Artem Sokolov is the Founder of Humanoid, a robotics startup on a mission to democratise robotics and redefine the relationship between humans and robots in industrial applications. It aims to make humanoids affordable, accessible, and easy to integrate in day-to-day logistics, retail, manufacturing, or almost any kind of industrial or commercial setting.

Sokolov explained: “I’ve been a founder, serial entrepreneur, and investor for years. I see robotics and the AI-driven advancements we’ve seen in recent months as the most exciting opportunity for humanity in our lifetimes.

“We want to redefine the synergy of robotics and human potential. It’s not another futuristic AI dream or a science fiction story. It’s the near future. We are building robots that will not replace human workers, but will augment their capabilities and work alongside them.”

The idea and inspiration

The belief that robotics and AI-driven advancements are the most exciting opportunity for humanity today isn’t a new idea for Sokolov. Witnessing the monotony of factory jobs was the true inspiration behind everything he is doing today.

He explained: “I come from a family of jewellers, and ever since I was a kid, I watched my grandparents work at the factory. Their jobs were so repetitive and monotonous – even as a child, I could see it. It was always the same routine, and they barely had the chance to experience anything outside of that production environment. It felt so unfair. I think that’s when the first seeds of the Humanoid vision were planted.

“Years later, I started a humanoid robotics company because, even today, millions of people are still stuck in jobs just like that. I believe automation can improve their working conditions and give people a better quality of life.”

HMND 01

The Humanoid team has recently unveiled its first general-purpose robot, the HMND 01. It combines advanced mechanical engineering, the latest AI developments, and innovative control systems. “There are basically two main components: software and hardware, or brain and body if we’re translating it to human terms.”

The robot features a robust body structure with articulated limbs, enabling human-like movements and interactions. Its perception system has multiple sensors, including advanced visual and tactile sensors, to help it gather data from its environment.

The HMND 01 stands at 175cm tall and weighs 70kg. It can reach a walking speed of 1.5m/s (5.4km/h), with an average runtime of four hours and a payload capacity of 15kg. The labour automation unit is able to achieve human-level, or higher, manipulation speeds for complex tasks, and can navigate confined spaces with accuracy.

The robot’s hardware and software have been designed with a modular concept. Sokolov described: “Our robot is designed with a modular architecture, which allows for versatile configurations to suit various applications. Customers can incorporate different upper-body, lower- body, and end-effectors for their needs.”

Humanoid is beginning its work in industrial applications. “I'm particularly excited about the impact our humanoid robots can have in the retail and manufacturing sectors. These industries could benefit from advanced automation and are mature enough for transformation through robotics and AI. HMND 01 could enhance automation levels in retail and e-commerce facilities, logistics and fulfilment centres, and warehouses as well.”

The glitches

The robotics industry is rapidly progressing and has huge potential. “While humanoid robots are just a tiny slice of the overall robotics market right now, it’s growing fast. There are different figures and predictions showing this segment could explode to a $38 billion market by 2035,” said Sokolov.

He is very aware of the amount of competition in the game: “The humanoid robotics industry is extremely competitive – some call it ‘the humanoid race’ – with tech giants already in the game. Humanoid was founded last year, so we’re still in the early stages, about a year to a year and a half behind some of our biggest competitors. We have to move twice as fast.”

The industry is very fast-paced, and not just when it comes to the technology itself. There is currently a race for the very best talent. Sokolov explained: “AI and robotics professionals are in high demand, and there just aren’t enough specialists yet. Attracting the best talent is a challenge, but it's one we’re fully committed to. We’ve already managed to gather a world-class team, and we’ll continue to compete and strive to attract the best talent in the world.”

Byte-sized wins

However, it’s not all stress. Working in a fast-paced and innovative industry comes with a lot of highlights. “We’ve grown rapidly in the last few months and will continue to expand aggressively this year – we could nearly double in size a year from now.”

Speaking earlier of finding talent, Sokolov said: “We’re particularly thrilled to welcome a new CTO [Jarrad Cannon, joining existing CTO, Dmitrii Rudnitckii] – his robotics background speaks for itself. He also has great experience with building an early-stage product and scaling, that’s the right fit for us at this point.”

Gearing up

The future of robotics is bright, and Humanoid has big plans for the year ahead. “In 2025, our team is focused on strategic partnerships with world leading manufacturers that have the foresight and vision to embrace cutting-edge humanoid robots. We’re expecting to announce some pilot projects soon.

“In terms of product, we plan to develop and test our alpha prototype with a commercial partner for both wheeled and bipedal platforms.”

Commenting on how he sees the industry evolving, Sokolov said: “As an industry, we’re going through a remarkable moment … most likely, we won’t just see several companies emerging as winners of this race and market leaders, but an entire generation of robotics companies riding the wave of innovation.”

However, innovating within the robotics space means placing yourself in the middle of one of the biggest debates regarding labour. Sokolov commented: “There’s always this debate about AI and robots taking over jobs, but it’s the same conversation that happens with every big technological shift. People once thought computers would replace us, but today, we coexist perfectly and can hardly imagine life without our laptops.

“I see a different scenario – one where humans and robots work side by side. Robots handle repetitive, monotonous, or dangerous tasks, while humans have more time for creative and meaningful work. And that’s the future we’re building at Humanoid.”

This article originally appeared in the March/April 2025 issue of Startups Magazine. Click here to subscribe