Apptronik closes $350M funding from Google, others to scale AI-powered humanoid production

AI-powered humanoid robotics company Apptronik announced the successful closing of a $350 million Series A funding round co-led by B Capital and Capital Factory, with participation from Google.

Apptronik said the new funding marks a pivotal moment for the company, fueling the deployment of Apollo - its humanoid robot - while enabling the company to scale operations, accelerate innovation and grow its team to meet demand for next-generation, AI-powered humanoid robots.

Investment looks to grow humanoid development

"We’re creating the world’s most advanced and capable humanoid robots, designed to work alongside humans in meaningful and transformative ways,” said Jeff Cardenas, co-founder and CEO of Apptronik. “By uniting cutting-edge AI with hardware engineered for meaningful interaction, we're shaping a future where robots become true partners in driving progress. It’s inspiring to have investors who believe in this vision and are committed to helping us bring it to life.”

Apptronik said this investment allows the company to:

• Accelerate development of next-generation humanoid robots, including quickly advancing iterations of Apollo and exploring new form factors. New innovations will expand Apollo’s capabilities, enabling it to address a wide range of applications in industries like logistics and manufacturing, as well as eldercare and healthcare in the future.
• Push the boundaries of humanoid robot design and development. Apptronik said its full-stack approach to designing a humanoid robot platform underscores its commitment to innovation and the creation of human-centered robots that are not only highly functional but also user-friendly and approachable. Apptronik’s design includes a heritage of unique actuation, or motor, technology that unlocks affordability, simplifies maintenance and paves the way for mass production.
• Meet customer demand. Apptronik is scaling manufacturing of Apollo units to fulfill growing orders across priority verticals - including automotive, electronics manufacturing, 3PL providers, beverage bottling and fulfillment, and consumer packaged goods.

“We continue to be proud investors in Apptronik because we believe they’re not just building robots - they’re setting a new standard in human-centered AI,” said Gordon Daughtery, chairman of Capital Factory and the first outside board director of Apptronik. “Apollo’s refreshingly friendly and approachable design perfectly reflects the company's vision for humanoid robots that benefit businesses, individuals, and humanity. We believe Apptronik is leading the charge in a rapidly growing market."

This funding follows three years of record growth for Apptronik. In 2022, Apptronik joined forces with NASA to advance humanoid robotics innovation. Last year, the company collaborated with NVIDIA to show dexterous manipulation and will work with customers to leverage Apollo in Omniverse digital twins.

Apptronik also established a strategic partnership with the Google DeepMind robotics team to combine DeepMind’s AI with Apptronik’s humanoid robot platform. Furthermore, the company secured commercial agreements with Mercedes-Benz and GXO Logistics, demonstrating the real-world applications and market demand for its advanced humanoid robots.

Apptronik approaches 10-year anniversary

Founded in 2016 at the University of Texas at Austin’s Human Centered Robotics Lab, Apptronik has developed 15 robotic systems, including the NASA Valkyrie, before unveiling Apollo. The company said its humanoid is built for collaboration in logistics, manufacturing and retail, combining technical excellence with human-centered design. With expanded deployment planned for 2025, Apprtonik said Apollo is poised to transform workplaces worldwide.

Apptronik accomplished this with $28 million in previous funding. The company said this $350 million Series A funding round underscores the growing confidence in Apptronik’s execution and vision for the future of humanoid robotics.

“With Apptronik, we see a world in which humanoid robots play a vital role in addressing societal challenges - from assisting with disaster relief and elder care to supporting space exploration and medical advancements,” said Howard Morgan, chair and general partner of B Capital. “Industry leaders like Mercedes-Benz and GXO Logistics are already seeing the real-world impact of Apptronik's technology. “We back the most innovative founders, and there’s no exception here. Jeff and the team are redefining robotics while reshaping our world for the better.”