Mecka AI, a startup that collects and analyzes human motion data to train humanoid robots and other robotics, is nearing a new funding round led by Sequoia Capital at a valuation of about $500 million, according to two people with knowledge of the deal.
The reported Mecka AI valuation arrives just three months after the company announced a $60 million round led by Framework Ventures, with participation from Menlo Ventures, SV Angel, and Kindred Ventures.
The terms of the deal are not final and could still change. Mecka AI did not respond to a request for comment, and Sequoia declined to comment.
Why Sequoia Is Betting on Robot Training Data
The four co-founders don’t have backgrounds in robotics. But they recognized a dearth of physical-world data and realized that capturing real-world interactions was the primary bottleneck holding back general-purpose robots, including humanoids.
Mecka, which derives its name from “mecha,” a fictional giant robot controlled by humans, set out to do for robotics what Scale AI, Mercor, Surge, and other human data companies have done for LLMs.
The startup pays people to record themselves performing everyday tasks — like making coffee or fixing cars — using body sensors and smartphones.
The Team Behind Mecka AI
Mecka AI was co-founded in 2024 by four entrepreneurs:
Josh Gao and Mogen Cheng, Canadians who previously built a restaurant fintech startup
Jason Chong, who joined Coinbase after it acquired his crypto exchange
Duy Nguyen, the only non-Canadian on the team, who focuses on operations at Mecka
Revenue Projections Signal Rapid Growth
As of early June, Mecka was projecting that it would end 2026 at an annual run rate of $100 million, Gao told Fortune when the startup announced its previous fundraise.
While Mecka AI hasn’t publicly disclosed its customer list, many robotics companies and AI labs rely on real-world data captured through this “egocentric” approach, alongside other physical data collection methods like teleoperation, to build their models.
The Race for Real-World Robot Data
Mecka AI is not alone in pursuing this market. Other startups collecting real-world data for robot training include XDOF, which TechCrunch reported last week was nearing a new round at a $1.2 billion valuation.
Human-data platforms are also expanding beyond LLMs into robotics, including Scale AI and Micro1.
| Company | Focus | Recent Funding News |
|---|---|---|
| Mecka AI | Human motion data for robots | Nearing round at ~$500M valuation |
| XDOF | Real-world robot training data | Nearing round at $1.2B valuation |
| Scale AI | Human data platforms | Expanding beyond LLMs |
| Micro1 | Human data platforms | Expanding beyond LLMs |
What’s Next for Mecka AI
The reported round remains unconfirmed by both Mecka AI and Sequoia, and the terms could still change. If completed, the financing would represent a significant vote of confidence in the startup’s approach to solving one of robotics’ most persistent challenges.
The deal also underscores growing investor appetite for companies addressing the data bottleneck in physical AI, a market that has attracted increasing attention as humanoid robot development accelerates.
