European robotics challenger Mimic secures $16 million to take on US and China in physical AI race
Zurich, Switzerland – Mimic has secured $16 million in funding led by Elaia and Speedinvest, strengthening Europe’s position in the global physical AI race. The Zurich-based robotics startup aims to deliver dexterous industrial robots capable of handling real-world manual tasks that traditional automation cannot perform. The company’s total funding now exceeds $20 million, supporting efforts to scale deployments with major manufacturers and logistics leaders.
The investment comes as industries worldwide seek automation to counter labor shortages and rising production costs. While US and China companies dominate the humanoid robot spotlight, Mimic is betting on a different formula — pairing human-like robotic hands with standard industrial arms, trained through real factory demonstrations instead of staged testing.
A European approach to industrial-ready dexterity
Mimic’s system captures movement data from skilled operators in live manufacturing settings and trains AI foundation models to reproduce human-level manipulation. The approach allows robots to adapt, self-correct, and operate safely in human-designed environments, positioning the company as a scalable alternative to full humanoid robots that remain expensive and difficult to deploy.
The strategy places Europe firmly in the robotics race by focusing on industrial practicality instead of form factor hype. With analysts projecting a $38-billion humanoid and dexterous robotics segment by 2035, backing from leading venture funds signals confidence in a European pathway that prioritizes deployment at scale.
Industry backing as Mimic accelerates growth
Mimic is already working with Fortune 500 manufacturers and global automotive firms, with strong interest from logistics leaders and labor-intensive sectors. Founded in 2024 as an ETH Zurich spin-off, the company has grown to 25 engineers and has received backing from Switzerland’s innovation agency and AWS’ Generative AI Accelerator.
Company leaders emphasize that physical AI, not humanoid theatrics, will determine who wins industrial automation. With this funding round, Mimic positions Europe as a serious contender in next-generation robotics — and moves closer to bringing human-level dexterity to factory floors worldwide.
