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1X

Category: Robotics / Embodied AI

An AI and robotics company developing general-purpose humanoid androids designed to work safely alongside humans using end-to-end neural networks and proprietary hardware. 1X was founded in 2014. The company is led by Bernt Øivind Børnich. Based in Moss, Norway. Team size: 100-500. Total funding raised: $137M total. Latest round: Series B ($100M, Jan 2024). Key investors include OpenAI Startup Fund, EQT Ventures, Tiger Global, Samsung NEXT, Sandwater, Skagerak Capital.

Founded
2014
Headquarters
Moss, Norway
Team size
100-500
Total funding
$137M total

Value proposition

Delivers human-safe, high-torque androids capable of learning complex tasks through observation and simulation, eliminating the need for task-specific programming and addressing global labor shortages.

Products and solutions

EVE: A wheeled humanoid robot for security, logistics, and healthcare support., NEO: A bipedal, human-centric android designed for home assistance and complex manipulation., 1X World Model: A generative AI framework that allows robots to predict environmental changes and learn from visual data., Revo1 Servo Motors: Proprietary high-torque, gearless drive systems.

Unique value

Focuses on 'safe-to-touch' robotics using muscle-like organic movement and back-drivable motors, allowing robots to interact with humans without the safety cages required by traditional industrial bots.

Target customer

Enterprise security firms, logistics and warehouse operators, and future residential/consumer households.

Industries served

Security and Surveillance, Logistics and Warehousing, Healthcare Support, Consumer/Home Automation

Technology advantage

Utilizes proprietary gearless Revo1 motors for high torque-to-weight ratios and end-to-end learning-from-demonstration, which allows robots to acquire skills via teleoperation and video rather than manual coding.

How they differentiate

1X differentiates through 'safe-to-touch' robotics using proprietary gearless Revo1 motors. Unlike competitors using rigid actuators, 1X robots are 'back-drivable' and move with muscle-like organic tension, allowing them to work safely alongside humans without safety cages. Their partnership with OpenAI provides a unique advantage in embodied AI and end-to-end neural network learning.

Main competitors

Figure AI, Tesla (Optimus), Sanctuary AI, Agility Robotics

Key partnerships

OpenAI (Strategic AI integration and investment), ADT Commercial (Deployment partner for security humanoids), EQT Ventures (Lead investor), NVIDIA (Utilization of Isaac Sim for synthetic data training)

Notable customers

ADT Commercial, Various logistics and security pilot partners

Major milestones

Secured landmark investment from OpenAI Startup Fund in March 2023, Raised $100M Series B to scale commercial humanoid production in January 2024, Unveiled NEO Beta, a bipedal humanoid designed for consumer home use, in August 2024, Released 'World Model' generative AI framework for robotic environmental reasoning in January 2026

Growth metrics

Scaled from 60 to over 180 employees following Series B; expanded operations from Norway to a major AI strategy center in San Francisco.

Market positioning

Human-centric humanoid leader transitioning from industrial security (EVE) to consumer-grade home assistance (NEO).

Geographic focus

Europe (Norway HQ and manufacturing) and North America (San Francisco AI hub).

Patents and IP

Proprietary IP surrounding the Revo1 gearless drive system, high-torque servo motor architecture, and humanoid balance control systems.

About Bernt Øivind Børnich

Bernt Øivind Børnich is the Founder and CEO of 1X (formerly Halodi Robotics). A robotics engineer by training, he has spent over a decade developing high-torque, human-safe robotic systems. He is the primary inventor of the Revo1 servo motors, which utilize a proprietary gearless drive system to achieve high torque-to-weight ratios and 'back-drivability' for safe human-robot interaction. Under his leadership, the company rebranded to 1X and secured a landmark partnership and investment from the OpenAI Startup Fund to integrate embodied AI into humanoid forms.

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