamics, one other long-time humanoid developer, is getting nearer to deploying its Atlas humanoid in industrial settings. The entire firm’s Atlas models are dedicated for 2026, transport to Hyundai Motor Group’s Robotics Metaplant Software Middle (RMAC) and Google DeepMind, with further prospects deliberate for 2027.
Hyundai, Boston Dynamics’ mother or father firm, goals to fabricate as much as 30,000 humanoids yearly by 2028. It stated Atlas will probably be performing high-precision sequencing at scale in 2028 and complicated meeting duties slated for 2030.
Editor’s observe: The Robotics Summit & Expo will function a keynote panel on humanoids, together with Pras Velagapudi, chief expertise officer at Agility Robotics; Alberto Rodriguez, director of Atlas humanoid conduct at Boston Dynamics; and Aaron Prather, director of robotics and autonomous methods packages at ASTM Worldwide.
