Persona AI Lands $27M Pre-Seed to Fast-Track Humanoid Robots for Heavy Industry

Persona AI Secures $27M Pre-Seed to Deploy Humanoids in Shipyards and Factories

Houston, TX – Persona AI, a robotics company founded in 2024 with ambitions to tackle demanding industrial tasks, today announced it has closed an oversubscribed pre-seed funding round, raising $27 million. The substantial investment is aimed at accelerating the development and deployment of its humanoid robot platform, specifically engineered for challenging environments like shipbuilding and industrial manufacturing.

The company, led by robotics veterans Nic Radford (CEO), Jerry Pratt (CTO), and Jide Akinyode (COO), intends to use the funds to address critical labor shortages and enhance workplace safety in these sectors. Persona AI is pursuing a robotics-as-a-service (RaaS) model, which aims to lower the barrier to entry for clients by eliminating large upfront capital investments.

Accelerated Timeline with HD Hyundai

A significant portion of the funding will support Persona AI's existing collaboration with HD Hyundai, a global leader in shipbuilding. According to the announcement, Persona AI has signed an agreement to deploy humanoid robots into HD Hyundai's shipyards, with an ambitious target for initial deliveries within the next 18 months.

This timeline appears to represent an acceleration or a new phase compared to a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) detailed by us earlier this month. That MoU, which also involved robotics integration firm Vazil Company, outlined the development of AI-powered humanoid welders with prototypes expected by late 2026 and deployment from 2027. The specifics of the "initial delivery" units expected within 18 months and how they relate to the previously discussed welding robots have not yet been fully detailed, but the commitment signals a rapid pace of development.

"We're deeply grateful to our investors, not just for capital, but for their conviction in a bold vision," said Radford in the press release. "These partners understand the scale and transformative potential of humanoid robot labor."

Investor Confidence in Industrial Humanoids

The pre-seed round was co-led by Unity Growth and Tides Ventures, with participation from a wide range of investment firms including Mirae Asset Group, Invicta Growth, and Embedded Ventures, among others.

Shankar Gupta Boddu, Unity Growth General Partner, commented, "In the field of humanoid robotics, Persona stands out for tackling the most challenging problems in industrial labor." Mike Loretz, General Partner at Tides Ventures, added that Persona's "early traction with global leaders like HD Hyundai signals massive opportunity."

Persona AI's strategy focuses on purpose-built humanoid robots designed for industrial-grade precision and human-like dexterity in physically demanding settings. This approach, combined with the experience of its founding team—Radford previously founded Nauticus Robotics, and Pratt was CTO at Figure AI and founder of Boardwalk Robotics—appears to have resonated strongly with investors.

Addressing a Growing Market Need

The push for humanoid robots in heavy industry comes as sectors like shipbuilding face persistent labor constraints, particularly in skilled trades that often involve hazardous conditions. Persona AI aims for its robots to support supply chain resiliency and create safer, more efficient workplaces.

The market potential for such technology is significant. The company's announcement referenced a Morgan Stanley report suggesting the market for humanoid labor could reach $3 trillion in the US alone, driven by advancements in AI and global demand for intelligent automation.

The successful pre-seed round and the aggressive deployment timeline with HD Hyundai position Persona AI as a noteworthy new entrant in the competitive humanoid robotics landscape. The coming 18 months will be critical in demonstrating the company's ability to deliver on its ambitious goals in challenging real-world industrial environments.

Read the press release here.