Barcelona AI robotics firm Theker secures $85 million Series A

Theker, a Barcelona‑based artificial‑intelligence robotics company, announced a $85 million Series A funding round, the largest robotics Series A ever raised in Europe [2]. The round was led by US venture firm CRV and included a mix of corporate and venture investors such as Samsung, LVMH, Cathay Innovation, 20VC and Henkel Ventures.

Key takeaways

• Theker raised $85 million (≈ €73 million) in a Series A round [2]
• Lead investor is CRV; other participants include Samsung, LVMH, Cathay Innovation, 20VC and Henkel Ventures [2]
• Existing backers Inditex and Kibo Ventures also took part [2]
• The funding will be used to accelerate deployments, deepen the AI‑robotics stack and expand the engineering team [2]
• Theker claims its robots are “AI‑native generalist” machines that can adapt in real time to changing industrial environments [2]

Building AI‑Native Generalist Robots

Theker describes its technology as a new category of industrial robotics that combines full‑stack AI with mechanical design to create “generalist” robots capable of handling mixed SKUs, irregular shapes and variable workflows without manual reprogramming [4]. This contrasts with traditional industrial robots, which are typically task‑specific and costly to reconfigure. The company says its robots are already deployed in live production sites across Europe, helping manufacturers, logistics firms and retailers increase throughput, reduce downtime and mitigate labour shortages [4].

Founded in 2022 by Carla Gómez Cano and Jiaqiang Ye Zhu, Theker raised €18 million in seed funding less than a year earlier [2]. The rapid progression from seed to a €73 million (≈ $85 million) Series A reflects what the founders describe as “real commercial deployment momentum” rather than laboratory prototypes [3]. Co‑founder Gómez Cano noted that the new capital will accelerate the company’s vision of delivering intelligent, adaptable robots at global scale [2].

Why it matters

The round signals growing confidence in European AI‑driven robotics, with major non‑tech corporations such as Samsung and luxury group LVMH making their first investments in a Spanish startup [4]. By securing backing from both venture capital and industry giants, Theker positions Barcelona as an emerging hub for advanced robotics innovation. The company’s next steps—scaling deployments with tier‑one industrial operators and expanding its engineering workforce—will test whether its AI‑native approach can deliver on the promise of flexible, production‑ready robots in diverse sectors [2][4].