Tokyo-based O-ID, which is developing a fully modular humanoid robot for industrial manufacturing and logistics, has raised $1.2 million in pre-seed funding. The round was led by Chicago-based TAWANI Ventures, with participation from Hustle Fund, Techstars, and angel investors including the founders of Humanoid Guide. The company will use the capital to move its first robot from prototype to production ahead of deployments on Japanese factory floors.
Key takeaways
- O-ID's modular architecture uses hot-swappable joints, limbs, and compute units, so a worn part can be replaced on-site in minutes rather than taking the whole robot out of service for months.
- Onboard AI sensors monitor component wear and flag parts approaching failure, allowing O-ID to ship a replacement before unplanned downtime occurs.
- The robots are designed to fit existing factory layouts with no rebuild required and to meet current industrial safety standards for immediate deployment.
- Initial focus is automotive manufacturing and logistics in Japan, with plans to expand into additional industries and the US market; the company has filed a provisional US patent for its modular connector technology.
- O-ID has signed a letter of intent with Sumitomo Electric Industries to discuss applying Sumitomo Electric technologies to humanoid robot wire harnesses.
Founded in Tokyo in 2025 by CEO Stian Jakobsen and CTO Simon Gormuzov, O-ID is built and manufactured in Japan and designed to meet US National Defense Authorization Act requirements as it looks toward shipping robots to the United States.
Source: Robotics & Automation News · Published 2026-09-24T22:14:49 · “Japanese humanoid robotics startup O-ID raises $1.2 million to move modular robot into production”