Prime Highlights:
- Apptronik secures $520 million at a $5 billion valuation to expand operations, scale production, and compete with Tesla and other global humanoid makers.
- Apollo robots are being tested in real-world factory and warehouse settings, with plans to work safely alongside humans in everyday tasks like lifting, transporting, and sorting.
Key Facts:
- The company plans to hire 200 more employees over the next year to meet growing demand.
- Apptronik has partnered with Google DeepMind and other strategic partners to refine Apollo’s capabilities and improve operational performance.
Background:
Humanoid robotics startup Apptronik has raised $520 million in funding at a $5 billion valuation, as the company moves to commercialize its Apollo robots and compete with global players including Tesla and Chinese developers. The funding, announced Wednesday, brings Apptronik’s Series A total to $935 million, co-led by B Capital and Google.
Based in Austin, Texas, the company plans to use the fresh capital to expand its operations locally, open a new office in California, and scale production of its humanoid robots. CEO Jeff Cardenas said the company is focused on refining Apollo’s capabilities and preparing the systems for mass production, though he declined to provide a timeline for full-scale deployment.
Early versions of Apollo robots are already being tested in designated areas at partner sites, including Mercedes-Benz, GXO Logistics, and Jabil. These areas use external sensors and safety “light curtains” to ensure that robots pause when humans enter their space. In the future, Apptronik plans to make Apollo robots safe to work alongside people, doing tasks like lifting, moving, and sorting items.
The company competes with Unitree, Figure, Agility Robotics, 1X, and Tesla’s Optimus. While Tesla’s robots are still in early stages, Apptronik is testing Apollo in real-world settings to make it more capable and reliable.
Apptronik has also partnered with Google DeepMind to improve how Apollo learns and operates. Apptronik, which started in 2016 at the University of Texas’s Human Centered Robotics Lab, now employs 300 people and is ranked 33rd.
Investor Howard Morgan, chairman of B Capital, expects $1 billion in orders by 2027, estimating each Apollo humanoid could cost around $80,000 per year. He plans to hire 200 more workers to meet growing demand.
