SoftBank Group Corp. and Nvidia Corp. have entered discussions to lead an investment exceeding $1 billion in Skild AI, a software company developing a foundational robotics model, according to Reuters. The proposed funding round would value Skild AI at $14 billion.
This potential valuation nearly triples the nearly three-year-old startup’s last valuation of $4.7 billion. In May, Skild AI raised $500 million in a round led by SoftBank, with participation from LG Technology Ventures, Samsung, Nvidia, and other investors, according to PitchBook data. Skild did not immediately respond to a request for comment. SoftBank and Nvidia declined to comment on the report.
Skild AI focuses on creating a robot-agnostic foundation model rather than proprietary hardware. This model allows for customization across various robot types and use cases.
In July, the company introduced its general-purpose robot model, Skild Brain. Videos demonstrated robots performing tasks such as picking up dishes and navigating stairs. Skild AI has also established strategic partnerships with LG CNS and Hewlett Packard Enterprise to expand its ecosystem.
Investor interest in AI robotics has increased significantly. Physical Intelligence, a company also developing “brains” for diverse robots, recently reportedly secured $600 million at a $5.6 billion valuation in a round led by CapitalG. An investor who evaluated Physical Intelligence but chose not to fund it told TechCrunch that its model remains in early developmental stages.
Additionally, Figure, a company building a humanoid robot, raised over $1 billion at a $39 billion valuation in September. Meanwhile, 1X, another developer of humanoid robots, was reportedly in talks to secure up to $1 billion at a $10 billion valuation, The Information reported several months prior.
