- Ark Invest has joined a $403 million Series A funding round for humanoid robot developer Apptronik, making the investment accessible through its ARK Venture Fund.
- The oversubscribed funding round attracted major corporate backers including Google, Mercedes-Benz, and Japan Post Capital, highlighting strong investor confidence in embodied AI.
- Apptronik’s humanoid robot Apollo, designed for industrial work, represents the company’s vision of “Man plus Machine” and follows its history of developing advanced robotic systems.
ARK Invest, the cryptocurrency-friendly investment firm led by Cathie Wood, has expanded its technology portfolio by participating in a massive $403 million Series A funding round for Texas-based humanoid robotics company Apptronik. The investment allows ARK’s investors to gain exposure to cutting-edge robotics technology through its innovation-focused ARK Venture Fund (ARKVX).
Apptronik announced on March 18 that it had secured an additional $53 million, bringing its Series A total to $403 million. This follows the company’s initial $350 million raise disclosed in February.
“After investing in their Series A round, the ARK Venture Fund is proud to offer investors access to Apptronik! Download SoFi and gain access today,” ARK wrote in an X post on Tuesday.
The oversubscribed funding round demonstrates robust market confidence in embodied Artificial Intelligence, which integrates AI systems into physical robots. The initial $350 million round was led by B Capital and Capital Factory, with participation from tech giant Google.
The expanded round welcomed several high-profile new investors, including German automotive manufacturer Mercedes-Benz, Japanese early-stage investor Japan Post Capital, and RyderVentures, the corporate venture arm of Ryder System. A syndicate led by Korea Investment Partners also joined the round, highlighting the global interest in Apptronik’s technology.
Founded in 2016 as a spinoff from the University of Texas at Austin’s Human-Centered Robotics Lab, Apptronik has developed 15 robotic systems to date. The company’s previous work includes NASA Valkyrie, before unveiling its flagship AI-powered humanoid robot named Apollo, which is designed specifically for industrial applications.
“We believe that it is not Man versus Machine, but Man plus Machine that will take humanity into the next stage of evolution,” states Apptronik’s website.
The company’s expertise in humanoid robotics extends back to 2013, when its founding team competed in the NASA-DARPA Robotics Challenge while working at the Human Centered Robotics Lab, according to TechCrunch. Google’s DeepMind has also formed a partnership with Apptronik to develop embodied AI solutions for bipedal robots.
ARK Invest, whose name represents “Active Research Knowledge,” continues to strengthen its portfolio of innovative technology investments. Beyond Apptronik, the firm has backed numerous AI platforms including Anthropic, OpenAI, and Groq.
In October 2024, ARK reportedly agreed to invest at least $250 million in OpenAI’s funding round. The AI company subsequently became ARK Venture Fund’s third-largest holding, representing approximately 5% of its total assets.
As of February 28, SpaceX, Elon Musk‘s space technology company, remains the fund’s largest position with approximately 16% weighting, according to ARK’s official website.
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