O-ID raises $1.2 million for modular factory humanoid
Tokyo based O-ID has raised $1.2 million in pre seed funding to prepare its first modular humanoid robot for manufacturing and eventual placement in Japanese factories. According to The Next Web, Chicago based TAWANI Ventures led the round, with participation from Hustle Fund, Techstars and angel investors. The founders of Humanoid Guide also participated as angel investors in the round.
O-ID describes its robot as a fully modular platform for industrial manufacturing and logistics. The company plans to use the capital for production readiness, with automotive manufacturing and logistics as its initial target markets in Japan.
Replaceable hardware is the central design choice
The robot uses hot swappable joints, limbs and compute units, allowing maintenance staff to replace worn components on site. O-ID says onboard sensors will monitor component wear and identify parts approaching failure so replacements can be shipped before the robot stops working.
The architecture addresses a practical weakness in complex humanoids: a relatively small hardware failure can sideline an entire machine. O-ID says its connector technology allows component replacement within minutes and has filed a provisional U.S. patent covering the design. A provisional filing does not indicate that a patent has been granted.
The company also claims its humanoid can operate in existing factory layouts without rebuilding the facility and meets current industrial safety standards. Neither source identifies the applicable standards, certifications, robot specifications, intended tasks or autonomy level, so the readiness claim remains difficult to assess independently.
O-ID has signed a letter of intent with Sumitomo Electric Industries to discuss the potential use of Sumitomo Electric technology in humanoid robot wire harnesses. The agreement is exploratory rather than a confirmed supply or deployment contract.
Japan first, with U.S. expansion planned
CEO Stian Jakobsen and CTO Simon Gormuzov founded O-ID in Tokyo in 2025 after meeting at Waseda University. Jakobsen previously worked in cyber defence, while Gormuzov is a mechanical robotics engineer with experience in industrial robotics. The company joined Techstars Tokyo in 2025.
O-ID operates through a Delaware parent responsible for fundraising and international corporate activity, while its Japanese entity handles research, manufacturing and deployment. The robots are being developed and manufactured in Japan.
The company plans to enter additional industries and the U.S. market over time. It says the platform is designed to meet U.S. National Defense Authorization Act requirements, although the sources provide no technical or supply chain detail supporting that claim.
No named factory pilot, installation date or production target has been disclosed. Factory trials will need to show whether the modular connectors, predictive maintenance system and rapid repair process work under sustained industrial use.
Sources: TNW | Investors-funding, Robotics & Automation News
