AI robotics startups have pulled in $32.34B across 592 tracked deals since 2024, making physical AI one of the fastest-growing segments in venture capital. Our analysis of 521 unique physical ai companies reveals a sector splitting into distinct lanes: humanoid robots commanding billion-dollar valuations, industrial automation absorbing the majority of deal volume, and defense-tech robotics emerging as a new capital magnet. The median deal sits at $13.7M, but the top end is stretching fast. Four companies have raised $1B or more in a single round.
On this page
- The $32.34B Physical AI Surge: Why Robotics Funding Is Accelerating
- Top 25 AI Robotics Startups by Funding Raised
- Humanoid Robotics: The Race to Build General-Purpose Robots
- Industrial & Warehouse Automation: Where the Majority of Robotics Capital Goes
- Autonomous Vehicles & Defense: Robotics Beyond the Factory Floor
- Who's Funding AI Robotics: Top Investors in Physical AI
- FAQ: AI Robotics Startups
- Methodology: How We Track AI Robotics Funding
The $32.34B Physical AI Surge: Why Robotics Funding Is Accelerating
The numbers are stark. Bot Memo’s dataset tracks $32.34B in robotics funding across 592 deals from 2024 through early 2026. The average deal size of $54.6M signals that this is not a seed-stage experiment. Institutional capital is flowing into physical ai companies with hardware in the field.
NVIDIA’s release of open physical AI foundation models including Isaac GR00T N1 gave ai robotics startups a shared infrastructure layer for the first time. Those models, trained on internet-scale data, are now being adapted to control real-world machines, the convergence of AI and physical systems that the broader industry has been chasing for a decade.
The global robotics technology market is projected to reach $124.37B in 2026, expanding at a 14.40% CAGR through 2035. The robotics market size is already substantial, and venture funding is growing faster than the broader market, a sign of a structural shift in where venture capital is allocating, not incremental improvement.
The United States dominates deal flow, with San Francisco as the top city. China follows, with Beijing-based robot companies pulling in some of the largest rounds. The geographic concentration mirrors what we see across AI startups by industry vertical: capital clusters where talent and supply chains already exist.
Top 25 AI Robotics Startups by Funding Raised
These are the 25 best-funded AI robotics startups tracked in Bot Memo’s database, ranked by their largest disclosed round from 2024 through early 2026. The list spans humanoid robots, industrial robots, autonomous mobile robots, and robotic systems built for real-world deployment.
| Rank | Company | Funding | Stage | Location | Focus |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Metropolis Technologies | $1.6B | Series D + Debt | Los Angeles | AI-powered parking & mobility |
| 2 | Skild AI | $1.4B | Series C | Pittsburgh | Robotics foundation model |
| 3 | Wayve | $1.2B | Series D | London | Autonomous driving software |
| 4 | Figure | $1B | Series C | San Jose | Humanoid robots |
| 5 | Stoke Space Technologies | $860M | Series D | Kent | Reusable rocket systems |
| 6 | Neolix | $600M | Series D | Beijing | Autonomous delivery vehicles |
| 7 | Applied Intuition | $600M | Series F | Mountain View | AV simulation software |
| 8 | Saronic | $600M | Series C | Austin | Autonomous maritime defense |
| 9 | Apptronik | $520M | Series A Ext. | Austin | Humanoid robots |
| 10 | FieldAI | $405M | Venture | Irvine | Industrial robotic AI platform |
| 11 | Physical Intelligence | $400M | Series A | San Francisco | Universal robot brain |
| 12 | Lila Sciences | $350M | Series A | Cambridge | AI-driven autonomous labs |
| 13 | BETA Technologies | $318M | Series C | South Burlington | Electric VTOL aircraft |
| 14 | Galbot | $300M | Growth | Beijing | Humanoid robots |
| 15 | Periodic Labs | $300M | Seed | San Francisco | AI-driven autonomous scientific discovery |
| 16 | Impulse Space | $300M | Series C | Redondo Beach | In-space mobility |
| 17 | Archer | $300M | Equity Raise | Santa Clara | Hybrid electric VTOL |
| 18 | Divergent Technologies | $290M | Series E | Torrance | AI manufacturing platform |
| 19 | Bedrock Robotics | $270M | Series B | San Francisco | Autonomous construction |
| 20 | Hadrian | $260M | Series C | Torrance | Automated aerospace manufacturing |
| 21 | True Anomaly | $260M | Series C | Denver | Space defense & autonomous satellites |
| 22 | Epirus | $250M | Series D | Torrance | Directed energy defense systems |
| 23 | Shield AI | $240M | Series F-1 | San Diego | Autonomous aerospace defense |
| 24 | Forterra | $238M | Series C | Clarksburg | Autonomous military vehicles |
| 25 | Mujin | $233M | Series D | Tokyo | Industrial robot controllers |
Source: Bot Memo analysis of 592 robotics deals (2024-2026)
Fifteen of the 25 are headquartered in California or Texas. Four companies (Skild AI, Figure, Apptronik, and Galbot) are building humanoid or general-purpose robot systems. And six of the top 25 operate in defense or aerospace, a sub-segment that barely registered in robotics funding lists two years ago.
