This Week's Good ReadsForbes — Robotic Surgery Legend Fred Moll Is Pouring $100 Million Into Next-Gen Medical StartupsForbes profiles robotic-surgery pioneer Fred Moll as he channels $100 million into a new wave of medical and surgical robotics ventures, backing startups that aim to make operating rooms smarter, less invasive and more automated. Read the story.

‍36Kr Europe — After the Bubble in the Robotics Industry Bursts, Who Will Become the New Giant?

36Kr argues that the next winners in robotics won’t just have cool humanoids or cutting-edge chips, but the ability to turn robots into “labor assets” deeply embedded in customers’ organizations—moving from one-off hardware sales to scalable Robot-as-a-Service platforms and industry-wide workforce infrastructure. Read the analysis.

• Lumos Robotics – tens of millions USD, Pre-A1 and Pre-A2 round (2025), led by CDH Investments with Shenergy Chengyi Investment Crunchbase. Shenzhen-based developer of embodied intelligent humanoid robots with advanced data collection and hardware for industrial applications.
• Generative Bionics – €70M, Undisclosed round (2025), led by CDP Venture Capital’s Artificial Intelligence Fund with Tether. Genoa-based spin-off from IIT for physical AI humanoid robots for factories and hospitals.
• Ling Sheng Technology – 100M RMB, Pre-A + Pre-A+ round (2025), led by undisclosed listed company Crunchbase. Beijing-based developer of general brain for humanoid robots for factory, retail and hospital workflows.
• Heven AeroTech – $100M, Series B round (2025), led by IonQ with Texas Venture Partners Crunchbase. US-Israeli developer of hydrogen fuel-cell UAS for defense with long endurance.
• Unlimited Industries – $12M, Seed round (Dec 3, 2025), led by Andreessen Horowitz and CIV Crunchbase. San Francisco-based AI-native EPC for critical infrastructure like data centers and advanced manufacturing.
• Sortera – $45M, Undisclosed round (Nov 20, 2025), led by VXI Capital and T. Rowe Price Associates Crunchbase. Indiana-based AI-sorted aluminum upcycler for manufacturing.
• Watch Out Group – $100M CAD, Undisclosed round (2025), led by LISI Group and EMTEK Pitchbook. Montreal-based AI-native autonomous micro-factories for precision parts.
• Unilogo Robotics – undisclosed, Equity co-investment round (Oct 2025), led by Resource Partners and EBRD Crunchbase. Polish builder of adaptive robotic filling and packaging lines for FMCG.
• Omelet – undisclosed, pre-Series A round (Dec 2025), led by KDB, Hyundai Technology Investment, BNK Investment & Securities and Hyundai Motor ZER01NE Crunchbase. KAIST-founded developer of no-code optimization agents for industrial operations.
• Planys Technologies – ₹100 Cr, Undisclosed round (Dec 4, 2025), led by Ashish Kacholia and Lashit Sanghvi Crunchbase. Chennai-based developer of ROVs and AUVs for underwater defence and inspections.
• Antioch – $4.25M, pre-seed round (Dec 4, 2025), led by A* Capital Pitchbook. New York-based provider of simulation infrastructure for robotics teams.
• Daimon Robotics – undisclosed, Fourth round (Dec 3, 2025), led by Lianchang Fund (China Mobile) Tracxn. Shenzhen-based developer of tactile AI for humanoid robots.
• AnyWit Robotics – eight-figure RMB, pre-Series A round (2025), led by Didi Strategic Investment Crunchbase. Hefei-based builder of emotional humanoid heads for education and retail.
• Mujin – $233M, Series D round (Dec 2025), led by NTT Group with Qatar Investment Authority Crunchbase. Tokyo-based provider of MujinOS for warehouse robotics automation.
• Rithmik Solutions – undisclosed, Series A round (Dec 1, 2025), led by Hitachi Construction Machinery Crunchbase. Montréal-based AI for predictive maintenance in mining fleets.
• AILOS Robotics – €3.5 million, seed round (Nov 2025), led by QBIC and HTGF Crunchbase. Brussels-based developer of backdrivable gearboxes for humanoid robots.

Robotics News

• AI-powered robot helps archaeologists restore shattered Pompeii frescoes — CNN’s segment covers an EU-funded robotic system at Pompeii that scans thousands of fresco fragments, uses AI to find matches, and then delicately assembles them with twin robotic arms, dramatically speeding up restoration work while preserving fragile cultural heritage. CNN
• With one small step for AI, Chinese scientists make giant leap for humanity — A Zhejiang University team devises a slip-knot-inspired control method that lets robotic arms “feel” force without bulky sensors, tying and adjusting surgical knots with the finesse of an experienced surgeon and pointing toward safer, more precise autonomous surgery. South China Morning Post
• Hyundai Motor Group Unveils Production–Ready Autonomous Mobility Robot Platform ‘MobED’ at iREX 2025 — Hyundai reveals MobED, a mass-production mobility robot platform with eccentric drive modules, LiDAR-camera navigation, and modular mounting rails; offered in Pro and Basic variants, it targets logistics, delivery, filming, and other indoor–outdoor applications, with production slated for 2026. Hyundai Motor Group Newsroom
• Trump administration weighs major robotics push as part of its AI agenda — Politico reports that the White House is preparing executive actions and an industrial strategy to accelerate robotics deployment alongside its “AI Action Plan,” after consultations with tech and robotics CEOs, amid expert warnings that shifting resources away from basic research could undercut long-term innovation. Politico
• VisionWave Holdings (Nasdaq: VWAV) Signs Definitive Agreement for Its First Acquisition: Solar Drone Ltd. — VisionWave announces a deal to acquire Solar Drone, an autonomous robotics subsidiary of BladeRanger, expanding into defense, security, and solar-farm O&M via AI-driven drones for automated inspection and cleaning of large solar installations integrated with VisionWave’s sensing and navigation stack. GlobeNewswire
• Robots that spare warehouse workers the heavy lifting — MIT profiles Pickle Robot Company, whose AI-enabled robotic arms autonomously unload trailers, grabbing boxes up to 50 pounds with suction grippers and routing them to conveyors, reducing injury-prone manual labor and serving as a platform for broader warehouse and supply-chain automation. MIT News
• Robosen Robotics, Hasbro Debut Transformers' Soundwave Robot — Robosen and Hasbro launch a premium, auto-converting Soundwave collectible that transforms between robot and cassette-player modes, doubles as a Bluetooth speaker, and packs 28 servos plus 200+ recorded voice lines, showcasing advanced consumer-grade entertainment robotics. License Global
• China's top universities plan to roll out 'embodied intelligence' majors to fuel Beijing's robotics push — Business Insider details how seven elite universities, including Shanghai Jiao Tong and Zhejiang University, plan a new “embodied intelligence” major that blends AI and robotics to train urgently needed talent for China’s humanoid robots and autonomous systems sector, which government reports project could exceed 1 trillion yuan by 2035. Business Insider

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