Houston-based robotics startup Persona AI has raised over $10 million in pre-seed funding, according to co-founder and CEO Nic Radford. While the exact amount has not been disclosed, Radford described the funding total as “eight figures.” The investment round includes participation from venture capital firms, institutions, and individual investors based in the United States, London, and Singapore. Radford noted that one investor was among the early employees of aerospace company SpaceX. No Houston-based investors have taken part in the round to date, though discussions with a potential local investor are ongoing.
Founded in June 2024, Persona AI is developing humanoid robots designed for industrial and commercial use. The company expects to deliver its first units within 18 to 24 months. Radford said the robots are intended to address labor shortages in sectors such as manufacturing by performing tasks including metal handling, order fulfillment, and machine tending.
The company will operate under a robotics-as-a-service model, retaining ownership of the robots while providing their labor output as a service. The humanoid robots, described as five feet eight inches tall and built to withstand both indoor and outdoor conditions, are being designed for durability. Radford compared their robustness to that of a Ford F-150 pickup truck.
Persona AI was co-founded by Radford, CTO Jerry Pratt, and COO Jide Akinyode. Both Radford and Akinyode previously worked on NASA’s Valkyrie humanoid robot and held roles at Nauticus Robotics, a Texas-based developer of subsea robotics. Pratt is based in Pensacola, Florida, while the company’s headquarters are in Houston.
The funding comes amid a broader increase in investment in artificial intelligence startups. According to Crunchbase, global funding for AI-related ventures surpassed $100 billion in 2024, marking an 80 percent rise over the previous year. Industry projections, including a November 2024 report from Citi Global Insights, forecast the humanoid robotics market could reach $7 trillion by 2050.
