For decades, humanoid robots have existed mostly in research labs, science fiction movies, and ambitious prototypes. But a new generation of robotics companies believes the moment for real-world humanoids has finally arrived.

One of the most ambitious players in this emerging field is Neura Robotics, a German robotics startup that is reportedly raising around €1 billion in new funding, potentially valuing the company at approximately €4 billion.

At the center of that vision is 4NE1, a humanoid robot designed to work alongside humans in factories, logistics centers, and other complex environments.

If the funding round succeeds, it could become one of the largest investments in European robotics history — and a signal that the next wave of artificial intelligence may not live only in software.

It may walk.

From AI software to AI machines

The last decade has been dominated by advances in software-based artificial intelligence — from machine learning systems to generative AI models.

But many investors and engineers believe the next major leap will be physical AI: intelligent machines capable of interacting with the real world.

This is where humanoid robotics comes in.

Neura Robotics, founded in 2019 by David Reger, focuses on what the company calls cognitive robotics — machines that combine perception, intelligence, and physical movement in a single system.

The goal is to create robots that can see, hear, understand their environment, and learn from experience.

In other words, robots that behave less like tools and more like teammates.

Meet 4NE1

The company’s flagship humanoid robot, 4NE1, represents this vision.

Developed as a “next-generation humanoid teammate,” the robot is designed to move with human-like fluidity while safely collaborating with people.

Unlike traditional industrial robots that operate in isolated cages, 4NE1 is intended for shared environments where humans and machines work side by side.

Key capabilities include:

• Advanced sensor systems that allow the robot to perceive its surroundings
• Full-body sensing for safe human interaction
• Adaptive control systems that adjust to changing conditions
• AI-based understanding of complex tasks
• Navigation in unstructured industrial environments

This allows the robot to operate in logistics centers, manufacturing plants, warehouses, and service environments where automation has traditionally been difficult.

Instead of replacing humans outright, the goal is to augment human work by handling repetitive or physically demanding tasks.

The Neuraverse ecosystem

Beyond hardware, Neura Robotics is also building a broader software ecosystem known as Neuraverse.

The platform is designed to support the development and deployment of intelligent robots across industries.

Think of it as a shared infrastructure layer where robots can:

• learn new skills
• exchange capabilities
• integrate with industrial systems
• interact safely with human workers

The company describes this concept as similar to building a “smartphone with arms and legs.”

In other words, the robot is not just a machine — it is a programmable platform.

Orders and industrial demand

According to CEO David Reger, Neura Robotics already has nearly $1 billion worth of orders, including customers such as Kawasaki Heavy Industries and Omron.

This suggests that interest in cognitive robotics is growing rapidly among industrial companies.

Several factors are driving that demand:

• labor shortages in manufacturing and logistics
• rising automation needs
• increasing complexity in industrial environments
• advances in AI perception and control systems

Humanoid robots offer a particularly attractive solution because they can operate in spaces designed for humans, rather than requiring factories to be rebuilt around machines.

A massive funding push

Neura Robotics previously raised €120 million in January 2025, in a round led by Lingotto Investment Management, part of Exor’s investment portfolio.

Investors also included Volvo Cars Tech Fund.

Now the company is exploring a much larger round that could reach €1 billion, reportedly with participation from Tether, the company behind the world’s largest stablecoin, USDT.

If completed, the funding would allow Neura Robotics to scale production and accelerate development of humanoid systems like 4NE1.

Europe enters the humanoid race

Globally, humanoid robotics is becoming one of the most competitive frontiers in technology.

Companies in the United States and Asia are racing to build machines capable of performing real-world work.

Neura Robotics represents one of Europe’s strongest bets in that race.

The next decade may determine whether humanoid robots become a niche technology — or the next major platform shift after software AI.

If Neura Robotics succeeds, robots like 4NE1 may soon become a common sight in workplaces around the world.

Not as machines behind cages.

But as coworkers.

Wuld they help us in possible Third World War?