Spanish robotics startup Theker has raised €18 million (approximately $21 million) in seed funding – the largest seed round ever recorded in Spain, and one of the most significant early-stage investments in European robotics to date.
The round was led by Kibo Ventures, with participation from Kfund’s Leadwind fund and strategic investment from Inditex, the global fashion group behind brands like Zara and Massimo Dutti. Other backers include existing investors JME, Itnig, Mission, s16vc, and notable angel investors from the tech and industrial sectors.
Theker is developing advanced robotics systems capable of adapting to unstructured environments – a challenge that has long limited traditional automation in industries like retail, logistics and manufacturing. Its robots integrate advanced vision, control systems and large language models (LLMs), allowing them to operate flexibly without requiring pre-programmed instructions.
“We’re building an entirely new category in robotics,” said co-founder Carla Gómez Cano. “Our robots adapt and learn in real time, making them deployable across multiple sectors without the need for customization. Automating the physical world should be as easy as launching an app.”
Inditex sees strategic value in flexible automation
Theker’s ability to deploy robotics in complex real-world settings has already attracted corporate customers – most notably Inditex, one of Spain’s most valuable and globally recognized companies. The retailer is already working with Theker to automate critical factory operations that have historically been difficult to mechanize.
Theker’s platform offers a potential solution to several pressing challenges in the retail sector. As outlined in McKinsey’s State of Fashion 2025, the industry is heading into a period of uncertainty, driven by rising price sensitivity among consumers, global trade shifts and growing demand for operational efficiency. The ability to introduce smart automation – with minimal infrastructure overhaul – is becoming an increasingly valuable competitive advantage.
In fact, the global retail robotics sector is projected to grow from $20.12 billion in 2024 to $181.14 billion by 2031, at a CAGR of 31.61%.
For Inditex, backing Theker is a bet on a more resilient and adaptive industrial future.
A new generation of robotics
Theker’s approach is rooted in research. The company recently co-authored a study with Meta AI and ServiceNow, introducing InCoRo, a robotics control framework that leverages LLMs, computer vision and in-context learning. Unlike traditional robotic systems, which rely on static plans and task-specific programming, InCoRo enables real-time feedback and control adaptation – a major step toward general-purpose industrial robotics.
This blend of hardware and AI is what sets Theker apart. The company’s robots can be deployed across sectors – from retail to waste management – without needing to be custom-programmed for each task or environment. Furthermore, the company’s Robotics-as-a-Service (RaaS) model lowers the barrier to adoption by offering its technology on a subscription basis.
“In just a few months, they’ve taken their AI robotics technology from the lab to production lines – executing flawlessly,” said Jordi Vidal, partner at Kibo Ventures. “It’s the kind of transformative leap we look for.”
A milestone for the Spanish tech ecosystem
Beyond its technological innovation, Theker’s funding round marks an inflection point for Spain’s startup scene. While the country has seen strong growth in fintech and mobility in recent years, deep tech companies – especially in robotics – have historically been underrepresented.
Theker aims to change that. The company, founded by engineers Jiaqiang Ye Zhu and Carla Gómez Cano, is headquartered in Barcelona and has stated its ambition to make the city a global hub for robotics and AI-driven automation.
The newly raised capital will be used to scale manufacturing, grow the team and expand internationally.
“It’s exciting to see breakthrough innovation like this coming out of Spain and contributing to Europe’s tech sovereignty,” said Miguel Arias, general partner at Kfund.
Theker’s flexible AI-driven approach offers a promising alternative to traditional industrial automation – and its recent vote of confidence from investors, including a major global retailer, suggests it may be a company to watch closely.