What Hive Robots does

HIVE Robots ApS is a Danish robotics software company that builds the software layer enabling humanoid robots to function as a deployable workforce across retail, office, hospitality, and industrial settings. The company's proprietary Hive Basic framework integrates embodied AI, edge computing, fleet intelligence, and continuous learning, and is delivered to market through two vertical software solutions — HIVE Retail (focused on automated inventory scanning, stock tracking, date checking, and overnight shelf replenishment starting in supermarkets) and HIVE Office & Hospitality (focused on mail/package delivery, meeting room preparation, facility inspections, and visitor guidance). HIVE also operates HIVE GYM, a physical testing facility used to validate skills before deployment, and resells Unitree humanoid hardware (H2, G1, R1, G1-D) and BrainCo dexterous hands through its e-commerce shop.

The underlying technology runs on NVIDIA computing platforms and incorporates safety systems developed jointly with DTU Electro's Control, Robotics and Embodied AI (CREA) group. The company monetizes through a mix of one-time hardware sales of engineering-sample robots, subscription-based Robot-as-a-Service (RaaS) contracts with monthly or fixed hourly pricing and no upfront customer investment, and project-based Corporate Partner Program engagements running 3-6 months in which HIVE provides a robot, engineering resources, GYM access, and university research collaboration in exchange for partner project funding. Channel and service delivery is supported by a strategic partnership with Ricoh for nationwide and international service operations, and European go-to-market is reinforced by a partnership with NEURA Robotics for the 4NE1 humanoid.

HIVE serves enterprise customers primarily in the Nordics and broader Europe, with flagship pilots including a multi-year co-innovation agreement with føtex (Salling Group) for in-store shelf replenishment, a skills development partnership with Grundfos for production and logistics at Grundfos HQ, and an early-adopter program targeting 10 companies for the HIVE Office & Hospitality solution. The company is privately held, founder-led (CEO and Co-founder Charlotte Blou Sand; Co-founder Jakob Sand), with Jakob Welner — formerly of the Boston Dynamics Atlas controls team — serving as Chief Robotics Architect. Headcount is 11-50, headquartered in Kongens Lyngby, Denmark, and the company serves as the official Unitree distributor for Denmark and Scandinavia.

Name

Hive Robots

Legal name

HIVE Robots ApS

Website

https://hiverobots.dk

Company type

Private

Founded year

2025

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

HIVE Robots builds proprietary embodied-AI software (Hive Basic) that turns third-party humanoid hardware into a deployable workforce for retail, office, hospitality, and industrial customers in the Nordics and Europe, sold via subscriptions, project partnerships, and Robot-as-a-Service.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Humanoid Robotics Software

NAICS

Commercial and Service Industry Machinery Manufacturing (3333)

SIC

Wholesale-Computers & Peripheral Equipment & Software (5045)

akta.pro primary industry

Humanoid & General-Purpose Robots (HDAAAIAJ)

akta.pro secondary industries

Robot Software, Autonomy Stacks & Simulation (ROS, digital twins) (HDAAAIAK), Industrial & Warehouse Robotics (HDAAAIAA)

Keywords

• Humanoid robotics software
• Robot-as-a-service
• Embodied AI platform
• Retail automation robots
• Workplace automation robots

Headquarters

HQ city

Kongens Lyngby

HQ country

Denmark

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Software

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Robot Sales (E-commerce): Direct sales of Unitree humanoid robots (H2, G1, R1) and accessories through the HIVE shop (shop.hiverobots.dk). Robots are sold as engineering samples for R&D purposes. Revenue is generated through one-time hardware transactions.
2. Robot-as-a-Service (RaaS): Monthly/hourly subscription model where HIVE provides humanoid robots, 24/7 monitoring, maintenance, and technical support. Customers pay fixed hourly or monthly prices with no upfront investment. Includes software updates and continuous improvements.
3. Corporate Partner Program: Proof-of-concept to deployment partnerships where HIVE provides humanoid robots, Robot GYM testing, senior/junior robot engineers, and AI embodiment technologies. Partners provide project funding (3-6 months), test materials, and physical equipment. Revenue generated through project-based consulting and development fees.
4. Development Platform Sales: Sales of specialized humanoid development platforms like the Unitree G1-D, which is positioned as an end-to-end platform for AI training, data acquisition, and real-world deployment.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

HIVE Robots builds proprietary software (the Hive Basic framework and embodied AI platform) that turns humanoid robots into a deployable workforce for retail, office, and hospitality environments. The company offers vertical software solutions (HIVE Retail and HIVE Office & Hospitality), delivers them via a Robot-as-a-Service subscription model and a Corporate Partner Program, and resells Unitree humanoid hardware and accessories through its HIVE Shop.

