Robotics funding jumps 185% as the physical AI race heats up
October 27, 2026
Hi, there. The race to bring AI into the physical world is attracting an extraordinary amount of venture capital. Global robotics startup funding has surged 185% so far this year, Crunchbase data shows, with China and the U.S. dominating investment as startups develop everything from humanoid robots to AI models that help machines navigate the real world. But there’s a catch: Unlike language models, which can train on vast amounts of internet text, physical AI requires enormous quantities of specialized data that are expensive and difficult to collect. Plus, we dig into the risk factors — 90 pages and counting of them — in Anthropic’s newly released IPO filing, look at five unusual recent startup deals, round up last week’s largest U.S. funding rounds, and consider if AI agents need a manager, just like their human counterparts.
🤖 Robotics funding soars 185% as the U.S. and China lead the race
Venture funding to robotics startups has surged roughly 185% through the first three quarters of 2026 compared with the same period last year, Crunchbase data shows. Investment totaled $9.9 billion in Q3 alone, more than double the year-ago figure, with China and the U.S. accounting for the vast majority of this year’s capital. Big rounds have gone to companies including Atoms, Neura Robotics and Skild AI. But building AI for the physical world comes with unique challenges, particularly the cost and complexity of collecting real-world training data.
Related Crunchbase lists:
• Global Robotics Venture Funding In 2026
• Global Physical AI Venture Funding In 2026
👀 Anthropic’s IPO filing: 93 pages of risks and other observations
In a massive filing preceding what could be the largest IPO ever, Anthropic yesterday laid out a bevy of new details about its earnings, growth, key stakeholders and the risks it faces going forward. We dig through the trove of disclosures and highlight some of the more intriguing ones.
Related Crunchbase list: Global IPOs For Venture-Backed Companies In 2026
🎯 Why Reach Capital’s best investments can be its most polarizing
Some of venture capital’s biggest winners are the startups that initially look too unconventional to fund, according to Reach Capital partner James Kim. The former high school math teacher discusses how Reach — which recently raised a $265 million fifth fund — has expanded from education into healthcare and workforce technology, what attracted it to AI detection startup GPTZero, and why the firm is increasingly focused on ownership stakes and secondary sales.
Related Crunchbase list: Global Venture Investment In Edtech And Education-Related Startups In 2026
🏆 The week’s Top 10: AI and … military dogs?
Last week was another interesting one for AI-related startup funding, with a number of large rounds and quirky companies. The largest financings went to Tenstorrent, a developer of AI processors and systems, and AI lab Flapping Airplanes. The quirkiest round, meanwhile, was undoubtedly a $200 million financing for a startup that says it wants to breed elite military dogs.
See also: The Crunchbase Megadeals Board
👔 Your AI agents need a chief operating officer, too
Companies are rushing to deploy autonomous AI agents, but who’s actually responsible when those agents make mistakes? Rick Folgmann, COO of Get Covered, argues that businesses should manage AI agents much like employees, with clear responsibilities, defined limits and human oversight. His company now operates 16 AI agents across more than 3 million rental units. He shares lessons from that experience on which tasks to automate, when humans should remain in control, and why every agent needs someone accountable for its decisions.
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