Human-like robot maker Humanoid is on a mission to put a robot in every home. And to get there it’s been on a hiring tear in the last 12 months, growing its team more than 800% to 175 employees.
It’s not the only robotics startup on a hiring spree in Europe. Advancements in the technology needed to master the built environment have set off a race to capitalise on the promise of robotics to augment and replace human labour, while boosting industrial efficiency.
Here are the fastest-growing robotics startups in Europe. Sifted reached out to each company to confirm figures. Where they didn’t respond, figures come from data platform Dealroom.
1. Humanoid
HQ: London, UK
Founded: 2024
Headcount growth over the past 12 months: 821% to 175
From its base near Edgware Road station in London, Humanoid is building two products: a wheeled version of its robot with a humanoid torso attached to a manoeuvrable stanchion, and a bipedal robot, which has the same torso, plus legs. It plans to sell to industry first before designing a household robot that could be rolled out to our homes from the 2030s.
2. Neura Robotics
HQ: Metzingen, Germany
Founded: 2019
Headcount growth over the past 12 months: 212% to 750
Neura Robotics is building “cognitive” robots capable of “seeing”, walking and manipulating objects. Its models include MAiRA, a robotic arm and the MAV mobile robot, which is trolley-like and capable of transporting heavy loads. It also has a humanoid robot in the pilot phase.
3. Arx Robotics
HQ: Munich, Germany
Founded: 2021
Headcount growth over the past 12 months: 175% to 66, according to Dealroom
Arx Robotics was founded by former members of the German armed forces to build unmanned autonomous ground vehicles which can supply and rescue troops on the frontline, as well as deceive enemy troops with imitation gunshot noises and lasers.
4. 1x Technologies
HQ: Moss, Norway and Palo Alto, California
Founded: 2014
Headcount growth over the past 12 months: 166% to 570, according to Dealroom
1x is one of a number of companies building humanoid robots, which are designed with basic human form and built to be everyday assistants and companions. 1x’s robot, NEO Gamma, can tidy, deep clean and help with home management, according to the company’s website.
5. Sereact
HQ: Stuttgart, Germany
Founded: 2021
Headcount growth over the past 12 months: 144% to 61
Sereact has spent the last four years building AI software which allows its product to understand the world and interact with objects in it. Its tech can equip robots with general purpose visual and manipulation capabilities.
6. Monumental
HQ: Amsterdam, the Netherlands
Founded: 2021
Headcount growth over the past 12 months: 148% to 67
Monumental is taking on the construction industry with its bricklaying robots, which have really thick wheels to navigate lumpy sites. The Dutch company has already used its robots to help build houses in the suburb of Rotterdam.
7. Ecorobotix
HQ: Yverdon-les-Bains, Switzerland
Founded: 2015
Headcount growth over the past 12 months: 53% to 190, according to Dealroom.
Ecorobotix develops and sells an autonomous precision crop sprayer that gets fitted to the front of tractors which can dispense herbicides, insecticides and fertilisers, treating crops on a plant-by-plant basis.
8. RobCo
HQ: Munich, Germany
Founded: 2020
Headcount growth over the past 12 months: 59% to 124
Munich-based RobCo is building the software and hardware for modular, AI-powered robots for industry that can automate tasks such as handling materials and arranging and stacking products onto a pallet.
9. Agile Robots
HQ: Munich, Germany
Founded: 2018
Headcount growth over the past 12 months: 51% to 438, according to Dealroom
Agile Robots creates robots for assembling parts in the automotive and consumer electronic industries. The company is a spinout from the German Aerospace Center.
=9. Aerones
HQ: Riga
Founded: 2015
Headcount growth over the past 12 months: 51% to 407, according to Dealroom
Aerones is focused on the maintenance of wind blade turbines, and it building robots that can perform tasks such as lightning conductivity testing, drainage hole cleaning, inspection, cleaning, painting and repair.
10. Moon Surgical
HQ: Paris
Founded: 2019
Headcount growth over the past 12 months: 47% to 110, according to Dealroom
Moon Surgical’s robotic surgical assistant, Maestro, helps surgeons during minimally invasive soft tissue surgery. It can perform tasks such as holding instruments and offering real-time feedback to surgeons.
Methodology: Sifted focused on companies with at least $30m in backing and a minimum of 50 employees today to ensure results weren’t skewed by early-stage hiring sprees.
Read the orginal article: https://sifted.eu/articles/europes-10-fastest-growing-robotics-startup-teams-2/
