Theker Robotics raises $21 million in a round led by Kibo, with participation from Inditex and Kfund

Barcelona-based startup Theker has raised $21 million (€18 million) in seed funding to accelerate the deployment of its adaptive, AI-powered robotics solutions. The round, the largest seed funding in Spain’s history and among the biggest in Europe’s robotics sector, was led by Kibo Ventures, with participation from Inditex — the parent company of Zara —, through Mundi Ventures, and Leadwind, Kfund’s growth fund.

Founded by engineers Jiaqiang Ye Zhu and Carla Gómez Cano, Theker develops robots capable of operating autonomously in complex, ever-changing industrial environments, thanks to a proprietary vision and control platform built on deep learning. This real-time adaptability allows their robots to be deployed across a range of sectors — from logistics and retail to waste management — where conventional robotics often struggle.

All of Theker’s early backers — JME Ventures, Itnig Capital, Mission VC, and s16vc — joined this latest round, alongside prominent business angels from the tech and industrial space, including Carles Reina (ElevenLabs), Verónica Pascual (Asti), Sergej Epp (Lakestar), Felipe Navío (Jobandtalent), and the investment syndicate Calafia.

Theker operates on a Robotics-as-a-Service (RaaS) model, making intelligent automation more accessible by lowering upfront costs and enabling businesses to scale their digital transformation efforts.

With the new funding, Theker plans to scale production, grow its team, and expand internationally, with the ambition to turn Barcelona into a global hub for advanced robotics.

“We’re building an entirely new category in robotics,” said co-founder Carla Gómez Cano. “Our robots adapt and learn in real time, so companies can deploy them across multiple use cases without customization. Automating the physical world should be as easy as launching an app.”

Jordi Vidal, partner at Kibo Ventures, praised the company’s fast execution: “In just a few months, they’ve taken their AI robotics technology from the lab to the production floor — it’s the kind of transformative leap we look for.”

Miguel Arias, general partner at Kfund, highlighted the strategic significance: “The opportunities are enormous. It’s inspiring to see this level of breakthrough innovation emerging from Spain, strengthening Europe’s technological sovereignty.”