ANYbotics raises $20M to scale autonomous inspection robots for hazardous industrial sites

Swiss robotics company ANYbotics has raised $20 million in venture funding from Climate Investment, bringing total funding to $152 million as the Zurich-based startup prepares to launch ANYmal X, the world's first explosion-certified legged robot designed for hazardous environments.

Founded in 2016 as an ETH Zurich spin-off by Dr. Péter Fankhauser, Christian Gehring, and Marco Hutter, ANYbotics builds four-legged autonomous robots that navigate industrial facilities performing inspections humans can't safely reach. The robots use AI-powered navigation, thermal imaging, acoustic sensors and gas detection to try and spot equipment failures before they happen. This is achieved by identifying overheating, abnormal vibrations, and emissions in real-time.

What sets ANYmal apart is its mobility. The robot climbs stairs, navigates confined spaces, and operates autonomously in complex industrial terrain (e.g., oil rigs, mines, power plants) without human oversight. With over 200 units deployed, the fleet runs thousands of weekly inspections for bp, Equinor, ENI, Petrobras, and partners like Siemens Energy and NVIDIA.

Climate Investment's backing accelerates the 2026 market launch of ANYmal X, purpose-built for explosive zones where traditional inspection methods require shutdowns or put workers at risk. One deployment already underway: Norway's Northern Lights CCS facility, where ANYmal autonomously monitors CO2 levels at the normally uncrewed carbon capture site.

The funding builds on ANYbotics' rapid growth ($60 million raised in December 2024, $50 million in May 2023) as industries shift toward autonomous operations to meet safety standards and emissions targets. With Climate Investment's industrial network and the company's proven technology, ANYbotics is positioning legged robots as new infrastructure element for the next generation of industrial monitoring.

Founder: Dr. Péter Fankhauser, Christian Gehring, and Marco Hutter

Sources: Crunchbase, EU-Startups, ANYbotics, Verve VC