Theker just raised $85M to build the factory robot that doesn't specialize in anything
Theker, a robotics startup based in Barcelona, raised $85 million in a Series A round led by the American venture firm CRV, with backing from Samsung and Aglae Ventures, the investment vehicle tied to LVMH chairman Bernard Arnault. The company says it is Europe's largest robotics Series A on record. Unlike humanoid robots built around one fixed shape, Theker's machines swap hands, arms, and overall form so a single system handles many factory and warehouse jobs instead of specializing in one.
Key Takeaways
- Humanoids aren't quite ready to replace factory workers, but the industry can't wait.
Faced with labor shortages, manufacturers have shown growing interest in startups that promise faster automation without the usual trade-offs.
- Their hands, arms, and overall form can be swapped out or resized depending on the task, whether that's sorting packages, packing clothing, or handling bottles and cans in a warehouse.
That Inditex, Zara's parent company, signed on as an early backer is a signal of where Theker's ambitions start, not where they end.
- Less than a year after a record seed round , this Series A was led by American VC firm CRV and backed by a mix of traditional and strategic investors, including Samsung and Agla茅 Ventures, the investment vehicle tied to LVMH chairman and CEO Bernard Arnault.
G贸mez Cano said Samsung is not a client yet but that the two are in advanced discussions.
- "We already received 15,000 job applications and have to filter like crazy," G贸mez Cano said.
She estimated that the team could grow from dozens to up to 120 people by the end of the year, then caught herself: "I am saying that, but I also said that we'd raise $30 [million] or $40 million!"
- As of May 2025, her reporting for TechCrunch focuses on Europe's most interesting startup stories.
Stats & Key Facts
- #Theker, a robotics startup based in Barcelona, raised $85 million in a Series A round led by the American venture firm CRV, with backing from Samsung and Aglae Ventures, the investment vehicle tied to LVMH chairman Bernard Arnault.
- #The Barcelona-based startup has just raised $85 million in what it's calling "Europe's largest ever robotics Series A."
- #She estimated that the team could grow from dozens to up to 120 people by the end of the year, then caught herself: "I am saying that, but I also said that we'd raise $30 [million] or $40 million!"
Unlike humanoid robots designed around a fixed form - think Boston Dynamics - Theker's machines are built to be reconfigured. Humanoids aren't quite ready to replace factory workers, but the industry can't wait. Faced with labor shortages, manufacturers have shown growing interest in startups that promise faster automation without the usual trade-offs.
That's the bet behind Theker , an AI robotics startup that aims to go beyond robots trained for a single task. "If you always have to put the same cookie in the same box, that works perfectly, but most processes aren't like that," co-founder Carla G贸mez Cano told TechCrunch. Theker is designed for that messier reality.
Unlike humanoid robots designed around a fixed form - think Boston Dynamics - Theker's machines are built to be reconfigured. Their hands, arms, and overall form can be swapped out or resized depending on the task, whether that's sorting packages, packing clothing, or handling bottles and cans in a warehouse. That Inditex, Zara's parent company, signed on as an early backer is a signal of where Theker's ambitions start, not where they end.
For more details please read the original article at TechCrunch AI.
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