Insider Brief
- Japanese humanoid robotics startup Atom has raised 3 billion yen (nearly $19 million) in seed funding as it develops what it describes as a “new species” of AI-powered humanoid robots designed for manufacturing, logistics and transportation environments.
- The round was co-led by ANRI, Beyond Next Ventures and JAFCO Group, with participation from ALPHA, JIC Venture Growth Investments, Sumisho Venture Partners, Blue Lab, Mitsubishi UFJ Capital and SMBC Venture Capital.
- Atom said the funding will support hiring, development infrastructure and commercialization efforts as the company advances bipedal humanoid robots and physical AI systems while working toward future mass production.
Japanese humanoid robotics startup Atom has raised nearly $19 million, or 3 billion yen, in seed funding as it develops what it describes as a “new species” of AI-powered humanoid robots designed to learn, adapt and work alongside people in manufacturing, logistics and transportation environments.
The round was co-led by ANRI, Beyond Next Ventures and JAFCO Group, with participation from ALPHA, JIC Venture Growth Investments, Sumisho Venture Partners, Blue Lab, Mitsubishi UFJ Capital and SMBC Venture Capital, according to the company.
Tokyo-based Atom said the funding will be used to hire engineers, expand development infrastructure and build the organizational capabilities needed to commercialize its technology.
Founded by Shunsuke Aoki, the company is developing bipedal humanoid robots designed to operate in environments built for people. According to Atom, its approach combines advances in physical AI — systems that can perceive, interpret and act in the physical world — with humanoid robot hardware capable of navigating a range of workplaces.
“The humanoid robot industry is an industry that someone in Japan has to establish,” said Aoki. “We have chosen to be that ‘someone,’ and we have decided to take on the challenge of launching an industry that will represent the 21st century. We have already begun development of a dual-armed, bipedal robot and an AI model, but with this funding, we will vertically launch the development of a global model, the establishment of a supply chain, and the design and construction of a data collection center,”
The company said it plans to focus initially on applications in manufacturing and logistics, sectors facing persistent labor shortages and growing interest in automation. Atom also said it intends to establish a mass-production framework for its robots as development progresses.
Image credit: Atom
