Apptronik has secured $520 million in funding at a $5 billion valuation, aiming to accelerate the commercial rollout of its humanoid Apollo robots and position itself ahead of Chinese rivals and Tesla’s Optimus project. The investment brings the company’s total Series A funding to $935 million, with B Capital, led by Howard Morgan, co-leading the round alongside Google. Headquartered in Austin, Texas—near Tesla’s headquarters—Apptronik is using the capital to refine its Apollo humanoid robots and scale up production. Currently, early versions of the robots operate in controlled zones within partner facilities, including those of Mercedes-Benz, GXO Logistics, and Jabil. These zones are defined by external sensors and light curtains, which trigger the robot to pause if a human crosses the boundary. The company is now working toward enabling "collaborative safety," allowing Apollos to dynamically adjust speed or movement around people, mimicking human behavior during tasks like lifting, sorting, and transporting materials. Apptronik competes with a growing list of humanoid developers, including China’s Unitree, Figure, Agility Robotics, and 1X. Tesla’s Optimus remains in early development, with CEO Elon Musk acknowledging it is still in R&D. Despite Tesla’s ambitious $20 billion capex plan for 2026 to support robot and self-driving car production, it has yet to deliver a commercial product. CEO Jeff Cardenas emphasized the unique value of humanoids: their versatility. Unlike specialized robots that perform one task each, a single Apollo can handle thousands of different jobs, significantly increasing operational flexibility in factories. Through pilot deployments, Apptronik collects real-world data from its fleet to continuously improve the robot’s performance and decision-making. The company recently partnered with Google DeepMind, integrating Gemini Robotics AI models to power Apollo’s capabilities. Apptronik was ranked 33rd on the 2025 CNBC Disruptor 50 list. Founded in 2016 as part of the University of Texas’s Human Centered Robotics Lab, the company now employs 300 people. While Cardenas remains cautious about public timelines, he confirmed the company will share more details about Apollo’s capabilities later this year. The new funding will support expansion in Austin and the opening of a California office, along with preparations for mass production. B Capital’s Howard Morgan expressed strong confidence in the market, predicting $1 billion in robot orders starting in 2027. He expects Apollo to be priced at around $80,000 per year—comparable to a luxury car—making it a cost-effective alternative to multiple specialized robots or extended human labor. Morgan also anticipates hiring at least 200 more employees in the next year, noting that securing funding now is critical to maintaining credibility in the rapidly evolving humanoid space. He highlighted the strategic advantage of partnering with Google, which brings access to cutting-edge AI and engineering resources.