Key takeaways
- Top pick: Figure AI, best for: Manufacturers piloting general-purpose humanoids.
- Also near the top: Skild AI, best for: Robot makers and operators that need a general robot brain; and Physical Intelligence, best for: Robotics teams building on general-purpose robot models.
- How it was ranked: 10 startups compared. Each verdict is below.
Best Robotics Startups: Top 10 Ranked. Figure AI ranks first, with a Lister Score of 97.1.
Figure AI is the highest-valued robotics startup globally, building general-purpose humanoids, and
Skild AI leads in general robot AI with fast-growing revenue.
Physical Intelligence is the strongest open robot model developer,
FieldAI leads autonomy for construction and industrial sites, and
Apptronik's Apollo humanoid has partners including Mercedes-Benz and GXO.
Best Robotics Startups in 2026, compared| RANK | ENTRY | BEST FOR | SCORE | FROM |
|---|
| 1 |  Figure AIFigure raised more than $1 billion in a Series C in September 2025 at a $39 billion post-money valuation. | Manufacturers piloting general-purpose humanoids | 97.1 | Not public |
|---|
|
| 2 |  Skild AISkild says its revenue grew from zero to about $30 million in a few months in 2025, across security, construction, warehouses and factories. | Robot makers and operators that need a general robot brain | 95.8 | Custom |
|---|
|
| 3 |  Physical IntelligencePhysical Intelligence released the weights and code for its π0 robot model as open source in February 2025. | Robotics teams building on general-purpose robot models | 94.5 | Not public |
|---|
|
| 4 |  FieldAIFieldAI reports more than $135 million in cumulative revenue and contracts with more than 30 clients, according to AI Weekly. | Construction, energy and defence operators deploying field robots | 93.2 | Custom |
|---|
|
| 5 |  ApptronikApptronik's partners include Mercedes-Benz, GXO Logistics and Jabil, and its investors include Google, John Deere and the Qatar Investment Authority. | Manufacturers and logistics operators running humanoid pilots | 91.9 | Custom |
|---|
|
| 6 |  NEURA RoboticsNeura says its order book and strategic deployment pipeline exceed $1 billion. | Manufacturers adding collaborative robots | 90.6 | Custom |
|---|
|
| 7 |  DexterityDexterity's customers include FedEx, GXO Logistics and Sagawa Express, according to The Robot Report. | Parcel and logistics operators automating trailer unloading | 89.3 | Custom |
|---|
|
| 8 |  GalbotGalbot reports thousands of cumulative orders from partners including Toyota, Hyundai Motor, CATL and Bosch, according to Caixin. | Factories and retailers in China deploying humanoids | 88.0 | Not public |
|---|
|
| 9 |  Carbon RoboticsCarbon Robotics says LaserWeeder growers have treated more than 250,000 acres. | Specialty crop growers cutting herbicide and hand-weeding costs | 86.7 | Not public |
|---|
|
| 10 |  Chef RoboticsChef Robotics' website counts more than 98 million servings produced by its robots. | Food manufacturers automating meal assembly | 85.4 | Custom |
|---|
|
|
How to choose
Start from what you need it for. Where each entry fits best:
- Figure AI (#1): Manufacturers piloting general-purpose humanoids
- Skild AI (#2): Robot makers and operators that need a general robot brain
- Physical Intelligence (#3): Robotics teams building on general-purpose robot models
- FieldAI (#4): Construction, energy and defence operators deploying field robots
- Apptronik (#5): Manufacturers and logistics operators running humanoid pilots
- NEURA Robotics (#6): Manufacturers adding collaborative robots
- Dexterity (#7): Parcel and logistics operators automating trailer unloading
- Galbot (#8): Factories and retailers in China deploying humanoids
- Carbon Robotics (#9): Specialty crop growers cutting herbicide and hand-weeding costs
- Chef Robotics (#10): Food manufacturers automating meal assembly
Each entry's full verdict is below.
The ranking, in detail
01
General-purpose humanoid robots
Figure AI, founded in 2022 and based in San Jose, California, builds general-purpose humanoid robots, now on its third generation, Figure 03, and is scaling production at its BotQ facility.
PROS- Heavy investment in robot AI
- Fast pace of new hardware generations
CONS- Not on open sale
- Early commercial stage
- Best for
- Manufacturers piloting general-purpose humanoids
- Where it falls short
- It is not available for open purchase yet.
- Pick something else if
- you need a robot you can buy today.
97.1
02
General-purpose AI brain for robots
Skild AI, founded in 2023 in Pittsburgh, builds a general-purpose AI model that controls many types of robots. It raised $1.4 billion in a Series C led by SoftBank in January 2026, at a valuation of more than $14 billion.
PROS- Works across many robot types
- Early revenue at scale
CONS- Depends on partners' hardware
- Young company
- Best for
- Robot makers and operators that need a general robot brain
- Where it falls short
- It depends on partners' hardware for deployment.
- Pick something else if
- you need fully integrated hardware solutions.
95.8
03
Open, general-purpose robot models
Physical Intelligence, founded in 2024 in San Francisco, builds general-purpose AI models for robots, including the π0 family. It raised $600 million at a $5.6 billion valuation in November 2025, according to Crunchbase News.