Humanoid Robotics: The Race to Build General-Purpose Robots
Humanoid robotics startups have attracted some of the most aggressive valuations in venture capital history. Among physical ai companies in this segment, capital is being deployed at a scale the sector has never seen. Figure closed a $1B Series C led by Parkway Venture Capital, reaching a $39B post-money valuation, a 15x increase from its $2.6B Series B valuation just 18 months earlier. The company is targeting a $1,000-per-robot-per-month Robot-as-a-Service model at scale.
Skild AI raised $1.4B in a Series C led by SoftBank, valuing the company at over $14B. Unlike Figure, Skild is building the brain rather than the body, a unified foundation model designed to generalize across tasks and robot hardware through reinforcement learning and computer vision. The company hit $30M in live revenue within months of launching commercially.
Apptronik raised $520M in a Series A extension backed by Google and Mercedes-Benz. Galbot raised $300M in a Growth round led by China Mobile’s Chain-Leader Fund, with earlier backing from CATL, building general-purpose humanoid robots for industrial automation and consumer applications from Beijing.
The humanoid robot market is projected to reach $2.16B by 2026, growing at a CAGR of 16.91% through 2035. That robotics market size looks small relative to the capital being deployed. Skild and Figure alone have raised $2.4B, which signals investors are pricing in a market that does not yet exist at scale.
Industrial & Warehouse Automation: Where the Majority of Robotics Capital Goes
Industrial automation and warehouse automation account for the largest share of robotics deal volume in Bot Memo’s dataset. The robot companies in this segment typically operate closer to revenue than humanoid robotics startups, with established customer pipelines, autonomous mobile robots (AMR), and proven deployment models in industrial automation environments.
Mujin raised $233M in a Series D led by NTT Group, providing intelligent robot controllers and digital twin technology from Tokyo. The company has been operating since 2011, making it one of the oldest startups on this list, and one of the few with a 15-year track record of shipping product.
Hadrian pulled in $260M in a Series C led by Founders Fund and Lux Capital, building automated precision manufacturing for aerospace and defense from Torrance, CA. Divergent Technologies raised $290M in a Series E from Rochefort Asset Management for its AI-powered digital manufacturing platform, also based in Torrance.
FieldAI secured $405M for its robotic AI platform targeting industrial automation applications. Bedrock Robotics raised $270M in a Series B from CapitalG and Valor Atreides AI Fund for autonomous construction, a segment where warehouse automation and on-site robot companies are addressing acute labor shortages.
The warehouse robotics market alone is valued at $10.96B in 2026, with a 17.5% CAGR projected through 2031. Many of the companies in this segment overlap with top manufacturing AI startups and logistics and supply chain AI startups tracked across Bot Memo’s vertical analyses.
Autonomous Vehicles & Defense: Robotics Beyond the Factory Floor
Defense and autonomous vehicle startups now command a significant share of robotics capital. Six of the top 25 companies on this list build for military or aerospace applications, a concentration that did not exist in prior robotics funding cycles.
