🧠🤖 Physical AI Bets $400M on AGI

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In the first week of June, physical AI surges as Generalist AI raises $400 million at a $2 billion valuation to build hardware-agnostic models for robot learning, and SoftBank enters talks to anchor a potential $800 million round for Munich humanoid maker Agile Robots. Data center capital keeps flowing, with DayOne closing a $4.5 billion Series C to build over 1.5 GW of hyperscale capacity across Asia and Europe, and DriveNets crossing $1 billion in total funding on the back of a $410 million Series D for AI Ethernet fabric.

Mobility accelerates as Uber commits nearly $500 million to self-driving startup Nuro to deploy 35,000 robotaxis alongside Lucid Motors, while CargoX exits stealth with $250 million from Abu Dhabi's BlueFive Capital to scale driverless delivery across the UAE. On the energy front, Sam Altman-backed Helion raises $465 million at a $15.5 billion valuation to bring commercial fusion to Microsoft's grid, as ECO STOR signs Germany's largest battery storage tolling deal — a 300 MW / 700 MWh facility dispatched by RWE's Next Kraftwerke.

Stay sharp,

Next week Vitaly Golomb will be speaking at an executive roundtable alongside senior leaders from EY, Microsoft, and Nvidia on the topic of scaling physical AI within logistics operations. It’s a closed-door, highly curated conversation but if the topic is on your agenda, message Vitaly for details on how to attend.

Spirit AI Closes $222M Series A+ for Embodied Robot Brains
Chinese robotics startup Spirit AI raised $222 million in its fourth funding round in three months, as its robot brain model topped the global RoboArena benchmark.
 (Read more)

Generalist AI Raises $400M at $2B Valuation for Physical AGI
Radical Ventures-backed Generalist AI secured $400 million at a $2 billion valuation to build hardware-agnostic AI models that teach robots to perform real-world physical tasks. (Read more)

Astribot Closes ¥1B+ ($147M) Series B at ¥10B+ ($1.4B) Valuation
Shenzhen's Astribot hit a $1.4 billion valuation and launched the T1, a full-size humanoid robot priced at just $12,500, among the world's most affordable. (Read more)

SoftBank in Talks for $300M+ Slice of $800M Agile Robots Round
SoftBank is in early talks to lead a $300 million-plus stake in a potential $800 million raise for Munich-based AI robotics maker Agile Robots SE. (Read more)

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DayOne Raises $4.5B Series C for APAC-Europe Hyperscale Expansion
GDS Holdings' international arm DayOne closed a $4.5 billion Series C, led by Coatue and Hillhouse, to build over 1.5 GW of hyperscale capacity across Asia and Europe. (Read more)

Polar Data Centres Closes Record €800M ($930M) Nordic Bond
H.I.G. Capital's PolarDC priced Europe's largest-ever Nordic high-yield bond at $930 million — 3.6x oversubscribed — to fund two new AI-ready data centers in 2026–2027. (Read more)

DriveNets Raises $410M Series D for AI Ethernet Fabric
DriveNets hit $1 billion in total funding with a $410 million Series D led by Bessemer and Atreides, as demand surges for its Ethernet-based AI networking for GPU clusters. (Read more)

ZutaCore Secures $100M+ Series C for Waterless Two-Phase Cooling
Israeli startup ZutaCore raised over $100 million from Mitsubishi, Carrier, and Samsung to scale its waterless chip-cooling technology across next-generation AI servers. (Read more)

Invisix Raises €20M ($22M) Seed With Doosan & Hitachi Ventures
Founded by 2 ASML physicists, Invisix raised $22 million to deploy Nobel Prize-winning soft X-ray tech for inspecting nanoscale defects invisible to standard chip-inspection tools. (Read more)

Uber Commits ~$500M to Robotaxi Startup Nuro for AV Fleet Scale
Uber is committing nearly $500 million to self-driving startup Nuro, targeting 35,000 autonomous robotaxis on its platform via a three-way deal with Lucid Motors. (Read more)

Safran Secures €14M ($16M) EU Grant for Electric Aviation Engine Production
Safran landed a $16 million EU Innovation Fund grant to automate production of the ENGINeUS 100 — the world's first EASA-certified electric aviation motor — in Niort, France. (Read more)

CargoX Exits Stealth With $250M From Abu Dhabi's BlueFive Capital
UAE autonomous delivery startup CargoX emerged from stealth with $250 million from Abu Dhabi's BlueFive Capital, already piloting driverless vehicles on public UAE roads. (Read more)

Volteum Raises €2.5M ($2.7M) for Mixed EV/Diesel Fleet OS, Enters UK & BeNeLux
Budapest-based Volteum raised $2.7 million led by Movens Capital to expand its no-hardware fleet management platform — counting Royal Mail, Bolt, and Schneider Electric as customers. (Read more)

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Helion Raises $465M Series G for Commercial Fusion
Sam Altman-backed Helion raised $465 million at a $15 billion valuation to fast-track commercial fusion power delivery to Microsoft's grid. (Read more)

Encosa's €25M ($27M) Seed Scales Battery Storage for SMEs
Munich startup encosa raised $27 million in seed funding to roll out turnkey battery storage-as-a-service for industrial small businesses across Germany. (Read more)

ECO STOR–Next Kraftwerke Sign Germany's Largest BESS Tolling Deal
ECO STOR locked in a 5-year tolling deal with RWE's Next Kraftwerke to dispatch Germany's largest planned battery storage facility — 300 MW / 700 MWh in Saxony-Anhalt. (Read more)