What Pollen Robotics does

Pollen Robotics SAS is a French robotics company founded in 2016 in Bordeaux by former INRIA Flowers team researchers Matthieu Lapeyre and Pierre Rouanet. The company designs and manufactures open-source humanoid robots for embodied AI research, manipulation, and human-robot interaction. Its core product, Reachy 2, is a modular bimanual humanoid platform built on ROS2 Humble with 7-DOF arms (3 kg payload each), a 3D vision system, and bio-inspired Orbita joints developed with maxon; Reachy 2 is sold via quote-based enterprise pricing with 50/50 payment terms to research institutions and industrial customers in approximately 20 countries. In July 2025 the company launched Reachy Mini, a desktop robot priced at $299-$449, sold directly to developers, hobbyists, and educators and distributed through the Hugging Face Hub alongside an app store of 200+ applications.

Pollen operates a hybrid go-to-market combining product-led growth (open-source hardware and software, direct website purchase for Reachy Mini), community-led growth (Discord, GitHub, Hugging Face Spaces), and enterprise field sales for Reachy 2. Revenue is generated primarily through hardware sales (Reachy 2 and Reachy Mini units) plus professional services and customization, with a 50% discount offered on services for open-source projects. The company was bootstrapped on revenue for seven years before closing its first external round of €2.4 million in seed funding in April 2023, and was acquired by Hugging Face in April 2025, now operating as a subsidiary focused on democratizing accessible robotics hardware within the broader Hugging Face AI platform.

The supporting technology stack includes a Python SDK, Docker-based deployment, Jupyter Notebook control, simulation via Gazebo and MuJoCo, RViz visualization, and VR teleoperation compatible with Meta Quest 2. The company has no public REST/GraphQL API; programmatic interaction is through the Python SDK and ROS2 topics. Reachable scale signals include approximately 100 Reachy/Reachy 2 robots deployed in ~20 countries, 5,000+ Reachy Mini units sold since late 2025, and a 2nd place finish at the 2022 ANA Avatar XPRIZE competition with a $2M prize.

Name

Pollen Robotics

Legal name

Pollen Robotics SAS

Website

https://pollen-robotics.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2016

Operating status

Acquired

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Pollen Robotics, a Bordeaux-based subsidiary of Hugging Face, develops open-source humanoid robots (Reachy 2 and Reachy Mini) built on ROS2 Humble for AI research labs, developers, and educators, with sales through its website and the Hugging Face Hub.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Humanoid Robotics

NAICS

Doll, Toy, and Game Manufacturing (33993)

SIC

Games, Toys & Children's Vehicles (No Dolls & Bicycles) (3944)

akta.pro primary industry

Humanoid & General-Purpose Robots (HDAAAIAJ)

akta.pro secondary industry

Robot Software, Autonomy Stacks & Simulation (ROS, digital twins) (HDAAAIAK)

Keywords

• Humanoid robotics
• Open-source robots
• Service robotics
• Embodied AI platforms
• Desktop robotics

Headquarters

HQ city

Bordeaux

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Technology or R&D, Supply Chain, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Hardware Sales: Primary revenue from selling humanoid robots (Reachy 2) and desktop robots (Reachy Mini). Products are sold directly through the website with custom configurations. Payment terms include 50% upfront and 50% upon delivery.
2. Software and Services: Revenue from software development, customization services, and technical support for open-source robotics platform. The company offers 50% discount on services for open-source projects.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Pollen Robotics designs, manufactures, and sells open-source humanoid robots (Reachy 2) and desktop robots (Reachy Mini) focused on robotic manipulation and human-robot interaction. The robots are sold to AI and robotics research laboratories, industrial customers, and individual developers, and are accompanied by an open-source software ecosystem including a Python SDK, perception library, VR teleoperation, and integration with the Hugging Face Hub app store.

Product overview

Pollen Robotics is a French robotics startup offering a portfolio of open-source humanoid robots and associated software. The core product is Reachy 2, a full-sized humanoid robot designed for AI research and industry applications, available in various kits (Single Arm, Dual Arm, with/without Mobile Base). Complementing Reachy 2 is Reachy Mini, a compact desktop robot priced at $299-$449 for education and experimentation. Both robots are supported by an open-source software ecosystem including a Python SDK, Docker deployment images, Pollen-Vision perception library, and tutorials. All products are controlled via ROS2 Humble, programmable through Python/JavaScript/Scratch, and support teleoperation via VR. Following Hugging Face's acquisition of Pollen Robotics in 2025, the ecosystem expanded to include an app store with over 200 applications on the Hugging Face Hub.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Reachy 2: Open-source humanoid robot designed for the development of embodied AI and real-world applications, featuring bimanual mobile manipulation for AI and robotics labs.
• Reachy Mini

