SoftBank and Nvidia are reportedly negotiating a $1B+ investment into Skild AI, the fast-rising robotics foundation model startup, in a deal that would value the company at ~$14 billion — nearly 3× its valuation from earlier this year.
Why Skild AI Is Attracting Mega Investors
Founded in 2023 by former Meta AI researchers and backed by Amazon and Lightspeed, Skild is building universal AI “brains” for robots across all form factors — without manufacturing hardware.
Its general-purpose models aim to solve a core bottleneck in robotics: enabling robots to see, understand, and act like humans across diverse real-world environments.
SoftBank, which recently acquired ABB’s robotics unit for $5.4B, is reportedly impressed by Skild’s pilot results. Nvidia, already a prior investor, sees strategic alignment with its dominance in AI compute.
Deal Snapshot
- Potential valuation: ~$14B
- New funding round: >$1B
- Earlier valuation: $4.7B (Series B)
- Key backers: Amazon, Lightspeed, Jeff Bezos, Samsung, LG VC
- Expected close: Before Christmas
Why This Matters
Investor enthusiasm is surging for humanoid and general-purpose robotics as AI breakthroughs enable robots to perform increasingly complex tasks — from warehouses to home chores.
Still, experts warn that fully general-purpose robots remain years away, with significant technical challenges ahead.
Skild’s model-first approach could position it as a foundational player in the next wave of robotics — potentially becoming the “OpenAI for robots.”
Key Quote (Industry Context)
The Trump administration is reportedly exploring an executive order to accelerate robotics development, signalling a major policy tailwind for the sector.