Tokyo-based O-ID has raised $1.2 million in seed funding to accelerate the development of its fully modular humanoid robot for industrial manufacturing and logistics.
Led by Chicago-based Tawani Ventures, the funding round saw participation from Hustle Fund, Techstars and angel investors. O-ID will use the funds to move its first robot from prototype to production.
O-ID was founded in Tokyo in 2025 by CEO Stian Jakobsen from Norway and CTO Simon Gormuzov from the Netherlands, who met at Waseda University. Jakobsen previously worked in cyber defence, and Gormuzov, a mechanical robotics engineer, spent years in industrial robotics before the two decided to build O-ID together.
Japan’s ageing workforce is projected to shrink, leading to a shortage of over 11 million workers by 2040 according to Bloomberg. At the same time, robotics is a national priority with the country announcing in June that it is targeting ¥10.5 trillion ($65.1 billion) in public and private investment for “physical AI” (AI that controls robots and machinery), aiming to deploy 10 million AI-equipped robots by 2040.
“When enough factory roles go unfilled at once, entire supply chains are at risk,” said Jakobsen. “O-ID’s robots are built to work alongside the people still on the floor, closing those gaps before they become a crisis for a single factory and for the industries Japan depends on.”
O-ID’s robots are designed to overcome the current rigidity and retooling concerns around existing industrial robots. The company says they can fit into a factory’s existing layout without the new for rebuild and meet current industrial safety standards for immediate deployment.
Their modular architecture with hot-swappable joints, limbs, and compute units means a worn part can be replaced on-site in minutes. Onboard AI sensors continuously monitor component wear and flag parts approaching failure, allowing O-ID to ship a replacement before downtime occurs.
“Japan and Chicago share a robust role and history as lynchpins of the global manufacturing ecosystem,” said William Pritzker, partner at Tawani Ventures. “Stian and Simon have impressed us with their ability to work and to innovate within this space.
“Modular humanoids are a generational opportunity to expand industrial productivity just as labour force declines present unprecedented challenges. O-ID will lead the transfer of decades of Japanese robotics expertise, learnings and supply chain into an AI-native, adaptable platform.”
O-ID’s initial focus is automotive manufacturing and logistics in Japan, with plans to expand into additional industries and the US market over time. It has also filed a provisional US patent for its modular connector technology.
“I originally selected Stian and Simon not simply because of their brilliant minds, but because they are building something truly unique,” said Yuki Shirato, managing director at Techstars.
“O-ID humanoid robots will be modular, designed for mass production and repairs, and made entirely in Japan. They have made tremendous progress since then, and this fundraise and joint research with Japanese manufacturers mark an important step forward in their mission of reshaping how we live.”
Humanoid robots have garnered increasing attention lately, with the likes of Siemens and Nvidia recently deploying humanoids in industrial operations while Chinese authorities announced plans to assign unique digital IDs to already-deployed machines using a system similar to those used for internet-connected devices and vehicles.
