Scaling a robotics startup

How 1X is building humanoid robots

Author

Find and Scale
August 08, 2024

This week, we spotlight 1X Robotics, a Norwegian startup transforming the robotics industry. Backed with $100 million from EQT Ventures and OpenAI, 1X is creating the next generation of humanoid robots. 

Growth Story of 1X Robotics

The startup creating robotic humans

1X Robotics humanoid

Founded in 2014 by Bernt Øivind Børnich, 1X Robotics is creating humanoid robots that aim to seamlessly integrate into everyday life. Backed by Open AI and NVIDIA, the idea was inspired by Børnich’s childhood time spent dismantling household appliances to understand how they worked.

“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 are allocating all of our capital towards innovation. It is like a race between us and our US counterparts to turn a vision of future robotics into reality, and it is by no means cheap or easy.”

The collaboration with OpenAI has made 1X’s robots smarter and more capable with partners like NVIDIA backing their technological developments.

Competing with Silicon Valley

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.

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See you next week,
Odin & Hari