Archive · 21 Jul 2026
London Robotics Startup Humanoid Reaches Unicorn Status
Humanoid is a robotics company in London that makes humanoid robots.
They just got a lot of money from investors, making the company worth £1 billion.
They haven't sold any robots yet, but they already have £1.8 billion in orders.
The robots are designed to help with repetitive tasks in factories and other places.
The company was started by Artem Sokolov, who put a lot of his own money into it.
Investors think these robots could be really important in the future, but some people are worried because the company hasn't actually delivered any robots yet.
Humanoid, a London-based robotics startup, has raised £114 million in its latest funding round, reaching a £1 billion valuation.
The company has secured £1.8 billion in pre-orders for its robots, despite not yet delivering any commercial units.
Humanoid was founded in May 2024 by Artem Sokolov, who invested £23 million of his own money.
The startup develops both wheeled and bipedal humanoid robots using its HMND 01 platform and in-house AI system, KinetIQ.
Investors see significant potential in humanoid robotics, with the global market projected to be worth £29 billion by 2035.
- Who
- Humanoid, a London-based robotics startup founded by Artem Sokolov.
- What
- Humanoid has raised £114 million in funding, reaching a £1 billion valuation and securing £1.8 billion in pre-orders.
- When
- The latest funding round was announced recently, with the company founded in May 2024.
- Where
- The company is based in London, UK.
- Why
- Investors are betting on the potential of humanoid robotics to address labor shortages and drive industrial automation.
Investor Optimism
Skeptical Caution
Valuation and Pre-Orders
Investor Optimism
Investors see significant potential in humanoid robotics, as evidenced by Humanoid's £1 billion valuation and £1.8 billion in pre-orders.
Skeptical Caution
Skeptics question the high valuation and pre-orders without any commercial deliveries, highlighting potential risks.
Development Speed
Investor Optimism
Humanoid claims rapid development timelines for its robots, which it says are faster than industry averages.
Skeptical Caution
Skeptics note that these timelines are self-reported and have not been independently verified, raising concerns about their accuracy.
Market Potential
Investor Optimism
Investors believe humanoid robots could address labor shortages in various industries, with a projected market value of £29 billion by 2035.
Skeptical Caution
Skeptics argue that current valuations may be overinflated and not reflective of actual market demand and revenue.
- Founding Date
- May 2024
- Founder
- Artem Sokolov
- Latest Funding Round
- £114 million ($152 million)
- Total Funding
- £203 million ($270 million)
- Valuation
- £1 billion ($1.35 billion)
- Pre-Orders
- £1.8 billion ($2.4 billion)
- Beta Version Expected
- Q4 2026
- Projected Market Value by 2035
- £29 billion ($38 billion)