Agility Robotics, the Oregon-based startup behind the humanoid robot Digit, is reportedly closing in on a massive $400 million funding round. The goal? Ramp up large-scale production of its bipedal robot designed to automate warehouse tasks once handled by humans.
This fresh capital surge is said to be led by WP Global Partners, with backing from SoftBank Group. Once completed, the deal will boost Agility Robotics’ pre-money valuation to a staggering $1.75 billion. It marks a major leap from the company’s previous $150 million round in 2022, which included participation from Amazon’s Industrial Innovation Fund.
Digit’s New Capabilities Promise Smarter, Safer Automation
Alongside the fundraising news, Agility Robotics also unveiled a suite of major upgrades to Digit. The robot now boasts longer battery life, can dock itself autonomously at charging stations, and features enhanced safety systems. Its limbs and end effectors have been redesigned, improving movement precision and expanding the angles at which it can grasp objects.
These improvements are aimed squarely at enhancing Digit’s performance in collaborative workspaces, where robots need to safely operate alongside humans. It’s a big step toward real-world utility in warehouses and logistics hubs.
Agility Robotics Expands Real-World Deployments
So far, nearly 100 Digit units have been deployed across top-tier clients—including Amazon and apparel brand Spanx. Logistics giant GXO is using Digit for tote consolidation, a common warehouse process involving the rearrangement of storage bins.
These practical deployments show that Digit isn’t just a futuristic concept—it’s already delivering value in operational environments. And with demand for warehouse automation on the rise, Agility Robotics is positioning itself as a go-to provider in the space.
Inside Digit: A Humanoid Robot Built for Warehouses
Agility Robotics was founded in 2015 by Jonathan Hurst, Damon Ashcraft, and Marion Hodgins as a spinout from Oregon State University. The company first made headlines with Cassie, a robotic research platform, before introducing Digit to target logistics automation.
Standing 5’9″ tall, Digit is engineered for human-designed spaces. It can carry up to 35 pounds and uses advanced sensors like LiDAR and cameras to navigate and manipulate objects autonomously. Designed for warehouse integration, Digit tackles labor shortages and boosts efficiency without requiring drastic changes to existing workflows.
The Race Is On: How Agility Compares to Tesla and Figure AI
As interest in humanoid robotics surges, Agility Robotics faces stiff competition from high-profile players like Tesla and Figure AI.
Tesla’s Optimus robot, unveiled in 2021, is a direct rival. Elon Musk envisions it as an affordable, all-purpose robot. With Tesla’s dominance in AI, manufacturing, and logistics, Optimus is expected to be tested in Tesla’s own factories before broader rollout. That in-house deployment gives Tesla an edge in refining real-world capabilities quickly.
Meanwhile, Figure AI is betting big on its humanoid robot, Figure 01. The startup has secured major funding and formed strategic partnerships with OpenAI and Microsoft. Their goal? Leverage large language models to enhance robot decision-making. But Figure 01 hasn’t hit the market yet, so it’s still more of a long-term contender than an immediate rival.
Then there’s Apptronik, an Austin-based robotics company developing Apollo. It’s targeting logistics and manufacturing use cases right away, offering a modular and scalable robot aimed at repetitive labor tasks.
What’s Next for the Humanoid Robotics Industry?
The humanoid robotics market is heating up fast. With advancements in AI, machine learning, and robotics hardware, these robots are evolving beyond prototypes. Investors are betting on humanoids to solve labor shortages, improve workplace efficiency, and change how industries—from retail to logistics—operate.
Agility Robotics is now well-funded to push ahead. Its focus on real-world deployment and product refinement gives it a strong competitive edge in the near term. But to truly stay ahead, the company will need to keep innovating while driving down costs and ensuring safety at scale.
Final Thoughts
Agility Robotics’ upcoming $400 million funding round marks a pivotal moment for the humanoid robotics sector. With its Digit robot gaining traction in warehouses and more money flowing in, the company is poised to become a key player in reshaping how we think about automation and human-robot collaboration. As rivals like Tesla and Figure AI continue to push forward, the race for humanoid dominance is just getting started.
