Mecka AI, a startup specializing in collecting and analyzing human motion data to train humanoid and other robots, announced it has secured $60 million in a Series B funding round. The round was led by Sequoia Capital, with participation from Nvidia, Microsoft’s venture fund M12, and other investors. The company was previously reported to be approaching this funding milestone with a valuation around $500 million.
Founded in 2024, Mecka AI aims to provide the foundational human-generated data necessary for robotics training, similar to how companies like Scale AI and Surge supply labeled data for large language models (LLMs). Mecka’s approach involves paying individuals to perform everyday activities such as making coffee or repairing cars while wearing body sensors and using smartphones to capture detailed motion data.
This data is then used to improve the capabilities of humanoid robots and other robotic systems by providing realistic examples of human movement and task execution. Mecka AI joins a growing field of startups focused on real-world data collection for robotics, including XDOF, which has been reported to be raising funds at a $1.2 billion valuation.
Additionally, companies originally focused on data for LLMs, like Scale AI and Micro1, are expanding their platforms to support robotics applications. Mecka’s funding round reflects increasing investor interest in the intersection of human motion data and robotics, a critical area for advancing robot autonomy and versatility.