Persona AI Secures $27M to Propel Humanoid Robotics Revolution
Deal News | May 14, 2025 | PR Newswire Cision Persona AI Inc
Persona AI, a newly founded company specializing in embodied artificial intelligence, announced the successful closing of its oversubscribed pre-seed funding round, raising $27 million. Founded in 2024 in Houston by robotics veterans including CEO Nic Radford, CTO Jerry Pratt, and COO Jide Akinyode, the company aims to enhance industrial automation via humanoid robots. With support from a consortium of prominent investors like Unity Growth, Tides Ventures, Mirae Asset Group and others, Persona AI is set to revolutionize sectors plagued by labor shortages and safety concerns, such as shipbuilding and industrial manufacturing. Leveraging a robotics-as-a-service model, the company eliminates large upfront costs for clients. Their agreement with HD Hyundai, a global leader in shipbuilding, will see delivery of these robots to shipyards within 18 months. Investors express strong confidence in Persona AI's potential to transform industrial labor through advanced robotics. The market for humanoid labor is projected to reach $3 trillion in the US, driven by AI advancements and demand for human-like automation.
Sectors
- Robotics
- Artificial Intelligence
- Industrial Manufacturing
Geography
- United States – Persona AI is based in Houston, indicating its primary operational geography.
- Korea – Persona AI has a signed agreement with HD Hyundai, a leading global shipbuilding company based in Korea.
Industry
- Robotics – Persona AI is involved in developing humanoid robots to address industrial needs, thus falling under the Robotics sector.
- Artificial Intelligence – The company's focus on embodied AI and its application in humanoid robotics connects it to the Artificial Intelligence industry.
- Industrial Manufacturing – The deployment of Persona AI's humanoid robots in industrial manufacturing aligns it with this sector.
Financials
- $27 million – Amount raised by Persona AI in a pre-seed funding round.
- $3 trillion – Market potential for humanoid labor in the US, according to Morgan Stanley.
Participants
| Name | Role | Type | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Persona AI Inc. | Target Company | Company | A company founded in 2024 focusing on humanoid robotics for industrial applications. |
| Unity Growth | Co-Lead Investor | Company | A venture capital firm that co-led the funding round for Persona AI. |
| Tides Ventures | Co-Lead Investor | Company | A venture capital firm that co-led the $27 million pre-seed funding for Persona AI. |
| HD Hyundai | Client/Partner | Company | A global leader in shipbuilding with whom Persona AI has an agreement to deploy humanoid robots. |
| Nic Radford | CEO | Person | Co-founder and CEO of Persona AI, leading the company's vision in robotics. |