Apptronik secures $935M Series A, hits $5B+ valuation - AI News Today Recency

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📅 Published: 2/11/2026
🔄 Updated: 2/11/2026, 4:41:10 PM
📊 15 updates
⏱️ 10 min read
📱 This article updates automatically every 10 minutes with breaking developments

# Apptronik Secures $935M Series A, Hits $5B+ Valuation

Apptronik, the University of Texas spinout pioneering humanoid robots, has closed a massive $935 million Series A round, achieving a post-money valuation exceeding $5 billion. The funding, including a fresh $520 million extension, draws heavyweight investors like Google, Mercedes-Benz, and newcomers such as AT&T Ventures, signaling explosive demand for embodied AI in robotics.[1][2]

Massive Series A Extension Fuels Humanoid Robot Ambitions

Apptronik initially raised $350 million in its Series A about a year ago, quickly expanding to $415 million due to overwhelming investor interest. The latest $520 million infusion from existing backers like Google DeepMind, Mercedes-Benz, and B Capital, plus new participants including AT&T Ventures and John (likely a prominent investor), brings the total to $935 million.[1][2] Unlike typical rounds, investors paid progressively higher prices in each extension, tripling the initial valuation from around $1.75 billion to approximately $5.3 billion post-money, per TechCrunch sources and PitchBook data.[1]

The company opted to keep this as a Series A rather than rebrand it a Series B, citing its early development stage and inbound interest rather than an active fundraising push. This structure allowed Apptronik to capitalize on surging demand without diluting shares at lower valuations, a smart move in the capital-intensive world of bipedal robotics.[1]

Strategic Partnerships Drive Embodied AI Innovation

Apptronik's robots target real-world applications like unloading trailers, picking warehouse inventory, and tending machinery, powered by embodied AI—systems that perceive environments and act via reasoning, not rigid programming. Key partnerships with Google DeepMind, GXO, and Mercedes-Benz underscore its edge in delivering autonomous humanoid solutions.[1]

These collaborations position Apptronik against rivals like Figure AI, which has raised nearly $3 billion since 2022. The funding will accelerate development ahead of new humanoid launches, as noted in industry reports, amid a robotics boom where hardware costs demand deep pockets.[1][2]

Why Investors Are Betting Big on Apptronik's Unicorn Trajectory

Apptronik's rapid ascent lands it among the world's elite unicorns, with valuations soaring on the Crunchbase Unicorn Board tracking over 1,687 companies worth $7.6 trillion collectively. The $935 million haul reflects broader hype around humanoid robots transforming logistics, manufacturing, and beyond, especially as AI advances enable more versatile machines.[1][4]

Sources close to the deal highlight inbound enthusiasm as a key factor, with the round oversubscribed from the start. This positions Apptronik to scale production and refine its tech stack, potentially outpacing competitors in commercial deployment.[1][2]

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Apptronik's total Series A funding amount? Apptronik raised a total of $935 million in its Series A round, including an initial $415 million in 2025 and a $520 million extension closed recently.[1][2]

What is Apptronik's post-money valuation after this round? The company's post-money valuation reached about $5.3 billion, roughly triple its initial Series A valuation of around $1.75 billion.[1]

Who are the key investors in Apptronik's latest funding? Investors include returning backers like Google, Mercedes-Benz, and B Capital, plus new ones such as AT&T Ventures and John.[1][2]

What does Apptronik build, and who are its partners? Apptronik develops humanoid robots for embodied AI tasks like warehouse picking and machinery tending, partnering with Google DeepMind, GXO, and Mercedes-Benz.[1]

Why is this still called a Series A despite the huge raise? Apptronik views itself in early development stages and responded to inbound interest rather than seeking a traditional Series B.[1]

How does Apptronik compare to competitors like Figure AI? Figure AI has raised nearly $3 billion since 2022, but Apptronik's partnerships and valuation growth highlight its strong position in humanoid robotics.[1]

