Barcelona startup THEKER closes Europe's largest robotics Series A with $85 million
Barcelona-based startup THEKER has secured Europe’s largest robotics Series A funding round of $85 million, led by CRV with major investors like Samsung and LVMH participating for the first time in Spanish startups. The company’s adaptive robotics technology, which replaces rigid industrial robots with AI-driven systems for flexible manufacturing, has attracted backing from Inditex, which already uses THEKER’s robots in its logistics operations.
Barcelona startup THEKER has raised $85 million in Europe’s largest robotics Series A funding round, closing the deal this week. The round was led by CRV, with Samsung, LVMH, Cathay Innovation, 20VC, Henkel Ventures, Mercadona, Inditex, and Kibo Ventures participating. Founded in 2022 by engineers Jiaqiang Ye Zhu and Carla Gómez Cano, THEKER’s technology addresses a key limitation of traditional industrial robots, which are rigid and require costly reprogramming for new tasks. THEKER’s robots use advanced vision systems, control hardware, and large language models to operate without pre-programmed instructions, adapting in real time to mixed workflows. This eliminates weeks of downtime and expensive integration typically required for task-specific robots, making automation accessible for smaller manufacturers. Inditex, the parent company of Zara, validated the technology by deploying THEKER’s robots in high-variability logistics operations, where traditional automation fails due to constant changes in production demands. Samsung and LVMH, both investing in THEKER for the first time in Spain, see potential in its adaptable robotics for their own manufacturing challenges. Samsung’s consumer electronics and semiconductor operations face similar automation bottlenecks, while LVMH’s production network combines handcrafted and repetitive tasks. Their involvement signals a broader industry shift toward flexible automation solutions. The funding round also reflects a shift in global venture capital trends, with CRV—a U.S. firm—leading a major European hardware investment. This suggests growing confidence in physical AI applications, particularly in warehouses and factories where traditional robotics have struggled. THEKER’s technology aligns with this trend, offering a scalable alternative to legacy industrial robotics providers like FANUC, KUKA, and ABB. Inditex’s continued investment underscores THEKER’s real-world impact, as the fashion retailer has already proven the robots’ effectiveness in managing variable supply chains. The $85 million round positions THEKER to expand its footprint in Europe and beyond, reinforcing its role in reshaping industrial automation.
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