Theker just raised $85M to build the factory robot that doesn’t specialize in anything

Theker, an AI robotics startup based in Barcelona, has secured $85 million in Series A funding, marking Europe’s largest robotics Series A round to date. The funding was led by American venture firm CRV, with strategic investors including Samsung and Aglaé Ventures, the investment arm tied to LVMH chairman Bernard Arnault. The company’s modular robots are designed to adapt to various tasks—such as sorting packages, packing clothing, or handling bottles—unlike specialized or humanoid robots like those from Boston Dynamics. Theker’s generalist approach targets industries beyond retail, including manufacturing, where complex manual tasks require flexibility. Early backing from Inditex, Zara’s parent company, signals its retail origins, but the startup plans to scale into heavier industrial applications. Co-founder Carla Gómez Cano emphasized the startup’s focus on real-world deployment, skipping pilot phases to directly engage with logistics and operations teams. The funding comes less than a year after Theker raised Spain’s largest-ever seed round, reinforcing its growth trajectory. The company has already attracted 15,000 job applications and aims to expand its team from dozens to up to 120 by the end of 2024. It will also open showrooms in Europe, the U.S., and Asia to demonstrate its adaptable robotics solutions. Gómez Cano highlighted discussions with Samsung, which could become a customer, supplier, and investor—a strategic trifecta for Theker. The startup’s conviction in Europe’s tech ecosystem, particularly Barcelona’s growing robotics hub, was further validated by exceeding its $30–$40 million funding target. Theker’s modular design addresses labor shortages in manufacturing by offering scalable, reconfigurable automation without the limitations of single-task robots.