Apptronik Secures $350M Funding for Humanoid Robots Amid Rising Industry Demand

# deepmind

Apptronik, a company born from the University of Texas, has been quietly crafting humanoid robots long before they became a trend. On Thursday, they announced a whopping $350 million Series A funding round, co-led by B Capital and Capital Factory, with Google joining in. Google's DeepMind division is teaming up with Apptronik to bring embodied AI to life in bipedal robots.

“2025 is all about showing what these robots can do in real applications with our early adopters and customers,” CEO Jeff Cardenas shared with TechCrunch. “We're aiming for full commercialization and scaling up in 2026 and beyond. That's exactly what this funding is meant to achieve.”

Before this round, the Austin-based startup had only raised $28 million. Cardenas proudly noted that Apptronik managed to earn more revenue than the funds raised over its eight-year history, mainly through pilot projects with companies like Mercedes and GXO Logistics, and by selling robots directly. However, with this significant funding, the focus on out-earning the funds raised will have to take a backseat for now.

Apptronik's journey with humanoids started back in 2013, even before the company was officially founded. That year, members of the University of Texas at Austin’s Human Centered Robotics Lab took part in the NASA-DARPA Robotics Challenge with a humanoid named Valkyrie. Since then, NASA has continued to collaborate with Apptronik as they developed their own line of humanoids, including the current model, Apollo.

Cardenas believes that their extensive experience in the field sets Apptronik apart from newer competitors like Figure, 1X, and Tesla. While Boston Dynamics and Agility Robotics also have long histories, Apptronik's decade-plus of work in humanoids gives them a seasoned edge.

Google DeepMind

This rich history might be why Google's DeepMind AI team has chosen to work with Apptronik on developing robot behavioral models. Their "strategic partnership" mirrors other industry collaborations, such as Boston Dynamics' recent tie-up with the Robotics and AI Institute, and their earlier deal with Toyota Research Institute to enhance robot learning capabilities.

These partnerships reflect a broader trend, with OpenAI also making multiple investments in the sector. OpenAI has backed both 1X and Figure, and last August, Figure announced plans to use OpenAI's models to develop natural speech for its 02 robot. However, last week, Figure revealed a shift in strategy, deciding to bring all AI development in-house.

“To truly solve embodied AI at scale in the real world, you need to vertically integrate robot AI,” Figure CEO Brett Adcock explained to TechCrunch. “Outsourcing AI isn't an option, just like outsourcing our hardware isn’t.”

While Apptronik might eventually follow suit, for now, partnering with Google DeepMind is a smarter move than the hefty investment required to develop their own AI models. “We believe Google is currently leading the pack, building some of the world's best models,” Cardenas stated.

Putting Robots to Work

The focus of Apptronik's Series A round is all about scaling and production. With a current team of just over 170, they plan to grow by 50% in the next year. Yet, Cardenas remains realistic about timelines in an industry prone to overpromising and underdelivering. He told TechCrunch that Apptronik hasn't moved beyond the pilot stage with any partners yet. Despite the buzz around humanoids, it's crucial for companies to approach the category cautiously, addressing safety and reliability before scaling up.

Currently, Apptronik is running several pilots, including one with Mercedes, which is a natural fit. Automotive manufacturing is a prime use case for these pilots, involving tasks like moving totes on factory floors. Boston Dynamics is doing similar work with Hyundai, Figure with BMW, and Tesla's Optimus is set to assist in their own EV production.

Bringing it All Back Home

Like its competitors, Apptronik is exploring ways to use Apollo beyond factories and warehouses. Imagine a future where these robots help at home with tasks like carrying groceries, cooking, or folding laundry. Cardenas is particularly excited about the potential in age tech, as an aging population increasingly prefers to live independently. Humanoids could play a vital role in supporting this demographic.

“The ultimate goal for me is age tech,” Cardenas said. “As humans, where can we apply this technology to improve the human condition?”

However, that ultimate goal will have to wait. For now, Apptronik, like most humanoid manufacturers, is concentrating on industrial applications. Factories and warehouses are ideal starting points, as they have the resources needed for pilots. As manufacturing scales, the cost of these systems will decrease, but currently, they're too pricey for home or care facilities. Apollo's target price is under $50,000, according to Cardenas, but they're not there yet.

“We’re at a point where the economics make sense,” Cardenas concluded. “And we know how to make these systems much more affordable in the future.”

Related article

Comments (20)