Saronic raised $600M in a Series C led by Elad Gil for autonomous naval vessels, making it one of the best-funded defense-tech robotics companies globally. Shield AI secured $240M in a Series F-1 from L3Harris and Hanwha for autonomous aerospace defense, while Forterra raised $238M in a Series C from Moore Strategic Ventures for autonomous military ground vehicles.
Epirus pulled in $250M in a Series D from 8VC and Washington Harbour Partners for directed energy systems targeting drone defense, a category that barely existed as a venture-backed segment three years ago. True Anomaly raised $260M in a Series C led by Accel for space defense and autonomous satellite technology.
On the civilian side, Wayve stands out with a $1.2B Series D from Eclipse, Balderton, and SoftBank Vision Fund 2 for AI-powered, self-driving and autonomous driving software built in London. Applied Intuition raised $600M in a Series F from BlackRock and Kleiner Perkins for autonomous vehicles simulation software, while Neolix secured $600M in a Series D from StoneVenture for autonomous delivery vehicles operating from Beijing.
The autonomous vehicle and defense crossover reflects a broader pattern: military budgets are accelerating adoption of robotics that commercial markets are still evaluating. Companies like Saronic and Shield AI benefit from procurement cycles where contract awards prioritize technical readiness over near-term profitability.
Who’s Funding AI Robotics: Top Investors in Physical AI
The investor roster across these 25 physical ai companies reveals how both strategic corporates and top-tier venture firms are positioning for robotics dominance. Robotics investors span the full spectrum from sovereign-adjacent funds to specialized defense VCs.
SoftBank appears twice in the top 10, leading Skild AI’s $1.4B Series C and co-leading Wayve’s $1.2B Series D. Jeff Bezos, via Bezos Expeditions, has backed both Skild AI and Figure. NVIDIA’s venture arm, NVentures, has participated in multiple robotics rounds as part of its broader push to become the picks-and-shovels provider for physical AI.
Corporate strategics are unusually active among robotics investors. Google and Mercedes-Benz backed Apptronik. CATL, China’s largest battery maker, is a Galbot backer. NTT Group led Mujin’s Series D. L3Harris and Hanwha co-led Shield AI’s round. These are not passive financial investors. They are potential customers and integration partners positioning for industrial automation leadership.
Traditional venture firms with repeated exposure include Founders Fund (Hadrian), Accel (True Anomaly), Kleiner Perkins (Applied Intuition), and Lux Capital (Hadrian). BlackRock appears in both Applied Intuition’s Series F and Archer’s equity raise, signaling that large asset managers are treating robot startup funding as an infrastructure asset class. The breadth of robotics investors now active in this space, from sovereign funds to defense primes, marks a departure from the historically narrow base of robotics-focused VCs.
Robotics startup funding surpassed $8.5B in 2025, with Figure’s billion-dollar round putting the sector on track for its largest fundraising year since 2021. The capital concentration at the top, four companies accounting for $5.2B of the $32.34B in total funding, follows the same top-heavy distribution Bot Memo tracks across climate and sustainability AI startups, where a handful of mega-rounds skew overall totals.
FAQ: AI Robotics Startups
What are the top AI robotics startups in 2026?
The best-funded AI robotics startups as of early 2026 include Metropolis Technologies ($1.6B), Skild AI ($1.4B), Wayve ($1.2B), Figure ($1B), and Saronic ($600M). Bot Memo’s database tracks 521 unique robotics companies that have raised a combined $32.34B across 592 deals since 2024.
How much funding have robotics startups raised?
Bot Memo’s analysis shows $32.34B in total robotics funding across 592 robotics deals from 2024 through early 2026, with a median deal size of $13.7M and an average of $54.6M. The sector saw a major acceleration in 2025, with $8.5B raised over the year.
What is physical AI and which startups are building it?
Physical AI refers to artificial intelligence systems designed to operate in and interact with the physical world, controlling robots, vehicles, and manufacturing systems. Key startups include Physical Intelligence ($400M Series A), which is building a universal brain for any robot, and Skild AI ($1.4B Series C), developing a unified robotics foundation model. NVIDIA has accelerated the field by releasing open foundation models for physical AI.