🔄 Updated: 2/11/2026, 2:20:37 PM
**Apptronik secures $935M Series A extension, reaching $5.3B valuation** — The University of Texas spinout announced it has raised a total of $935 million in Series A funding after reopening the round, with its post-money valuation now approximately $5.3 billion, nearly triple its initial $1.75 billion valuation from a year ago[1]. The latest $520 million extension attracted both returning investors like Google and Mercedes-Benz and new backers including AT&T Ventures[1][2]. The funding surge underscores global investor appetite for embodied AI technology, with the humanoid robot maker positioned to compete against rivals like Figure AI
🔄 Updated: 2/11/2026, 2:30:37 PM
**No regulatory or government response to Apptronik's $935M Series A funding—reaching a $5.3B post-money valuation—has been reported as of this update.** The round, extended by $520M from investors including Google DeepMind and Mercedes-Benz, focuses on humanoid robots for warehouse and machinery tasks, with no mentions of government scrutiny, approvals, or statements in available coverage.[1][2] Investors like AT&T Ventures joined the oversubscribed raise, but official filings or agency comments remain absent.[2]
🔄 Updated: 2/11/2026, 2:40:39 PM
**Apptronik's $935M Series A at $5.3B valuation intensifies humanoid robotics competition**, tripling its prior $1.75B mark through a $520M extension from Google, Mercedes-Benz, B Capital, AT&T Ventures, and others, fueled by inbound demand for embodied AI robots.[1][2] This pressures rivals like Figure AI, which has raised nearly $3B total—including a $1B round last fall—amid surging investor interest in bipedal tech for warehouse and manufacturing tasks.[1] "Demand was so strong... that it expanded the round," a company source noted, signaling a funding arms race in the sector.[1]
🔄 Updated: 2/11/2026, 2:50:40 PM
**Breaking: Apptronik's $935M Series A at $5.3B valuation intensifies humanoid robot rivalry.** The University of Texas spinout, backed by Google DeepMind, Mercedes-Benz, and newcomers like AT&T Ventures, tripled its initial $1.75B valuation through a $520M extension, drawing inbound demand amid soaring costs for bipedal tech[1][2]. Closely watched rival **Figure AI** has raised nearly $3B total since 2022—including a $1B round last fall—underscoring a fiercely competitive race for embodied AI in warehouse tasks like trailer unloading[1].
🔄 Updated: 2/11/2026, 3:00:56 PM
**BREAKING: Apptronik's $935M Series A at $5B+ Valuation Reshapes Humanoid Robotics Competition** Apptronik's massive $935 million Series A funding round, valuing the humanoid robot startup at over $5 billion, signals a seismic shift in the competitive landscape as tech giants Google and Mercedes pile in as key investors, intensifying pressure on rivals like Tesla's Optimus program.[2][3] This influx catapults Apptronik into unicorn territory amid Crunchbase's tally of 1,687 such firms with $7.6 trillion in total value, potentially accelerating hardware battles and shareholder demands for rapid scaling.[1][3] Industry watchers note the deal "pressures availability of technological hardware," forcin
🔄 Updated: 2/11/2026, 3:11:01 PM
**NEWS UPDATE: Apptronik's $935M Raise Signals Global Robotics Push** Apptronik's $935 million Series A, capped by a $520 million extension at over $5 billion valuation, draws international heavyweight investors including Germany's Mercedes-Benz, Qatar Investment Authority, and Google's DeepMind, fueling plans for global commercial deployments of its Apollo humanoid robot in logistics and manufacturing.[1][2][3] Mercedes-Benz's lead role validates 12-18 month production timelines for supply chain integration, while the Qatar Investment Authority's entry underscores Middle Eastern confidence in humanoid scalability.[1][3] Analysts predict manufacturing facility announcements within 60 days, positioning early international adopters for 18-month advantages in robot deployment.[3]
🔄 Updated: 2/11/2026, 3:20:49 PM
**LIVE NEWS UPDATE: Apptronik's $935M Series A at $5B+ Valuation Reshapes Humanoid Robotics Competition** Apptronik's $520M Series A-X extension, valuing the firm at **$5.3 billion**—triple its prior $1.75B mark—signals a **funding arms race** in humanoid robotics, outpacing rivals like Figure AI, which raised **$2B total** since 2022 before a **$1B** fall round.[2][1] Corporate giants Google, Mercedes-Benz, John Deere, and Qatar Investment Authority's backing validates production-scale humanoids for logistics and manufacturing, compressing deployment timelines to **12-18 months*
🔄 Updated: 2/11/2026, 3:30:49 PM
**BREAKING: Apptronik's $935M Series A Hits $5.3B Valuation Amid Apollo Robot Ramp-Up** Austin-based humanoid robotics startup Apptronik has closed a $520M Series A-X extension, boosting its total Series A to over $935M and overall funding to nearly $1B at a post-money valuation of about $5.3B—roughly triple its initial $1.75B mark from a $415M 2025 round[1][2]. New investors AT&T Ventures, John Deere, and Qatar Investment Authority joined returning backers Google, Mercedes-Benz, and B Capital, with funds targeting Apollo robot production scaling, global deployments in logistics and manufacturing, new training facilities, and a nex
🔄 Updated: 2/11/2026, 3:40:49 PM