PROS- Open-sourced early models
- Strong research team
CONS- Limited commercial products so far
- Price not published
- Best for
- Robotics teams building on general-purpose robot models
- Where it falls short
- It has limited commercial products so far.
- Pick something else if
- you need immediate commercial availability.
94.5
04
Autonomy for robots in unmapped industrial sites
FieldAI, founded in 2023 and based in Irvine, California, builds autonomy software that lets robots work on construction, energy and defence sites without prior maps. It raised $700 million at a $10 billion valuation in October 2026.
PROS- Strong revenue for a young startup
- Runs on many robot types
CONS- Relies on partner hardware
- Young company
- Best for
- Construction, energy and defence operators deploying field robots
- Where it falls short
- It relies on partner hardware for deployment.
- Pick something else if
- you need fully integrated hardware solutions.
93.2
05
Apollo humanoid for logistics and manufacturing
Apptronik, founded in 2016 and based in Austin, Texas, builds Apollo, a general-purpose humanoid for logistics and manufacturing. It closed a $520 million extension in February 2026, taking its Series A to more than $935 million.
PROS- Automotive pilot customer
- Backed by Google and Mercedes-Benz
CONS- Pilot stage
- Price not published
- Best for
- Manufacturers and logistics operators running humanoid pilots
- Where it falls short
- Pilot stage.
- Pick something else if
- you need a commercially available robot with known pricing.
91.9
06
Cognitive robot arms and humanoids
Neura Robotics, founded in 2019 in Metzingen, Germany, builds cognitive robots, from collaborative robot arms to humanoids. It announced a Series C of up to $1.4 billion in June 2026.
PROS- Range runs from robot arms to humanoids
- Strategic backers including Qualcomm and Bosch
CONS- Humanoid still at an early stage
- Order pipeline figure is company-reported
- Best for
- Manufacturers adding collaborative robots
- Where it falls short
- The humanoid product remains at an early stage of development.
- Pick something else if
- you need a mature humanoid robot today.
90.6
07
AI robots for truck loading and unloading
Dexterity, founded in 2017 in Redwood City, California, builds AI-driven robots for logistics, including DexR, a two-armed system that unloads boxes from trailers and containers. It raised $95 million at a $1.65 billion valuation in March 2025.
PROS- Named logistics customers
- Focused on a heavy, repetitive job
CONS- Narrow logistics focus
- Less funding than humanoid rivals
- Best for
- Parcel and logistics operators automating trailer unloading
- Where it falls short
- Narrow logistics focus.
- Pick something else if
- you need broader capabilities beyond logistics.
89.3
08
Humanoid robots for industry and retail
Galbot, founded in 2023 in Beijing, builds humanoid robots for manufacturing, retail and healthcare. It raised 2.5 billion yuan, about $362 million, in March 2026 and is preparing a Hong Kong listing.
PROS- Large order base
- Major industrial partners
CONS- Mainly active in China
- Price not published
- Best for
- Factories and retailers in China deploying humanoids
- Where it falls short
- It does not publish its pricing, making budget planning difficult.
- Pick something else if
- you need transparent upfront costs.
88.0
09
LaserWeeder for herbicide-free weed control
Carbon Robotics, founded in 2018 in Seattle, makes the LaserWeeder, which uses computer vision and lasers to kill weeds without herbicides. It raised a $70 million Series D in October 2024.
PROS- No herbicides needed
- In use on commercial farms
CONS- Mainly suited to specialty crops
- Price not published
- Best for
- Specialty crop growers cutting herbicide and hand-weeding costs
- Where it falls short
- The price is not published, so you cannot determine if it fits your budget.
- Pick something else if
- you need to know the cost upfront.
86.7
10
AI robots for meal assembly
Chef Robotics, founded in 2019 in San Francisco, makes AI-enabled robots that assemble meals in food production, offered through robotics-as-a-service. Customers include Taylor Farms, Amy's Kitchen and CookUnity.
PROS- Large production track record
- Lease model avoids upfront cost
CONS- Food production only
- Smaller funding than larger robotics startups
- Best for
- Food manufacturers automating meal assembly
- Where it falls short
- It is limited to food production only.
- Pick something else if
- you need automation for non-food tasks.
85.4
Put your company on this ranking
Ask us for a quote for one, two or three years. Nothing recurring.
Positions #4 to #10 are available on request. Contact us.
Not on this ranking?Tell us about your company and we will reply by email.
Frequently asked questions
What are the best Robotics Startups?
Figure AI ranks first on Lister. Figure AI, founded in 2022 and based in San Jose, California, builds general-purpose humanoid robots, now on its third generation, Figure 03, and is scaling production at its BotQ facility.
What are the top 10 Robotics Startups?
1. Figure AI; 2. Skild AI; 3. Physical Intelligence; 4. FieldAI; 5. Apptronik; 6. NEURA Robotics; 7. Dexterity; 8. Galbot; 9. Carbon Robotics; 10. Chef Robotics.
Some links on Lister are affiliate links. Rankings are not affected.
Related rankings
