Robotics company 1X has identified a significant potential market for its consumer-oriented humanoid robots. The company announced a strategic partnership to make thousands of its humanoid robots available to the portfolio companies of EQT, a large Swedish multi-asset investor. EQT’s venture fund, EQT Ventures, is one of 1X’s backers.
This agreement involves shipping up to 10,000 of 1X’s Neo humanoid robots between 2026 and 2030. These robots will be made available to EQT’s more than 300 portfolio companies, with a focus on manufacturing, warehousing, logistics, and other industrial applications. 1X confirmed it will sign individual deals with each interested portfolio company.
This partnership is notable because 1X’s Neo robot has been marketed primarily for personal use, described as the first consumer-ready humanoid designed to transform life at home. Unlike some competitors, it has not been promoted for commercial purposes. 1X does have a separate robot designed for industrial work called Eve, but this new deal specifically involves the Neo model.
When 1X opened preorders for the $20,000 Neo robot in October, the emphasis was on domestic chores and how the robot interacts with people in a home setting. This industrial deal represents a different use case entirely. This shift is likely because humanoids for the home remain a challenging sell for the foreseeable future, while industrial applications are more readily adopted. The high price tag also naturally limits the pool of potential consumer buyers.
The Neo robot also introduces a privacy consideration that may give consumers pause. Human operators from 1X are able to see through the robot’s cameras into a user’s home. Furthermore, humanoid robots come with potential safety concerns around pets and small children due to their size and stability. Multiple venture capitalists and robotics scientists have stated that widespread humanoid adoption in homes is likely multiple years, if not a decade, away.
The company declined to share specific preorder numbers for the Neo but stated that preorders far exceeded its initial goal. Founded in 2014, 1X has raised more than $130 million in venture capital from firms including EQT Ventures, Tiger Global, and the OpenAI Startup Fund.