Apptronik stated its Apollo humanoid is the end result of almost a decade of improvement. | Supply: Apptronik
Apptronik Inc. in the present day 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 almost $1 billion.
After its preliminary Sequence A announcement, totaling $415 million, inbound buyers continued to point out curiosity, stated Apptronik. In response, the corporate prolonged the spherical, which is now closing at 3 times the quantity of its unique valuation.
“As we speak’s funding is a powerful vote of confidence in our mission to ship humanoid robots which can be designed to work alongside people, not simply as instruments however as trusted collaborators,” acknowledged Jeff Cardenas, co-founder and CEO of Apptronik..
“With the backing of our longstanding buyers and strategic companions, we’re poised to unveil the most recent model of Apollo and maximize the affect of embodied AI throughout industries,” he added. “Collectively, we’re reworking workflows, reimagining manufacturing unit flooring, and writing a brand new chapter for next-generation humanoid robots which can be designed and constructed to drive significant societal progress.”
Apptronik stated Apollo relies on almost a decade of improvement 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 spend money on Apollo purposes
Apptronik stated it has designed its Apollo humanoid robots to collaborate with folks, initially in industries reminiscent of manufacturing and logistics, with potential purposes in healthcare and the house. Apollo is meant to tackle bodily demanding work reminiscent of 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 following era of humanoid robots, powered by Gemini Robotics.
With its newest capital, Apptronik stated it would ramp up manufacturing of Apollo and broaden its world community of business and pilot deployments. The corporate additionally claimed that the funding will speed up its time to market and allow it to spend money on initiatives to resolve the use circumstances of its giant variety of retail, manufacturing, and logistics clients.
As well as, Apptronik stated it plans to construct state-of-the-art services for robotic coaching and knowledge assortment. The corporate stated it expects end growing its newest robotic mannequin, which is about to debut on this yr.
The spherical included participation from present buyers, together with B Capital, Google, Mercedes-Benz, and PEAK6, and new buyers, 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 common companion of B Capital. “At this pivotal second, we’re proud to deepen our assist because the crew 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 much 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, business deployments are nonetheless sluggish. Agility Robotics leads the best way 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 extensively thought of to be the primary deployment of a humanoid at a business 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 business settings. The entire firm’s Atlas models are dedicated for 2026, transport to Hyundai Motor Group’s Robotics Metaplant Utility Middle (RMAC) and Google DeepMind, with extra clients deliberate for 2027.
Hyundai, Boston Dynamics’ father or mother 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 be aware: The Robotics Summit & Expo will function a keynote panel on humanoids, together with Pras Velagapudi, chief know-how officer at Agility Robotics; Alberto Rodriguez, director of Atlas humanoid conduct at Boston Dynamics; and Aaron Prather, director of robotics and autonomous programs packages at ASTM Worldwide.
The publish Apptronik brings in one other $520M to ramp up Apollo manufacturing appeared first on The Robotic Report.