Who are the biggest investors in robotics startups?
SoftBank is the most prominent robotics investor, leading rounds for both Skild AI ($1.4B) and Wayve ($1.2B). Other major backers include Jeff Bezos (Figure, Skild AI), NVIDIA/NVentures (Skild AI), BlackRock (Applied Intuition, Archer), Google (Apptronik), and Founders Fund (Hadrian). Corporate strategics like Mercedes-Benz, CATL, and L3Harris are increasingly active as both investors and potential customers.
How is AI changing the robotics industry?
Foundation models are the biggest shift. Instead of programming robots for individual tasks, companies like Skild AI and Physical Intelligence are training general-purpose AI models that can control any robot hardware across multiple tasks. NVIDIA’s Isaac GR00T N1 is the first open humanoid robot foundation model, using a dual-system architecture inspired by human cognition. This shift is enabling robots to move from scripted routines to adaptive, real-world decision-making.
Which humanoid robot companies are leading the market?
Four humanoid robotics startups dominate the current funding race. Figure ($1B Series C, $39B valuation) is the most highly valued, deploying humanoid robots for commercial applications. Skild AI ($1.4B Series C) is building the foundation model layer rather than the hardware. Apptronik ($520M Series A extension) is backed by Google and Mercedes-Benz, while Galbot ($300M Growth round) is scaling from Beijing with backing from CATL. Together, these four robot companies have raised over $3.2B.
What is the difference between industrial robots and humanoid robots?
Industrial robots are purpose-built machines designed for specific tasks in structured environments, such as welding, assembly, and material handling, and account for the majority of robotics deal volume and deployed units globally. Humanoid robots are general-purpose machines built to operate in human environments, using a human-like form factor to navigate spaces and use tools designed for people. Industrial automation robots typically reach revenue faster due to clear ROI in manufacturing, while humanoid robotics startups are pre-revenue or early-revenue, betting on a broader addressable market as their AI capabilities mature.
Which robotics startups are profitable?
Most ai robotics startups in this list are pre-profit, reinvesting heavily in R&D and manufacturing scale-up. Among the more mature robot companies, Mujin (founded 2011, $233M Series D) has the longest commercial track record, with its industrial robot controllers deployed across logistics facilities. Metropolis Technologies ($1.6B) operates a revenue-generating AI-powered parking platform. Profitability data is not publicly disclosed for the majority of venture-backed robotics companies, but industrial automation startups with established customer bases, such as Hadrian, Divergent Technologies, and FieldAI, are generally closer to breakeven than humanoid or defense-focused peers.
Methodology: How We Track AI Robotics Funding
This analysis is based on 592 AI funding deals tracked in the Bot Memo database from 2024 through early 2026.
Data sources: Public funding announcements across company press releases, regulatory filings, and monitoring of 900+ sources per week.
Filters applied: Companies were included if their tags, name, or description contained terms related to robotics, humanoid robots, physical AI, drones, autonomous vehicles, or autonomous driving. This captures a broad definition of AI robotics that includes adjacent categories like autonomous vehicles and defense tech. The dataset encompasses physical ai companies across all stages, from seed-funded robot startup funding rounds to multi-billion-dollar growth equity.
Currency: All amounts in USD. Non-USD rounds converted at the exchange rate on the date of announcement.
Limitations: Funding data reflects disclosed rounds only. Undisclosed rounds and internal corporate R&D spending on robotics are not captured. Valuation data is available for a minority of companies. Multi-tag attribution means some companies appear in multiple sub-segments, and total funding across sub-segments will exceed the $32.34B dataset total.
About the author
Editorial Staff
The Editorial Staff at Bot Memo is a team of writers, analysts, and AI agents dedicated to mapping the global AI startup ecosystem. Led by Chintan Zalani, the team tracks thousands of funding rounds, classifies companies across verticals, and distills it all into actionable intelligence for investors and founders.
