Apptronik Raises $350M to Push Humanoid Robots Forward

Humanoid robotics startup Apptronik has secured a massive $350 million Series A funding round as investors continue to pour money into companies building the next generation of intelligent robots.

The Austin-based company announced that the round was co-led by B Capital and Capital Factory, with participation from tech giant Google. Founded in 2016, Apptronik had previously raised about $28 million before this latest investment.

The new funding will primarily be used to advance development of Apollo, the company’s flagship humanoid robot designed for industrial environments. Apollo is built to work alongside human workers and handle tasks that require flexibility, mobility, and interaction in real-world settings.

Apptronik is already well connected in the robotics and AI ecosystem. The company has collaborated with organizations like NASA and Nvidia. Over the years, it has developed 15 robotic systems, including the humanoid robot Valkyrie for NASA.

According to co-founder and CEO Jeff Cardenas, the goal is to build machines that can genuinely collaborate with people rather than simply replace them.

“We’re creating the world’s most advanced and capable humanoid robots, designed to work alongside humans in meaningful and transformative ways,” Cardenas said when announcing the funding. He added that combining powerful artificial intelligence with carefully engineered hardware could help create a future where robots become real partners in driving progress across industries.

A surge of funding in robotics

Apptronik’s funding round is just the latest sign that investors are betting big on robotics and AI-powered machines.

In November, robotics startup Physical Intelligence raised $400 million at a $2 billion valuation. The round included backing from Jeff Bezos as well as investment firms Lux Capital and Thrive Capital, according to reporting by The New York Times. The startup focuses on building “brains” that can power many different types of robots.

Another major deal happened in July when Skild AI raised a $300 million Series A round. The Pittsburgh-based company is also working on AI models that can help robots perform a wide variety of tasks. The investment was led by firms such as Coatue, Lightspeed Venture Partners, and SoftBank Group, with Bezos participating through Bezos Expeditions. The round valued the startup at around $1.5 billion.

Meanwhile, humanoid robotics company Figure raised an even larger round roughly a year ago. The Sunnyvale, California-based startup secured $675 million in funding at a pre-money valuation close to $2 billion. Investors included Nvidia and Bezos’ Explore Investments, among others.

With billions flowing into the sector, humanoid robotics appears to be entering a new phase of rapid development. Companies like Apptronik are now racing to build machines that could eventually help solve labor shortages, take on dangerous jobs, and reshape how humans and robots work together.

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