Apptronik Company Profile: History, Funding, Apollo Robot, Partners and Leadership
Updated: 7 days ago
Apptronik is the Texas company behind Apollo, a humanoid robot for manufacturing and logistics work. It was spun out of the University of Texas at Austin in 2016 and by February 2026 had raised close to USD 1 billion at a valuation above USD 5 billion. This profile sets out its history, funding, robot, partners and leadership.
Apptronik at a Glance
Fact | Detail |
Company | Apptronik |
Founded | 2016, by Jeff Cardenas and Nicholas Paine |
Origin | Human Centered Robotics Lab, University of Texas at Austin |
Headquarters | Austin, Texas, USA |
Employees | Nearly 300 |
Funding | Approaching USD 1 billion in total |
Valuation | More than USD 5 billion, February 2026 |
Main product | Apollo humanoid robot |
Stock listing | None; privately held |
Chief Executive Officer | Jeff Cardenas, co-founder |
Company History
Apptronik came out of the Human Centered Robotics Lab at the University of Texas at Austin in 2016. Before Apollo it built about 15 robotic systems, among them work on NASA's Valkyrie humanoid and exoskeleton suits for US Special Forces. That background in actuators and legged machines led to Apollo, a humanoid meant to work alongside people on physically demanding, repetitive tasks.
The company's funding accelerated sharply from 2025. An initial Series A, first announced at USD 350 million, was expanded to more than USD 400 million, and in February 2026 an extension of USD 520 million was priced at three times the original valuation.
Key milestones
2016: Spun out of the University of Texas at Austin.
2025: Series A, co-led by B Capital and Capital Factory; strategic partnership with Google DeepMind.
February 2026: USD 520 million extension, taking Series A funding above USD 935 million.
Funding
Round | Amount | Investors |
Series A, 2025 | More than USD 400 million | Co-led by B Capital and Capital Factory, with Google, Mercedes-Benz and PEAK6 |
Series A extension, February 2026 | USD 520 million | Existing investors plus AT&T Ventures, John Deere and the Qatar Investment Authority |
Reports of the post-money valuation range from about USD 5 billion to about USD 5.3 billion.
Apollo and Partners
Apollo currently handles tasks such as transporting components, sorting and kitting. The company said in early 2026 that a new robot would be announced during the year.
Partner | Role |
Mercedes-Benz | Automotive manufacturing partner and investor |
GXO Logistics | Logistics partner |
Jabil | Manufacturing partner |
Google DeepMind | Strategic partnership to build humanoids powered by Gemini Robotics models |
Apptronik's stated plan is to run industrial pilots through 2026 and scale more broadly from 2027, starting in manufacturing, logistics and warehousing, then moving to retail and healthcare, and in the longer term to homes. The new money is to pay for higher Apollo production, more deployments and facilities for robot training and data collection.
Leadership
Name | Role |
Jeff Cardenas | Co-founder and Chief Executive Officer |
Nicholas Paine | Co-founder |
Can You Invest in Apptronik?
Not on a public market. Apptronik is privately held.
Strengths and Challenges
Strengths
A long engineering record, including work on NASA's Valkyrie.
Investors that are also industrial partners.
A partnership with Google DeepMind on robot AI.
Challenges
Still at the pilot stage, with scaling expected only from 2027.
Rivals with larger valuations and robots already in volume production.
No published revenue figures.
Apptronik FAQ
Is Apptronik publicly traded?
No. It is a privately held company.
Who founded Apptronik?
Jeff Cardenas and Nicholas Paine, in 2016.
What is Apollo?
Apptronik's humanoid robot, designed for manufacturing and logistics tasks.
How much has Apptronik raised?
Close to USD 1 billion, including a USD 520 million round in February 2026.
Who are Apptronik's partners?
Mercedes-Benz, GXO Logistics, Jabil and Google DeepMind.
