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Humanoid raises $152M Series A for industrial robot fleet

The Robot Report2h ago
Humanoid raises $152M Series A for industrial robot fleet

Key takeaway

Humanoid, a London-based AI and robotics company, secured $152 million(約240億円) in Series A funding at a $1.35 billion(約2200億円) valuation to commercialize industrial humanoid robots. The company offers early access to the HMND 01 Alpha Wheeled robot and plans to begin Beta deployments in Q4 2026, with backing from major industrial partners Schaeffler and Robert Bosch Robotics.

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3 Key Points

  • What happened

    UK-based Humanoid announced a $152 million(約240億円) Series A at a $1.35 billion(約2200億円) post-money valuation, bringing total funding to $270 million(約430億円). The company is offering early access to the HMND 01 Alpha Wheeled robot, a bimanual mobile manipulator that runs on KinetIQ, an AI framework for orchestrating humanoid robot fleets. Humanoid plans to begin rolling out Beta version robots in Q4 2026.

  • Why it matters

    Humanoid claims this is the largest Series A for a Europe-based humanoid robotics company. The company has partnered with major industrial partners including Schaeffler AG (as strategic investor and commercial partner) and Robert Bosch Robotics GmbH (as contract manufacturing and technical partner), signaling confidence that humanoid robots are moving from research prototypes toward real industrial deployments in logistics, manufacturing, and retail.

  • What to watch

    Humanoid is developing a bipedal version of the robot alongside its wheeled model, and plans to focus funding on next-generation platform development, mass production of wheel-based robots, and AI software including its proprietary KinetIQ brain. The company was founded as SKL Robotics Ltd. in 2024.

In Depth

Humanoid, based in London, announced a $152 million(約240億円) Series A financing round at a post-money valuation of $1.35 billion(約2200億円), bringing its total funding to date to $270 million(約430億円). The company was founded as SKL Robotics Ltd. in 2024 and is developing industrial humanoid robots for deployment in logistics, manufacturing, retail, and related sectors.

The company is currently offering early access to the HMND 01 Alpha Wheeled version, described as a bimanual mobile manipulator. The robot operates using KinetIQ, Humanoid's proprietary AI framework designed for end-to-end orchestration of humanoid robot fleets. An extension called KinetIQ Ascend adds the ability for the system to learn from trial and error. Humanoid is also developing a bipedal version of the robot.

Artem Sokolov, founder and CEO of Humanoid, emphasized the company's rapid trajectory: "In just two years, we've partnered with some of the world's leading industrial companies and built one of the strongest pipelines in the industry. What we've accomplished in such a short time would typically take a decade." The company plans to deploy Beta version robots at customer facilities beginning in Q4 2026, and to launch mass production of wheel-based semi-humanoid robots using the newly raised capital.

Two major industrial firms are backing Humanoid both financially and operationally. Schaeffler AG, a leading motion technology company, is serving as both a strategic investor and commercial partner. Klaus Rosenfeld, CEO of Schaeffler, stated: "By combining our decades of industrial expertise and manufacturing excellence with Humanoid's breakthrough physical AI platform, we are actively backing one of the most exciting frontiers in technology." Robert Bosch Robotics GmbH, the robotics subsidiary of Robert Bosch GmbH, has entered into a manufacturing partnership with Humanoid and will serve as its contract manufacturing partner while also providing strategic consulting and technical expertise in hardware design, production, and supply chain. Mathias Pillin, CTO of Robert Bosch GmbH, noted: "We see significant growth opportunities in the field of humanoid robotics."

Humanoid's $152 million(約240億円) Series A is the largest Series A round for a Europe-based humanoid robotics company, according to the company. The humanoid robotics funding environment has expanded significantly over the past year. NEURA Robotics GmbH, based in Metzingen, Germany, recently opened its Series C round with a target of $1.4 billion(約2200億円). Across the broader robotics landscape, capital is increasingly flowing to both hardware companies in Series A and Series B rounds and to foundation-model developers like Physical Intelligence and Skild AI that supply the underlying AI "brains" for humanoid systems.

Context & Analysis

Humanoid's $152 million(約240億円) Series A represents a significant milestone in the commercialization of industrial humanoid robots in Europe. Founded as SKL Robotics Ltd. in 2024, the company has moved from concept to industrial partnerships in just two years, a timeline the founder noted would typically take a decade. The backing of established industrial powerhouses—Schaeffler and Robert Bosch Robotics—signals that hardware manufacturers and motion technology leaders view humanoid robots as a near-term commercial opportunity rather than a distant research goal.

The broader robotics funding landscape shows a clear shift in capital allocation. While companies are still raising large amounts in early-stage rounds (Humanoid's Series A is claimed as the largest for a Europe-based humanoid robotics firm), the table of recent funding shows that Series A and Series B rounds are capturing the most capital, reflecting the technology's transition from R&D to pilot deployments. Concurrently, foundation models and general-purpose physical AI—the "brains" that power these robots—are attracting significant investment from firms like Physical Intelligence and Skild AI, creating an ecosystem where hardware makers and AI specialists are increasingly specializing.

FAQ

When will Humanoid's robots be available for commercial use?
The company plans to begin roll-out of Beta version robots in Q4 2026 at customer facilities across logistics, manufacturing, retail, and other sectors.
What is KinetIQ and how does it work?
KinetIQ is Humanoid's AI framework for end-to-end orchestration of humanoid robot fleets. KinetIQ Ascend extends this capability with the ability to learn from trial and error.
Who are Humanoid's commercial partners?
Schaeffler AG is a strategic investor and commercial partner combining its industrial expertise with Humanoid's AI platform. Robert Bosch Robotics GmbH serves as the contract manufacturing partner and provides technical expertise in hardware design, production, and supply chain.

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