Skip to content
AIPressRoom

FundingPhysical AI

O-ID Raises $1M to Develop Modular Humanoids

O-ID raised $1M Pre-seed led by TAWANI Ventures to develop modular humanoid robots for Japanese factories.

By Raina Gimmel

Simon Gormuzov and Stian Jakobsen, Co-founders of O-ID.

The big picture: Tokyo-based startup O-ID has secured $1 million in pre-seed financing to develop modular humanoid robots for use in Japanese factories.

Why it matters:

  • Labor Shortage: Japan faces an expected shortage of 11 million workers by 2040, a gap the company aims to address by deploying an equal number of robots.
  • National Strategy: The Japanese government supports this with a national strategy targeting $65.1 billion in public and private investment to integrate 10 million AI-equipped robots into various industries by 2040.
  • Reduced Downtime: O-ID’s modular design allows for quick, on-site repairs, eliminating the lengthy offsite repair times common for traditional robots and maximizing operational efficiency.

How it works:

  • Interchangeable Parts: O-ID’s humanoid robot is designed with modular components, allowing a worn joint, limb, or onboard computer to be unlocked and replaced directly on the factory floor.
  • Rapid Maintenance: Any worker can perform replacements in about five minutes, significantly reducing downtime and the need for specialized technicians or returning robots to manufacturers.
  • Leveraging Existing Supply Chains: The company plans to utilize Japan’s established automotive supply chain to mass-produce its robots cost-effectively, enabling rapid scaling entirely within Japan.

The catch: O-ID’s $1 million pre-seed round is notably small for the capital-intensive humanoid robotics sector, where the median disclosed funding is $145 million and leading companies have raised billions. This raises questions about its ability to compete with heavily funded global players like Figure AI ($2.34 billion), Humanoid ($152 million), and NEURA Robotics ($1.4 billion), despite its strategy to leverage existing Japanese supply chains.

Key Facts

  • Company: O-ID
  • Amount: $1M
  • Round: Pre-seed
  • Investors: TAWANI Ventures (lead), The Hustle Fund, Techstars Japan, angel investors
  • Founders: Simon Gormuzov, Stian Jakobsen
  • Sector: Humanoid Robotics
  • Headquarters: Tokyo, Japan

More in Physical AI

All