Motion Raises $2M to Expand Humanoids-as-a-Service

The big picture: Brussels-based Motion has secured $2 million in pre-seed funding, led by Extantia Capital with participation from Norrsken Evolve. The capital will enable the company to scale its Humanoids-as-a-Service platform across factories throughout Europe, starting with the Benelux region.

Why it matters:

• Labor Shortage: A 2026 ManpowerGroup survey found that 72% of European manufacturers struggle to fill jobs, particularly for machine and plant operators, hindering industrial growth and clean energy initiatives.
• Growing Market: The global market for humanoid robots is projected to reach $38 billion by 2035, with global humanoid startups raising $8.6 billion in 2026, nearly double the amount from 2025.
• European Lag: Despite the significant global investment in humanoid robotics, most of this funding and expertise remains concentrated outside of Europe, creating a gap for local solutions.

How it works:

• Service Model: Motion offers a Humanoids-as-a-Service platform, providing robots to factories for a single, predictable monthly fee that covers all expenses, including financing, insurance, compliance, and maintenance.
• Task Automation: The company’s humanoid robots collaborate with human workers to perform tasks such as loading goods, packing containers, and placing parts onto conveyor belts.
• Brand Neutrality: Motion selects the optimal robot for each specific job from various manufacturers, ensuring brand neutrality and maintaining customer data on a secure, Europe-based software platform.

The catch: Motion’s $2 million pre-seed round is considerably smaller than the funding amounts secured by many of its US and German counterparts in single rounds. The company faces the challenge of competing with billion-dollar companies that often manufacture their own hardware, while Motion’s strategy focuses on making it easier for businesses to adopt robots rather than building them. Its success hinges on whether a Brussels-based, brand-neutral operator can effectively scale and overcome competitors with significantly larger budgets and vertically integrated operations.