Figure, a U.S. startup focusing on humanoid robotics and embodied AI, has raised over $1 billion in its latest Series C funding round. The new investment gives the company a post-money valuation of $39 billion.The round was led by Parkway Venture Capital, with participation from major technology backers including NVIDIA, Intel Capital, LG Technology Ventures, Salesforce, T-Mobile Ventures, and Qualcomm Ventures, among others.
Why This Matters
- Huge Leap Year-on-Year
Compared to its previous valuation (which was much smaller), this funding round represents a very large jump, signaling increased investor confidence in robotics and AI. - Robotics + AI Is Hot
There is growing demand for humanoid robots that can perform tasks in both commercial and home settings. Labor shortages, automation needs, and AI advances make this field especially attractive. - Big-Name Investors Join In
Having investors like NVIDIA, Intel, etc. helps not just with money, but also with infrastructure, technology, credibility and access to hardware/compute. Reuters - From Lab to Market
The funding is aimed at scaling up production (via its manufacturing arm “BotQ”), improving the AI platform (“Helix”), and enhancing data collection for improving real-world performance.
Challenges & What to Watch
- Commercial Viability: High valuation doesn’t always translate into revenue. Can Figure deploy robots at scale in real commercial settings (warehouses, homes, etc.)?
- Hardware Costs & Supply Chains: Robotics involves expensive components, sensors, actuators, maintenance, etc. Scaling this affordably is tough.
- Safety, Reliability & Regulation: Humanoid robots must be safe to use, reliable over long hours, able to deal with varied environments. Regulatory and safety standards will matter.
- Competition: Other robotics / AI firms are also pushing humanoids. The one who can deliver reliable performance with good unit economics will have an edge.
Outlook
Given this injection of capital and the strengths of its investor base, Figure is well-positioned to accelerate its roadmap. Key upcoming milestones will include:
- Getting more commercial pilots and contracts
- Demonstrating cost-effectiveness and reliability in real settings
- Improving AI perception and control, using data from real environments
- Scaling manufacturing capacity to meet demand
Figure’s jump to a $39B valuation marks a major vote of confidence in humanoid robotics. Whether it can turn those ambitions into sustainable commercial success remains the big question — but the momentum is clearly in its favor.
