A bold new partnership has emerged as 1X lines up a large order for its consumer-oriented humanoids by teaming with EQT’s portfolio network. The robotics outfit announced a strategic agreement to supply up to 10,000 of its Neo humanoid robots to EQT’s companies over the next few years, spanning 2026 to 2030. EQT, a major Swedish multi-asset investor, backs 1X through its venture arm, EQT Ventures, making this a well-connected sales channel across more than 300 portfolio entities. 1X will negotiate separate deals with each interested portfolio company, the company confirmed to TechCrunch.
This arrangement stands out because 1X’s Neo has been marketed as a home-oriented, consumer-facing robot—heralded as the “first consumer-ready humanoid designed to transform life at home.” In contrast, some peers, such as Figure, have emphasized commercial applications more prominently. While 1X does also market an industrial model called Eve Industrial, the current agreement focuses specifically on the Neo for consumer and household use.
When pre-orders opened in October for the $20,000 unit, the emphasis was on domestic operation—detailing chores the robot can handle and how it interacts with people. The deal, however, signals a shift toward a different deployment scenario: industrial adoption via a broad network of corporate customers rather than direct home use.
From a market perspective, this use case is notably more straightforward to sell. Home humanoids face several hurdles, including a high price point and ongoing concerns about privacy and safety. The Neo includes a privacy feature that some customers may find tricky: human operators can view through the robot’s camera at times, a capability that raises questions about home security and data. Additionally, the physical footprint and potential safety risks around pets and small children complicate consumer adoption, especially given opinions within the venture and robotics communities that widespread consumer uptake could take many years—potentially a decade or more.
1X, founded in 2014, has raised more than $130 million in venture funding from investors like EQT Ventures, Tiger Global, and the OpenAI Startup Fund, among others. While pre-orders reportedly exceeded the company’s targets, 1X did not disclose exact numbers.
If you’re curious about the people behind the headlines, Becca is a senior TechCrunch writer who follows venture capital trends and startup activity. You can reach her at rebecca.szkutak@techcrunch.com for media inquiries or to verify outreach.
