1X, a robotics startup that launched in 2014, has some thrilling news to share. They’re working with EQT on getting as many as 10,000 of their humanoid robot companions into EQT’s portfolio companies. The partnership will provide the 1X Neo humanoid robots between 2026 and 2030. This is a departure in their use, from mostly personal to industrial applications.
Their closed deal with EQT already encompassed more than 300 portfolio companies. According to their website, the joint venture starts with three industries – manufacturing, warehousing and logistics. The development of this partnership greatly increases the potential reach of the 1X Neo humanoids. Yet, they have never been nationally commercialized before.
At $20,000 the 1X Neo is the first humanoid robot ready for and aimed at consumers. This pioneering robot is specially created to assist with everyday tasks in residential settings. Domestic innovations this October, 1X Robotics launched pre-orders for this history-making domestic robot, and its doing so with big purpose. With this new partnership, we’re seeing a bold vision for the technology come to life. This makes it ideal for the Neo to be used in more austere industrial environments.
Through this collaboration, 1X is confident in its ability to combine the most cutting-edge advancements in robotics with improved productivity to enrich EQT’s vast network. Humanoid robots, meanwhile, are already walking into factories and warehouses, poised to make all workplaces more efficient. It may change workflows in cities and regions that have historically relied on human workers.
To date, 1X has raised more than $130 million in venture capital. Esteemed investors such as EQT Ventures, Tiger Global, and the OpenAI Startup Fund have supported this prosperous undertaking. This support has given 1X the freedom to experiment with new approaches to robotics. They created the Eve Industrial robot, which is explicitly focused on the industrial applications. This shift in focus to the Neo humanoid suggests a more strategic change, likely towards addressing both consumer and commercial markets.
The collaboration with EQT marks a new chapter for how humanoid robots will be used across industries from construction to hospitality. 1X is broadening its market footprint by opening the door to these robots for companies of all sizes. This bold change opens the door to innovative new uses for automation and robotics.