Minerva Humanoids raises $10M for remote-controlled bomb disposal robots

Minerva Humanoids has raised a $10 million round led by General Catalyst for its Roger humanoid robot, designed to let specialists perform bomb disposal and oil rig maintenance from a safe distance. The startup, which has not previously appeared in StartupReader’s directory, joins a crowded field of humanoid robotics companies but focuses on hazardous industrial tasks rather than general-purpose automation.

The funding comes as competitors secure larger sums for broader use cases. Maven Robotics reportedly closed a $100 million Series A in October with backing from Gulf investors, while Apptronik’s private share value surged 3,600% on bets its robots will reach factory floors. Minerva’s focus on remote operation in extreme environments might attract investors concerned about overcapacity in the humanoid space.

General Catalyst’s participation suggests the firm sees potential in the model, though the round is smaller than Maven’s. The startup’s emphasis on teleoperation over autonomous capabilities could reduce technical risk in the near term but may also limit its market size. It’s unclear whether customers will pay extra for a humanoid form factor in these applications instead of purpose-built machines.

Minerva has not disclosed deployment timelines or pilot partners. Observers will watch for signs of adoption in bomb disposal units or energy firms, where safety requirements could justify the cost of specialized robots. For now, the round reflects how investors are segmenting the humanoid robotics sector by use case, not just technology.

Sources: thenextweb.com