- SearchVentures
- Posts
- The startup creating robotic humans
The startup creating robotic humans
How 1X is bringing robotics beyond Silicon Valley
SearchVentures
May 21, 2024
The Startup Story
This week, we spotlight 1X Robotics, a Norwegian startup transforming the robotics industry with their humanoid robots, NEO and EVE. Backed by over $100 million from EQT Ventures and OpenAI, 1X is creating the next-generation humanoid robots.
Startup Story of 1X Robotics
The startup creating robotic humans 🤖
A 1X Robotics humanoid
Founded in 2014 by Bernt Øivind Børnich, 1X Robotics has quickly made a name for itself in the tech world. Børnich, who spent his childhood dismantling household appliances to understand how they worked, is now using cutting edge technology to design robots that aim to seamlessly integrate into everyday life.
“The once-distant dream of having a versatile, intelligent home assistant is now becoming a reality, we clone human behavior and thought into the machine, similar to how large language models are trained”
1X Robotics has created 50 robots so far, using advanced VR technology and gearless motors to mimic human muscles, enhancing agility and safety. The robots they are creating, like the android NEO, handle tasks from industrial logistics to home assistance positioning their robots for integration into human environments.
“We’re at a tipping point where the technology is mature enough to move from labs and factories into homes. Our goal is to develop robots that improve daily life by performing a wide range of tasks”
The collaboration with OpenAI has made 1X’s robots smarter and more capable with partners like NVIDIA backing their technological developments.
When is the robotic revolution coming?
The founder Bernt Øivind Børnich
1X Robotics has raised over $125 million, including a recent $100 million Series B funding round led by EQT Ventures and other notable investors like OpenAI and Tiger Global. What sets startups like 1X Robotics apart from major tech companies is their agility and innovative spirit
“Startups can pivot quickly and explore unconventional ideas that big companies might overlook”
How close is the future of humanoid robots?
1X Robotics is still in its testing and development phase for bringing robots into our daily lives, but Børnich believes we are closer than ever to seeing robots as common household assistants.
“We’re at a tipping point where the technology is mature enough to move from labs and factories into homes. Our focus is on ensuring these robots are safe, efficient, and truly helpful in everyday tasks”
From a small Norwegian startup to a major player, 1X exemplifies European innovation. With plans to mass-produce their android NEO and expand capabilities for more complex tasks, 1X is proving that the future of robotics isn’t confined to Silicon Valley.
The curious case of deep tech 👀
Early-stage deep tech funding in Europe, 2018-2023
Early-stage funding for European deep tech startups, especially in sectors like robotics, has stayed strong despite the industry’s reputation for longer development times, higher costs, and greater market risk. So, why are investors still interested in this high-risk sector?
Find out the key reasons behind it and get deeper insights in our Thursday edition on SearchVentures Premium.
Access insights on over 41,000 European startup investments every Thursday!
Subscribe to SearchVentures Premium for a detailed analysis of trends and data for the European startup market with visualized insights, detailed investment breakdowns, and more, delivered to your inbox.
We’ve thrown in a 7-day free trial so you can test it out.
Weekly Startup News 🧑💻
Karlsruhe-based startup raises €16.5 million
Codesphere raises €16.5 million to reduce infrastructure costs, enabling developers to program and scale complex applications directly in the cloud.
Aramco is buying a quantum computer from French startup
Pasqal will install, maintain and operate the quantum computer. It is set to be deployed in Saudi Arabia in the second half of 2025.
NATO cyber security experts raise £1.3 million
qomodo develops cybersecurity solutions that safeguard XIoT, IIoT, and Enterprise IoT environments
Thoughts on todays startup? |
Know about a founder you’d want featured next? 🚀
You can reach out to us on socials or at www.searchventures.co
See you on Thursday :)
Cheers,
Odin Lund & Hari Mohandas
Reply