Theker secures $85 million in Europe’s largest robotics Series A

Barcelona-based artificial intelligence robotics startup Theker has raised $85 million in a Series A funding round, a sum the company describes as Europe’s largest ever for a robotics venture. The round was led by American venture capital firm CRV and supported by strategic investors including Samsung and Aglaé Ventures, the investment vehicle associated with LVMH chairman Bernard Arnault. This capital injection follows a record seed round completed less than a year ago, with the company securing more than double its initial target of $30 million to $40 million.

Unlike fixed-form humanoid robots that resemble traditional human anatomy, Theker’s machines are engineered for reconfigurability. The robots feature swappable hands, arms and overall forms, allowing them to adapt to varied tasks such as sorting packages, packing clothing or handling bottles and cans in warehouse environments. This flexibility addresses a market gap where manufacturers face labour shortages but require automation solutions that can handle complex, non-standardised processes without the trade-offs associated with rigid robotic systems.

The funding supports Theker’s ambition to expand beyond its initial focus on retail logistics into heavier industrial manufacturing settings. Early backing from Inditex, the parent company of Zara, signals the company’s retail origins, but co-founders Carla Gómez Cano and Jiaqiang Ye Zhu have outlined broader goals for the technology. Samsung, while not yet a client, is in advanced discussions with Theker, with the company hoping to establish a relationship that encompasses investment, supply chain integration and customer revenue.

Theker’s commercial strategy bypasses traditional innovation departments to engage directly with logistics and operations teams, aiming to secure real deals with shorter implementation timelines. To support this approach and its international expansion, the startup maintains a showroom in central Barcelona and plans to open additional facilities across Europe, the United States and Asia. The company has also received 15,000 job applications, reflecting strong demand for roles in technology, deployment and sales.

Gómez Cano estimated that the workforce could grow from dozens of employees to up to 120 people by the end of the year. The startup’s ability to exceed its fundraising targets reinforces its decision to maintain its headquarters in Barcelona, which is emerging as a significant robotics hub. The company intends to leverage the local and broader European tech ecosystem to accelerate its development and deployment of generalist factory robots.