Mecka AI nears $500M valuation in Sequoia-led deal amid rush for robot training data
Mecka AI is approaching a new funding round led by Sequoia Capital at a valuation of approximately $500 million. The startup specializes in collecting human motion data to train humanoid robots, addressing a critical bottleneck in robotics development. This investment follows a previous $60 million raise and positions Mecka as a key player in the growing market for physical-world training data.
- ▪Mecka AI is nearing a new financing round led by Sequoia Capital with a valuation of about $500 million.
- ▪The company was co-founded in 2024 by four entrepreneurs, including Josh Gao and Mogen Cheng, who previously worked in fintech and crypto.
- ▪Mecka pays individuals to record everyday tasks using body sensors and smartphones to generate data for robot training.
- ▪The startup projects reaching an annual run rate of $100 million by the end of 2026.
- ▪Mecka competes with other data collection startups like XDOF, Scale AI, and Micro1 in the robotics and AI sectors.
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| Publication time | Fri, 11 Sep 2026 22:58:17 +0000 |
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Mecka AI, a startup that collects and analyzes human motion data to train humanoid robots and other robotics, is nearing a new round led by Sequoia Capital at a valuation of about $500 million, according to two people with knowledge of the deal. The new financing comes just three months after Mecka announced that it raised $60 million in a round led by Framework Ventures that included participation from Menlo Ventures, SV Angel, and Kindred Ventures. TechCrunch has not learned the precise size of the new round. The terms of the deal are not final and could still change. Mecka AI didn’t respond to a request for comment. Sequoia declined to comment.
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