1X and EQT to Deploy 10,000 Humanoid Robots Across Global Portfolio

• Up to 10,000 robots will be offered to EQT’s portfolio companies between 2026 and 2030.
• Initial pilots will begin in the U.S., targeting logistics, manufacturing, and healthcare use cases.

1X, the company behind the humanoid robot NEO, has formed a strategic partnership with EQT, one of the world’s largest private equity firms, to broaden the commercialization of humanoid robotics across multiple industries. The collaboration aims to make up to 10,000 humanoid robots available to EQT’s global portfolio companies over a four-year period. In doing so, 1X says this will help "strengthen its position as a frontrunner in the global race to commercialize general-purpose humanoid robots at scale."

“Humanoid robotics is moving from fiction to real-world deployment, and 1X is uniquely positioned to lead the next wave of mass-market robotic adoption,” said Ted Persson, lead Partner in EQT Ventures, in a press release. “This isn’t about replacing people, it’s about giving them superpowers. By making 1X’s technology available to our portfolio companies, we help them tackle labor shortages, improve safety, and unlock new levels of productivity in the industries that keep the world running.”

Pilot deployments are set to start in the United States in 2026, followed by expansion into Europe and Asia. Each EQT company will make its own deployment decision, with early access to 1X’s manufacturing and integration services. The focus will be on high-impact use cases involving close human-robot interaction, including logistics, warehousing, facility operations, manufacturing, and healthcare.

1X develops humanoid robots built to operate in everyday environments, including homes, workplaces, and industrial sites. Its newest model, NEO, recently opened for preorder as a multifunctional home robot, powered by 1X’s generalist AI, Redwood. The robot is expected to ship next year. EQT Ventures has been an investor in 1X since 2023.

🌀 Tom’s Take:

Smart move by 1X to scale humanoid adoption through EQT’s portfolio. It’s a win for 1X on product adoption, a win for portfolio companies to get early access to next-gen technology, and a win for the venture firm, which has backed it all.

Source: Business Wire / 1X