Apptronik, a Texas-based robotics company, announced on Thursday that it has raised $350 million in a funding round led by B Capital and Capital Factory, with participation from Alphabet’s Google. The funds will be used to scale the production of its AI-powered humanoid robots, specifically focusing on the company’s Apollo robot, designed for tasks such as moving packages and performing supply chain operations in warehouses and manufacturing plants.
As Apptronik advances its humanoid robots, it joins a competitive field alongside other industry players like Tesla and Nvidia-backed Figure AI. These companies are striving to make breakthroughs in human-like robots, spurred by advancements in artificial intelligence and robotics.
In an interview, Apptronik CEO and co-founder Jeff Cardenas emphasized the importance of the current moment for the robotics industry. Drawing a parallel with the growth of large language models in AI, he predicted that significant progress in robotics would take place in 2025, signaling a pivotal inflection point for the industry.
With the new investment, Apptronik plans to extend Apollo’s capabilities into new sectors, including elder care and healthcare. The company also announced that it has formed a partnership with Google DeepMind’s robotics team and secured commercial agreements with notable companies like Mercedes-Benz and GXO Logistics.
This funding round marks a key step in Apptronik’s mission to revolutionize automation across various industries with humanoid robots that can perform a wide range of tasks.
