Google Joins $350M Investment to Accelerate Apptronik's Apollo Robot

Recently, Apptronik, a company focused on humanoid robot development, announced the successful completion of a $350 million (approximately ¥2.55 billion) Series A financing round. The round was jointly led by B Capital and Capital Factory, with tech giant Google also actively participating. This move not only highlights the strong confidence of the capital market in the humanoid robotics sector but also reflects the industry's high recognition of Apptronik’s technological innovation and future potential.

Since its founding in 2016, Apptronik has been committed to transforming human life and work through advanced robotics technology. As a spin-off from the University of Texas at Austin’s Human-Centered Robotics Laboratory, Apptronik’s development has attracted widespread attention. To date, the company has raised a total of $378 million, giving it robust financial strength. This latest financing will further accelerate the development of Apptronik’s next-generation Apollo humanoid robot and help overcome traditional technological bottlenecks, pushing humanoid robotics toward a new stage of development.

In terms of technological research and development, Apptronik has consistently demonstrated outstanding innovation. Over the years, the company has developed a range of robot products, from exoskeletons that enhance human function, flexible humanoid torsos, stable bipedal mobile platforms, to mechanical arms capable of lifting more than their own weight. These diverse robotic products have laid a solid foundation for the birth of the Apollo humanoid robot, driving the development of one of the world’s most advanced humanoid robots. With the new influx of financing, the technological progress of Apollo will accelerate, and it is poised to become a global leader in commercial humanoid robots.

It is particularly worth noting that Apptronik’s deep partnership with Google DeepMind has provided strong support for Apollo’s AI-driven upgrades. As early as 2024, the two parties began collaborating to integrate cutting-edge AI technologies with the Apollo humanoid hardware. The goal of this collaboration is to continuously improve Apollo’s skills, making it more adaptable and agile in complex environments. Data collection became a major challenge in this partnership, especially in generating high-quality training data for Apollo. To meet this challenge, Apptronik plans to collect multi-dimensional data, including mobility, motion skills, and fine manipulation, through methods like remote control and simulation, to ensure Apollo’s smart upgrade is fully supported.

Beyond technological breakthroughs, Apptronik has also made significant strides in commercial partnerships. One of the highlights of its partnerships is its collaboration with NASA. In 2022, Apptronik teamed up with NASA, leveraging NASA’s cutting-edge aerospace technologies and resources to further advance humanoid robotics. In 2024, Apptronik showcased Apollo’s dexterous operation abilities through a collaboration with NVIDIA, emphasizing Apollo’s unique advantages and strong potential in the humanoid robotics field. More notably, Apptronik has already entered into strategic partnerships with renowned global companies such as Mercedes-Benz and GXO Logistics, and is currently conducting real-world applications of the Apollo robot in industrial manufacturing and logistics. These collaborations are helping to transition Apollo from research and development to practical applications, bringing disruptive technological breakthroughs to various industries.

To further foster continuous technological innovation, Apptronik plans to establish a “Robot Park” (a "data factory") in Austin, where it will build a “data flywheel” system. This system aims to create a virtuous cycle between data-driven technological development, product performance optimization, and data collection, ensuring continuous progress in technology innovation. This initiative will help the company maintain its leading position in the industry and lay a solid foundation for the comprehensive development of humanoid robot technology.

Looking at the industry’s future prospects, the latest research report from Citigroup injects additional confidence into the humanoid robot sector. While the number of humanoid robots worldwide is nearly zero today, it is projected that by 2050, the number of humanoid robots will surge to 648 million units, offering a vast market potential. The report further states that the total addressable market (TAM) for humanoid robots could reach $209 billion by 2035, and $7 trillion by 2050—signifying an extraordinary growth trajectory. Key application areas, such as parcel delivery, construction, food delivery, and home services, are seen as crucial directions for future development, offering boundless opportunities.

In the fiercely competitive humanoid robotics race, many companies are aggressively vying for market share. Figure AI, with its unique technological advantage and market positioning, has successfully raised $854 million; Agility Robotics has raised $178 million, focusing on breakthroughs in robot agility and adaptability; and 1X Technologies has secured $140 million to build more intelligent and human-like humanoid robots. Apptronik’s success in securing $350 million in Series A funding positions it strongly in this intense competition. Google’s involvement adds a new dynamic to this already vibrant market, leaving the industry full of anticipation for the future.

In summary, with its outstanding technological foundation and broad commercial partnerships, Apptronik is at the forefront of global humanoid robot development. This financing not only provides substantial financial support for its future growth but also brings new opportunities and challenges to the entire industry. As technology evolves rapidly, humanoid robots will gradually permeate various industries, leaving a profound impact.