#1
Figure AI
Founded 2022Sunnyvale, CA · Figure 02 humanoid robot
Focus
General-purpose warehouse & manufacturing humanoids
Status
Series B — commercial contracts with BMW
Key insight: Deploying at BMW Spartanburg plant; OpenAI-powered LLM reasoning
Investors: Microsoft, OpenAI, NVIDIA, Intel, Amazon
#2
Physical Intelligence (π)
Founded 2023San Francisco, CA · π0 foundation model for robot control
Focus
AI software layer — 'the brain for any robot'
Status
Seed/Series A — research phase
Key insight: Training on 10,000+ hours of human teleoperation data
Investors: Bezos Expeditions, OpenAI, Thrive Capital
#3
Apptronik
Founded 2016Austin, TX · Apollo humanoid robot
Focus
Logistics, automotive, and supply chain automation
Status
Series A — GXO Logistics deployment
Key insight: Space robotics heritage (NASA), Apollo priced for mass market
Investors: Google, B Capital, Capital Factory
#4
Skild AI
Founded 2023Pittsburgh, PA · Generalist robot intelligence foundation model
Focus
Universal AI stack that runs on any robot hardware
Status
Seed — stealth product development
Key insight: Co-founders from CMU Robotics; $300M at $1.5B valuation pre-launch
Investors: SoftBank, Jeff Bezos, Lightspeed
#5
1X Technologies
Founded 2014Moss, Norway · NEO humanoid, EVE wheeled robot
Focus
Home robotics and autonomous security
Status
Series B — home deployment beta
Key insight: First OpenAI-backed robotics company; bipedal NEO for home tasks
Investors: OpenAI, EQT Ventures
#6
Sanctuary AI
Founded 2018Vancouver, BC · Phoenix humanoid robot
Focus
General-purpose labor replacement in manufacturing
Status
Series B — production pilots
Key insight: Carbon AI cognitive architecture; 24 DOF hands with human-like dexterity
Investors: Export Development Canada, Verizon Ventures
#7
Collaborative Robotics
Founded 2022Santa Clara, CA · Cobot for warehouse automation
Focus
Human-robot collaboration in logistics
Status
Series B — live deployments
Key insight: Focuses on safe coexistence with human workers, not full replacement
Investors: General Catalyst, Tiger Global
#8
Machina Labs
Founded 2019Los Angeles, CA · AI-powered robotic sheet-metal forming
Focus
Aerospace and defense manufacturing
Status
Series B — USAF and defense contracts
Key insight: Eliminates dies and molds; 10× faster prototyping for aerospace parts
Investors: Founders Fund, DCVC
#9
Diligent Robotics
Founded 2017Austin, TX · Moxi hospital assistant robot
Focus
Healthcare logistics — restocking, delivery, support
Status
Commercial — 40+ hospital deployments
Key insight: Proven in real healthcare environments; reduces nurse burden by 30%
Investors: True Ventures, Next Coast Ventures
#10
Bear Robotics
Founded 2017Redwood City, CA · Servi food-service robot
Focus
Restaurant and hospitality automation
Status
Commercial — 15,000+ deployments globally
Key insight: Revenue-generating at scale; SoftBank backing validates mass-market path
Investors: SoftBank, LG Electronics
#11
Aethon
Founded 2001Pittsburgh, PA · TUG autonomous hospital robot
Focus
Hospital transport — medications, meals, linens
Status
Profitable — 200+ hospital deployments in 22 countries
Key insight: Oldest commercial robot startup still growing; proven 15-year track record
Investors: St. Barnabas Health, Allegheny Health
#12
Robust AI
Founded 2019Mountain View, CA · Carter autonomous mobile robot
Focus
Warehouse and distribution center navigation
Status
Commercial — live in major distribution centers
Key insight: Task-graph AI that adapts to dynamic warehouse layouts in real time
Investors: Tiger Global, GV (Google Ventures)