Insider Brief
- O-ID raised $1.2 million in pre-seed funding to move its modular humanoid robot toward production, initially targeting automotive manufacturing and logistics in Japan.
- Tawani Ventures, Hustle Fund and Techstars participated in the round, while O-ID said its robot is designed so major modules can be replaced on-site in about five minutes without tools.
- The company plans to use the funding to prepare its first robot for deployment on Japanese factory floors and later expand into other industries and the U.S. market.
Tokyo-based O-ID has raised $1.2 million in pre-seed funding to move its modular humanoid robot from prototype toward production, with an initial focus on manufacturing and logistics in Japan.
Tawani Ventures, Hustle Fund and Techstars participated in the round, according to O-ID. The company was founded in Tokyo in 2025 by CEO Stian Jakobsen and CTO Simon Gormuzov, who met at Waseda University. Techstars noted in a blog post that Jakobsen previously worked in cyber defense, while Gormuzov has a background in mechanical engineering and industrial robotics.
Modular by Design to Limit Downtime
The company said its humanoid is designed so major modules can be removed and replaced on-site in about five minutes without tools, allowing damaged or worn components to be swapped without sending the entire robot back to the manufacturer. Techstars pointed out that onboard sensors are designed to monitor component wear and identify parts approaching failure, allowing replacements to be sent before a robot is taken out of service.
Techstars indicated the company plans to use the funding to prepare its first robot for production and deployment on Japanese factory floors, which will be a central market for the company. O-ID added that its supply chain is entirely based in Japan and cited research from the Recruit Works Institute estimating the country currently faces a shortage of about 3 million workers that could grow to 11 million by 2040.
“When enough factory roles go unfilled at once, entire supply chains are at risk,” Jakobsen said. “O-ID’s robots are built to work alongside the people still on the floor, closing those gaps before they become a crisis for a single factory and for the industries Japan depends on.”
What’s Next?
Techstars said O-ID is initially targeting automotive manufacturing and logistics, with plans to expand into other industries and eventually the U.S. market. The company is also designing the system to meet current industrial safety requirements and U.S. National Defense Authorization Act requirements as it considers future sales in the United States. The investor also said O-ID has filed a provisional U.S. patent covering its modular connector technology.
“I originally selected Stian and Simon not simply because of their brilliant minds, but because they are building something truly unique,” said Yuki Shirato, managing director of the Techstars Tokyo Accelerator. “O-ID humanoid robots will be modular, designed for mass production and repairs, and made entirely in Japan. They have made tremendous progress since then, and this fundraise and joint research with Japanese manufacturers mark an important step forward in their mission of reshaping how we live.”
Image credit: O-ID