Munich-based robotics startup Microagi has raised $55 million in what is Germany’s largest ever seed funding round, the company announced this week. Founded roughly 10 months ago by former Formula 1 engineers, Microagi focuses on teaching robots to operate in factories and homes by collecting real-world data. The round was led by venture capital firm Hummingbird, with participation from Northzone, LocalGlobe, Village Global, and Redalpine, according to sifted.eu.
The startup captures training data by deploying humans into factory environments and households to gather operational insights that inform the development of humanoid robots. CEO Bercan Kilic, a former Red Bull Racing engineer, described the funding milestone as only a small step compared to Europe’s broader needs in robotics and automation. He emphasized the urgency for investment in robot automation to prevent the decline of the continent’s manufacturing sector, which has lost competitiveness due to offshoring and skill erosion over the past six decades.
Microagi’s approach addresses a critical gap in Europe’s manufacturing and automation capabilities, aiming to reclaim in-house expertise lost to offshoring. The company’s focus on humanoid robots capable of working in complex environments positions it within a growing robotics market seeking to enhance industrial efficiency. The $55 million seed round surpasses previous German seed deals, highlighting investor confidence in robotics startups that combine advanced engineering with real-world data collection.
Microagi’s next steps include expanding its data collection efforts and accelerating robot training to deploy humanoid bots in industrial and domestic settings. The company’s website features imagery symbolizing the challenge ahead, with a humanoid robot pushing a boulder up a mountain, reflecting the uphill task of revitalizing European manufacturing through automation, according to sifted.eu.