Barcelona-based AI robotics pioneer Theker has successfully closed an impressive $85 million Series A funding round. Led by prominent U.S. venture capital firm CRV, the round attracted high-profile global giants including Samsung, French luxury conglomerate LVMH’s Aglaé Ventures, and Henkel Ventures, alongside strong continuous backing from fashion giant Inditex. Remarkably, the startup secured double its initial funding target, marking a pivotal milestone in Europe’s accelerating industrial automation sector.
While the tech industry eagerly anticipates the arrival of fully functional humanoid robots to address chronic labor shortages, manufacturers cannot afford to wait. This is where Theker steps in with a pragmatic alternative. Instead of building rigid, single-task machines or complex humanoid forms, the 2022-founded startup develops AI-native generalist robots characterized by physical reconfiguration.
“If you always have to put the same cookie in the same box, traditional automation works perfectly. But most industrial processes aren't like that,” co-founder Carla Gómez Cano explained to TechCrunch. Theker’s machines are deliberately engineered for the inherent messiness of real-world logistics and manufacturing. Featuring hardware modules—such as arms and hands—that can be dynamically swapped or resized, the robots seamlessly transition between sorting packages, packing apparel, and handling warehouse inventory without requiring manual reprogramming.
Theker’s commercial approach is as disruptive as its technology. Bypassing standard corporate innovation departments, the founders negotiate directly with operations and logistics units where operational timelines are shorter and contracts are immediate. The startup is already deploying its systems in live environments, working with major entities like Inditex to streamline apparel logistics.
With deep-pocketed strategic backers like Samsung on the cap table, Theker eyes a massive trifecta—positioning the Korean giant simultaneously as an investor, supplier, and customer to build ultimate scalability and credibility.
To support its aggressive expansion across Europe, the United States, and Asia, Theker has established a showroom in central Barcelona and plans to open multiple international venues. The new capital injection will primarily fund technology iterations and global deployments, triggering a massive hiring wave. Despite having to aggressively filter through over 15,000 job applications, the startup expects to scale its headcount from dozens to roughly 120 employees by the end of the year.
By successfully raising twice its targeted amount, Theker cements its commitment to its Barcelona headquarters, validating Europe's tech ecosystem as a premier global launchpad for deep-tech and hardware innovation.
