Agility Robotics is preparing to become the first pure-play humanoid robotics company to trade on public markets through a merger with Michael Klein’s Churchill Capital Corp XI. The deal values the Salem, Oregon-based company at around $2.5 billion and is expected to raise more than $620 million in gross proceeds, according to a report by TechCrunch.
Why is Agility Robotics going public via a SPAC?
CEO Peggy Johnson stated that the decision to use a special purpose acquisition company (SPAC) rather than a traditional IPO allows Agility to secure a first-mover advantage. Johnson described the move as an “acceleration story and a timing story” for investors seeking direct exposure to the humanoid sector. The company intends to use the capital to scale production at its 70,000-square-foot manufacturing facility in Salem, Oregon, and fulfill a pipeline of existing customer orders.
How does Digit differ from other humanoid robots?
Unlike many competitors focusing on biomimicry, Agility’s flagship robot, Digit, uses a task-specific design. The robot stands about 5’9″ and weighs around 160 pounds. Its most distinct feature is a set of reverse-bend knees, often called “bird legs,” which allow it to reach from the floor to overhead shelving without the knees colliding with warehouse racking. Digit’s hands feature two thumbs and two fingers optimized for gripping heavy plastic totes.
While the robot is “LLM-agnostic”—utilizing models like Claude and Gemini for high-level instructions—Johnson emphasizes that the company’s core advantage is the “physical AI.” Johnson believes Agility may have the largest data lake of actual operating robotics data in real-world environments, which it uses to manage balance, locomotion, and manipulation.
Who are Agility’s primary customers?
Agility operates a robots-as-a-service (RaaS) model where customers pay a monthly fee. According to Johnson, the company has more than $300 million in booked, multi-year revenue representing roughly 1,000 robots. Confirmed customers include:
- GXO Logistics
- Amazon
- Toyota Motor Manufacturing Canada
- Schaeffler
- Mercado Libre
How does Agility compare to other humanoid startups?
The humanoid market has seen massive private valuations recently. While Figure AI self-reported a $39 billion valuation following $1 billion in Series C funding last fall, and Apptronik closed a $935 million round valuing the company at more than $5.5 billion, Agility is opting for the transparency of a public listing.
| Company | Reported/Estimated Valuation | Funding/Deal Status |
|---|---|---|
| Figure AI | $39 Billion | $1 Billion Series C |
| Apptronik | $5.5+ Billion | $935 Million Round |
| AI2 Robotics | ~$3 Billion | $735 Million Raised |
| Agility Robotics | ~$2.5 Billion | SPAC Merger (Pending) |
What are the safety and deployment challenges?
Johnson argues that industrial safety certification is where the gulf between Agility and its competitors is biggest and most consequential. She asserts that safety must be engineered into the electrical systems and software from the start rather than added later. This focus on certification is critical in industrial settings where humans and robots share space. This stands in contrast to recent legal disputes in the sector, such as a lawsuit filed in November by Figure AI’s former head of product safety alleging concerns over robot power and human safety, a claim Figure has disputed.
When will humanoid robots enter the home?
Johnson predicts it will take “10-plus years” before humanoid robots are viable for home use. She compares the challenge to autonomous vehicles, noting that while roads have discipline, homes are chaotic environments with dogs, babies, visitors, and objects left in unexpected places. Agility remains focused on the warehouse market to address a labor shortage of over one million unfilled physically demanding jobs in the U.S.
The merger with Churchill Capital Corp XI remains subject to SEC review and shareholder approval and is expected to be completed later this year.