University of Texas spinout Apptronik has announced a significant extension to its Series A funding round, raising a total of $935 million. The company, known for building humanoid robots for clients like Google DeepMind, has seen its post-money valuation soar to approximately $5.3 billion. Initially targeting $350 million for its Series A, Apptronik expanded the round to $415 million due to strong demand, and has now secured an additional $520 million from existing investors such as Google, Mercedes-Benz, and B Capital, as well as new investors.

Despite the substantial increase in funding, Apptronik maintains that it is still in the early stages of development and was not actively seeking additional investment. The company’s focus on embodied AI, in partnership with Google DeepMind, GXO, and Mercedes-Benz, sets it apart in the industry by creating robots capable of perceiving their environment and taking actions based on reasoning. With a history dating back to 2013 and roots in the NASA-DARPA Robotics Challenge, Apptronik’s expertise in humanoid robotics positions it as a key player in the evolving landscape of artificial intelligence and automation.