Minerva Humanoids
Builds Roger, a semi-autonomous teleoperated humanoid for hazardous energy work and bomb disposal.
- Robotics funding from mid-September to mid-October 2026: chips, data and safety took the private money while humanoid makers turned to stock markets
In the 30 days to October 14, 2026, MEKAWIRE verified 14 private robotics rounds with disclosed amounts worth $1,071.3 million. Compute chips took 51.3%, robot models 20.5% and data, perception and safety software 8.7%, while humanoid makers received $10 million, or 0.9%, against 13.4% between January and mid-September. The four October rounds, Mecka, Multiply Labs, SafeWorld and Minerva Humanoids, paid for what stands between a capable robot and a paid deployment, while humanoid makers raised through an IPO, a SPAC and a Form D offering.
Subject - Minerva Humanoids raises about $10 million pre-seed from General Catalyst for a teleoperated humanoid aimed at bomb disposal and oil rigs
Minerva Humanoids said in a GlobeNewswire release on Oct 6 that it raised about $10 million in a pre-seed round led by General Catalyst, with Long Journey Ventures and Credo Ventures co-leading. The San Francisco start-up, founded at the end of 2025 by alumni of Tesla's Optimus programme and Boston Dynamics, is building Roger, a semi-autonomous humanoid an operator drives through a VR headset, and starts paid pilots this autumn.
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