Mecka AI secures $60M Series B to fuel robot training data
Mecka AI has raised $60 million in a Series B round led by Sequoia, with Nvidia, Microsoft's M12 fund, and other investors participating. The company pays people to record everyday activities using body sensors and smartphones, then analyzes that motion data to train humanoid and other robots. Founded in 2024, Mecka was previously reported to be nearing a $500 million valuation.
Mecka AI, launched in 2024, has closed a $60 million Series B. Sequoia led the round, joined by Nvidia, Microsoft’s M12, and additional backers. Earlier reporting indicated the company was approaching a $500 million valuation.
The startup compensates participants to capture routine activities—such as brewing coffee or repairing vehicles—with wearable sensors and mobile phones. It then processes that motion information to help train humanoid and other robots. It aims to play a role in robotics comparable to data-labeling firms serving large language models. Other players include XDOF, Scale AI, and Micro1.
If motion-data collection scales, it may create new paid work for people who record routine tasks, while giving robot developers richer training inputs. That could accelerate humanoid and service robots, potentially affecting workers in manufacturing, logistics, and household services. It may also raise questions about privacy, consent, and how everyday movement data is used. The benefits and risks could be unevenly distributed, depending on who owns the data and which communities gain access to the resulting technology.