Products and services

• Reachy 2 An open-source humanoid robot designed for embodied AI research and real-world applications, featuring 7-DOF arms with up to 3 kg payload capacity, a 3D vision system, ROS2 Humble integration, and support for VR teleoperation (Meta Quest 2) and Python SDK control. Available in custom configurations (Single Arm, Dual Arm, with/without Mobile Base) for AI and robotics research labs and industry customers.
• Reachy Mini An affordable open-source desktop robot designed for AI experimentation, learning, and creative coding. Features expressive animated eyes, wide-angle camera, and microphone array; programmable in Python, JavaScript, and Scratch. Available in a wired Lite version ($299) and a fully autonomous wireless model ($449), sold through both Pollen Robotics' website and the Hugging Face Hub.
• Reachy (Original) The original open-source humanoid robot from Pollen Robotics, launched at CES 2020, which served as the precursor to Reachy 2 and established the company's reputation in robotics and AI laboratories worldwide.

Quantifiable outcome

• 100 Reachy robots deployed in approximately 20 countries
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration9 records

AI capability9 records

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.

• Hugging FaceflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 April 2025Hugging Face acquired Pollen Robotics in April 2025 as part of its expansion into robotics. The acquisition integrates Pollen's Reachy humanoid robot technology and team to foster open, accessible robotics and AI applications. Reachy Mini is now sold through Hugging Face's platform with an app ecosystem.
• maxoncoreTechnology or Integration · 1 October 2024Collaboration with maxon enabled Pollen Robotics to integrate high-performance motors into Reachy's bio-inspired Orbita joint system, improving the robot's robustness and payload capacity for handling heavier loads.
• MetaminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2024Meta collaboration launching AI Accelerator for European startups, mentioned in company press coverage.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Figure AI: Figure develops the Figure 01/02 humanoid robot targeted at industrial and warehouse work, backed by Microsoft, OpenAI, and Nvidia. Comparable to Pollen as a high-profile humanoid robotics startup, though Figure focuses on commercial deployment versus Pollen's research/education tilt.
• Unitree Robotics: Unitree offers affordable humanoid (H1, G1) and quadruped robots at price points from a few thousand to tens of thousands of dollars. The closest competitor to Pollen's low-cost, accessible humanoid strategy and a direct threat on price-performance.
• Sanctuary AI: Sanctuary builds the Phoenix humanoid and Carbon AI control system aimed at general-purpose dexterous manipulation. Comparable to Pollen in targeting embodied AI applications with upper-body humanoid form factors and teleoperation/AI training workflows.
• Apptronik: Apptronik develops the Apollo humanoid robot with a focus on industrial and supply chain applications, in partnership with Google DeepMind. Comparable as a humanoid startup with university research roots (UT Austin Human Centered Robotics Lab) pursuing commercial deployment.
• 1X Technologies: 1X builds humanoid service robots (Neo) for home and commercial use, with backing from OpenAI and EQT. Directly comparable to Pollen as a startup racing to commercialize humanoid platforms for service applications, and a key alternative for AI/robotics researchers choosing a development platform.
• Agility Robotics: Agility builds the Digit bipedal humanoid robot for logistics and warehouse applications. Directly comparable in bipedal humanoid form factor and manipulation focus, with a longer track record of real-world pilots (Amazon, GXO).

Broad incumbents

• Boston Dynamics: Boston Dynamics (owned by Hyundai) builds the Atlas humanoid and Stretch warehouse robot. A broader incumbent in legged/humanoid robotics with deeper R&D resources, providing a long-term competitive benchmark even though its products are not directly aimed at the research/education segment Pollen serves.
• SoftBank Robotics: SoftBank Robotics (formerly Aldebaran) developed the NAO and Pepper humanoids focused on social, education, and service applications. Comparable to Pollen in targeting HRI research and education, though as a larger incumbent with broader service robotics portfolio.

Emerging players

• Physical Intelligence: Physical Intelligence is a well-funded startup building foundation models (pi-zero) for general robot control, with backing from OpenAI, Jeff Bezos, and Thrive Capital. Emerging competitor on the software/AI layer that powers humanoid robots like Reachy — relevant as an alternative path for embodied AI researchers.
• Skild AI: Skild AI develops general-purpose robot foundation models (Skild Brain) with backing from SoftBank, Nvidia, and Amazon. Emerging player in the robot-intelligence layer that complements or competes with Pollen's own open-source software stack (Pollen-Vision, LeRobot integration).

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/pollenrobotics
• GitHubgithub.com/pollen-robotics
• YouTubeyoutube.com/c/pollenrobotics
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/pollen-robotics

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds2 records

Investors4 records

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Pollen Robotics