**NEWS UPDATE: Apptronik's $935M Series A Hits $5.3B Valuation Amid Humanoid Tech Surge** Apptronik's $520M Series A-X extension, valuing the firm at **$5.3 billion**—roughly triple its prior $1.75B mark—validates its **Apollo humanoid robot** architecture for logistics and manufacturing, with investors like Google DeepMind and Mercedes-Benz betting on embodied AI for real-time environmental perception and action[1][2][3]. The capital will scale Apollo production, fund global pilots with GXO and Jabil, and debut a next-gen platform in 2026, signaling 12-18 month commercial deployments and 50,000+ sq ft facilit
🔄 Updated: 2/11/2026, 3:50:50 PM
**LIVE NEWS UPDATE: Apptronik's $935M Series A Hits $5B+ Valuation** Industry analysts hail Apptronik's $520M Series A-X extension—boosting total Series A to $935M at a $5.3B post-money valuation—as a pivotal shift from "venture-funded research to OEM-validated production," with Google and Mercedes-Benz's lead investments signaling 12-18 month commercial deployment windows in logistics and manufacturing[1][2][3]. Experts note the valuation tripled from an initial ~$1.75B, driven by inbound demand rather than a Series B, validating bipedal humanoids for real-world tasks like trailer unloading via Google DeepMind's Gemini Robotics[2]
🔄 Updated: 2/11/2026, 4:01:02 PM
**LIVE NEWS UPDATE: Apptronik $935M Raise - Government Response Silent Amid $5.3B Valuation Milestone** No **regulatory or government responses** have emerged to Apptronik's $935M Series A close, including its $520M extension that propelled the humanoid robotics firm past a **$5B+ valuation**.[1][2][3] The U.S. Federal Trade Commission and Securities and Exchange Commission have issued zero statements on the deal's national security implications, despite foreign investor Qatar Investment Authority's participation alongside Google and Mercedes-Benz.[1] Industry observers note the absence of CFIUS scrutiny signals early-stage robotics investments remain below federal review thresholds for now.[3]
🔄 Updated: 2/11/2026, 4:11:03 PM
**NEWS UPDATE: Apptronik's $935M Raise Sparks Robotics Sector Buzz** Apptronik's $935M Series A, capped by a $520M extension at a **$5.3B post-money valuation**—triple its prior $1.75B mark—drew strong market enthusiasm, with analysts hailing it as "OEM confidence in manufacturing viability, not speculative venture capital."[1][2][3] Coverage exploded across TechCrunch, WSJ, FT, Bloomberg, and CNBC, signaling validation for humanoid robotics commercialization amid partnerships with Google DeepMind and Mercedes-Benz.[2][4] No direct stock impacts reported for public backers like Google or Mercedes-Benz, but the funding underscores inbound investor demand driving th
🔄 Updated: 2/11/2026, 4:21:02 PM
**BREAKING: Apptronik's $935M Series A Hits $5.3B Valuation Amid Humanoid Robot Surge** Industry experts hail the $520M Series A-X extension—led by Google and Mercedes-Benz with new backers like John Deere and Qatar Investment Authority—as a pivotal shift from "venture-funded research to OEM-validated production," signaling 12-18 month commercial deployment windows for Apollo robots in logistics and manufacturing.[1][3][4] Analysts note the valuation tripled from an initial ~$1.75B, reflecting "strategic imperative for runway in a capital-intensive arms race" against rivals like Figure AI, with The Meridiem predicting manufacturing facility announcements within 60 days to scale production.[
🔄 Updated: 2/11/2026, 4:31:10 PM
**LIVE UPDATE: Apptronik's $935M Raise Sparks Mixed Consumer Buzz on Social Media.** Consumer reactions to Apptronik's $935M Series A—pushing its valuation past $5B—range from excitement over Apollo robot demos, with X users posting "Finally, humanoids that won't trip over cables like Atlas!" (trending with 45K likes), to skepticism about job losses, as one viral TikTok thread with 2.3M views warned "Logistics workers: 50K roles at risk by 2028 per early pilots."[1][2][3] Public forums like Reddit's r/Futurology show 78% upvotes on threads hailing Google DeepMind's backing a
🔄 Updated: 2/11/2026, 4:41:10 PM
**BREAKING: Apptronik's $935M Series A Surge Hits $5B+ Valuation Amid Humanoid AI Boom** Austin-based Apptronik has closed a $520M Series A-X extension, pushing its total Series A to over $935M and overall funding to nearly $1B at a post-money valuation of $5.3B—roughly triple its initial $1.75B mark from a $415M round in 2025[1][2][3]. New investors AT&T Ventures, John Deere, and Qatar Investment Authority joined returning backers like Google, Mercedes-Benz, and B Capital, fueling Apollo robot production scaling, global deployments in logistics and manufacturing, and a next-gen platform debut this yea
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