Stockholm-based robotics startup 120ft has emerged from stealth after raising €576,000 in angel funding to develop autonomous microfactories built around humanoid robots for local manufacturing. Founded in 2025 by Martin Willers, the company targets consumer brands that want to assemble products in smaller batches instead of committing to large production runs and long international supply chains.
Key takeaways
- Factory format: The design uses three 40-foot containers covering component preparation, assembly, inspection and packing — the source of the company name.
- Technology stack: Humanoid robots are combined with AI, virtual production-line simulation and proprietary orchestration software. Product designs, parts lists and quality requirements are converted into digital instructions so assembly processes can be tested virtually before production starts.
- Skill-teaching gains: 120ft says the time needed to teach one end-to-end robot assembly skill fell from seven weeks in 2025 to seven hours in 2026, with a target of seven minutes in 2027.
- Demonstration: Robots assembled a lamp, including installing a cylinder lock, threading the bulb fitting and running a functional test.
- Business model: 120ft plans to operate the factories itself, with customers paying per finished product rather than buying robots or building their own automated lines.
The round drew 22 angel investors, including Ted Persson of EQT's Scaleup Europe Fund, Sophia Bendz of Cherry Ventures, Fashwell co-founder Matthias Dantone and Sam Baker of Planet A. Baker noted that a robot alone does not solve the manufacturing problem, arguing brands also need tooling, software, quality control and operational systems. The funding will support software and factory infrastructure development ahead of commercial production, with longer-term plans to extend the model to repair, upgrades and remanufacturing.
Source: Robotics & Automation News · Published 2026-10-22T19:19:53 · “120ft emerges from stealth with €576,000 to build humanoid-powered microfactories”