O-ID Raises $1.2M To Build Fully Modular Humanoid Robots as Industries Brace for a Shortage of Millions of Workers

Tokyo-based O-ID (Techstars 2025) has raised $1.2M in pre-seed funding to build one of the world's first fully modular humanoid robots for industrial manufacturing and logistics.

O-ID will use the funding to move its first robot from prototype to production as it prepares to place robots on Japanese factory floors.

The need is real and growing. Japan's aging population is projected to lead to a shortage of more than 11 million workers by 2040, with factory workers retiring and going unreplaced. The country has made robotics a national priority, announcing in June 2026 that it's targeting ¥10.5 trillion ($65.1 billion) in public and private investment for "physical AI," AI that controls robots and machinery, with a goal of deploying 10 million AI-equipped robots by 2040. In the United States, manufacturers could need 3.8 million new workers by 2033, and as many as 1.9 million of those jobs could go unfilled if the labor gap isn't closed.

Existing industrial robots are rigid, and retooling a factory around them takes significant capital and time. General-purpose humanoids offer more flexibility, but a single failed component can take the whole robot out of commission for months. The stakes are steep for large automotive plants, where an hour of downtime now costs $2.3 million.

O-ID's robots are built to fit into a factory's existing layout with no rebuild required, and they 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, so O-ID can ship a replacement before downtime happens.

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. Stian previously worked in cyber defense, and Simon, a mechanical robotics engineer, spent years in industrial robotics before the two decided to build O-ID together.

"When enough factory roles go unfilled at once, entire supply chains are at risk. 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," said CEO Stian Jakobsen.

"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 of the Techstars Tokyo Accelerator. "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," he added.

O-ID's initial focus is automotive manufacturing and logistics in Japan, with plans to expand into additional industries and the U.S. market over time. The company has also filed a provisional U.S. patent for its modular connector technology. Built and manufactured in Japan, O-ID is designed to meet U.S. National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) requirements as it looks toward shipping robots to the United States.

To learn more, visit o-id.net.