1X Technologies Company Profile: Building Robots for Homes
1X Technologies is the humanoid robot company most focused on the consumer home market. While Tesla targets mass manufacturing and Figure AI prioritizes industrial use, 1X is building robots specifically for household environments. This profile examines the company behind the Neo humanoid robot.
Company Overview
1X Technologies was founded in 2014 in Norway as Halodi Robotics. The company was rebranded as 1X Technologies in 2023 as part of its expansion into the US market. The company is headquartered in Oslo, Norway, with significant operations in San Francisco.
Unlike many humanoid robot startups that emerged in the 2022 to 2024 wave, 1X has been developing humanoid robots for over a decade. This long-term focus has allowed the company to develop deep expertise in home-specific robotics challenges.
The EVE Robot
Before Neo, 1X developed EVE, a telepresence robot that allowed remote operators to control a humanoid body. EVE was deployed in care facilities and security applications, where it allowed caregivers and security personnel to interact with people remotely.
EVE was not a true autonomous humanoid — it required human teleoperation. But it gave 1X years of real-world experience with humanoid form factors in home and care environments. This experience informed the design of Neo, which is fully autonomous.
EVE deployments also generated revenue, allowing 1X to fund development without relying solely on investor capital. This is unusual among humanoid robot startups and gives 1X a more sustainable financial position.
Funding and Investors
1X Technologies has raised over $125 million in funding. Key investors include:
- OpenAI — Both investor and AI partner
- EQT Ventures — European venture capital
- Samsung Next — Samsung's investment arm
- Skyview Capital — Private equity
- Berder Gowman — Norwegian investment group
While 1X's funding is smaller than Figure AI's ($675M) or Tesla's vast resources, $125 million is substantial for a startup. Combined with EVE revenue, 1X has the resources to develop and launch Neo.
The OpenAI investment is particularly significant. Like Figure AI, 1X has a partnership with OpenAI for AI model development. This gives Neo access to leading language model research.
The Neo Strategy
1X's strategy with Neo is fundamentally different from Tesla and Figure. Rather than building the most capable or cheapest humanoid, 1X is building the safest and most home-appropriate humanoid. Every design decision considers the home environment:
- Lighter weight (66 pounds) — Safer in falls, less likely to cause injury
- Compliance-based actuators — Inherently safer than rigid actuators
- Soft, fabric-covered exterior — Less intimidating, safer to touch
- Friendlier appearance — Designed for consumer acceptance
- Home-focused task training — Optimized for household tasks, not industrial work
This home-first approach means Neo may be less capable than Figure 02 in raw manipulation, and may not match Tesla Optimus on price at scale. But for home use, Neo's safety and design advantages may matter more than raw capability.
The OpenAI Partnership
1X's partnership with OpenAI (also an investor) gives Neo access to leading AI research. While 1X develops its own robotics-specific AI (called NEO AI), the OpenAI collaboration provides advanced language understanding and reasoning capabilities.
This means Neo should be able to understand natural language commands and reason about tasks at a level comparable to Figure 02. The OpenAI partnership is a significant advantage for 1X.
Manufacturing and Scale
1X's biggest challenge is manufacturing scale. The company is much smaller than Tesla and has less experience with volume production. Scaling from prototypes to thousands of units per year is a significant challenge.
To address this, 1X has been building manufacturing partnerships and investing in production capacity. The company's initial consumer launch (late 2026) will be limited to Norway and select US markets, suggesting conservative production plans.
If Neo proves successful, 1X will need to scale rapidly to meet demand. This is a common challenge for robotics startups and will be a key test of the company's execution.
Path to Market
1X is targeting the earliest consumer humanoid launch among the leading contenders:
- Late 2026: Limited Neo shipments to selected pre-order customers in Norway and select US markets
- 2027: Broader availability through North America and Europe
- 2028: Scaling production, potentially reaching 10,000+ cumulative units
- 2029+: Mass market expansion
Pricing has not been announced but is expected to be around $20,000 to $25,000, competitive with Tesla Optimus.
Risks and Challenges
1X Technologies faces several risks:
- Manufacturing scale — Smaller than Tesla, less experience with volume production
- Brand recognition — 1X is virtually unknown to mainstream consumers
- Financial resources — Less funding than Figure AI, though still substantial
- Competition — Tesla and others may capture market share before 1X scales
- Battery life — Neo's estimated 4-hour runtime is shorter than competitors
- Payload capacity — Lighter frame means lower payload than heavier robots
Despite these risks, 1X is the most credible contender for the first true consumer humanoid robot. The company's decade of experience, home-first design philosophy, and OpenAI partnership give it a genuine opportunity to lead the consumer market.
Why 1X Matters
1X Technologies matters because it is the only leading humanoid robot company explicitly focused on the home market. While Tesla and Figure pursue industrial applications, 1X is building robots for your living room. This focus shows in every aspect of Neo's design.
If you are a consumer considering a humanoid robot, 1X Neo should be at the top of your list. It may not be the most capable or the cheapest, but it is the most home-appropriate. For households with children, pets, or safety concerns, Neo's lighter weight and compliance-based actuators make it the safest choice.
The next 18 months will be critical for 1X. If the company can successfully launch Neo and demonstrate reliable home performance, it will establish itself as the consumer humanoid leader. If it struggles with manufacturing or reliability, larger competitors may overtake it.