Product overview

HIVE Robots builds software that enables humanoid robots to become a reliable workforce for retail, office, and hospitality environments. The product portfolio combines a software platform (HIVE Basic) with industry-specific solutions (HIVE Retail, HIVE Office & Hospitality), supported by Robot-as-a-Service delivery and a Corporate Partner Program. Hardware offerings include Unitree humanoid robots (H2 flagship, G1 for research, R1 entry-level, G1-D development platform) and BrainCo Dexterous Hands sold through the company shop. The ecosystem is powered by embodied AI, edge computing, and fleet intelligence technologies developed through NVIDIA partnership.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• HIVE Retail: Intelligent store operations solution for retail shops enabling humanoid robots for automated inventory scanning, real-time stock tracking, date checking, and night-time store maintenance.
• HIVE Office & Hospitality

Products and services

• HIVE Retail Software solution that enables a scalable humanoid workforce for retail shops (starting with supermarkets), handling automated inventory scanning, real-time stock tracking, date checking, and night-time store maintenance.
• HIVE Office & Hospitality Software solution for smart workplace automation in offices and hospitality settings, covering internal mail and package delivery, meeting room preparation, facility inspections, and visitor guidance.
• HIVE Basic Proprietary core software framework with natively integrated safety systems that serves as the foundational platform for HIVE's humanoid robot operations and skill execution; developed in collaboration with DTU Electro.
• Robot-as-a-Service (RaaS) Subscription-based service model that bundles humanoid robot hardware, 24/7 monitoring, maintenance, technical support, and continuous software updates for a fixed hourly or monthly price with no upfront investment.
• Corporate Partner Program Partnership program providing a humanoid robot, Robot GYM access, senior and junior robot engineers, AI embodiment technologies, and university collaboration; partners define skills, supply test materials, and provide 3-6 months of project funding.
• Unitree G1-D Humanoid Development Platform End-to-end humanoid development platform built for AI training, data acquisition, and real-world deployment; features up to 19 DOF, streamlined data acquisition with visual template management, one-click task generation, and real-time workflow tracking.
• Unitree H2 Humanoid Flagship Unitree humanoid robot with advanced AI and industrial-grade build for demanding commercial deployments; sold through the HIVE shop.
• Unitree G1 Humanoid Versatile Unitree humanoid robot for research and education, available in multiple configurations; sold through the HIVE shop.
• Unitree R1 Humanoid Entry-level Unitree humanoid robot designed for learning and development; sold through the HIVE shop.
• BrainCo Dexterous Hand (Revo 2) Advanced 11-degree-of-freedom robotic hand for dexterous manipulation tasks; sold as an accessory through the HIVE shop.

Quantifiable outcome

• Reduce labor costs by up to 40%
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers3 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

AI capability7 records

Feature5 records

Partnerships

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

• føtex (Salling Group)flagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 11 March 2026HIVE and føtex entered into a multi-year co-innovation partnership to develop and pilot humanoid robots for in-store operations such as shelf replenishment. Initial pilots will take place at night when stores are closed. HIVE plans to launch the first pilot before summer 2026 with a dedicated team of 10+ robot software engineers developing and training the system.
• NEURA RoboticsflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 25 February 2026European deployment partnership for humanoid robot 4NE1 across Europe, aiming to address labor shortages by making the robot practical in service and industrial settings. Initiative expected to expand commercial deployment and revenue opportunities, and to foster market validation and enterprise relationships.
• RicohcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 1 February 2025Strategic partnership enabling HIVE to offer nationwide and international service, operations, and technical support for robot deployments. Ricoh brings decades of experience from AV, IT, and tech equipment service and support. Services include technical support, field service, local call center, spare parts delivery, installation, rollout, operations, monitoring, and reporting.
• GrundfosflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 25 December 2024Skills development partnership to take first steps towards enabling humanoid robots in production and logistics at Grundfos HQ in Bjerringbro. HIVE provides humanoid robots, Robot GYM for testing, dedicated engineering resources, and access to latest AI embodiment technologies. Grundfos brings deep expertise in industrial automation and clear use cases for humanoid applications.
• DTU (Technical University of Denmark) - ElectrocoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 21 December 2024Collaboration with DTU Electro's Control, Robotics and Embodied AI (CREA) group to develop a new paradigm of safety for humanoid robots. Integrating safety systems natively into Hive Basic software framework, applying DTU insights to ensure humanoid safety is based on research and best practice, and identifying gaps between existing robot safety regulations and humanoid reality.
• NVIDIAcoreTechnology or IntegrationStrategic partnership with NVIDIA leveraging the most advanced computing platforms to deliver intelligent, responsive, and reliable robotic solutions. HIVE is an NVIDIA Partner with products powered by NVIDIA AI.
• IDA FremtidsteknologiminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartnership with IDA Fremtidsteknologi to co-present Humanoid Symposium series, including Humanoid Symposium #3 on the Humanoid Revolution in China (April 22, 2026) at HIVE GYM.
• DTU ComputecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUniversity collaboration partner working with HIVE on robotics research and development. Part of HIVE's network of academic partners including DTU Autonomous Systems and SDU Robotics.
• SDU Robotics (Southern Denmark University)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUniversity collaboration partner (SDU Robotics / DIAS / Wicked Group) working with HIVE on robotics research. Part of HIVE's academic partnership network.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Simbe Robotics: Simbe Robotics builds the Tally autonomous shelf-scanning robot for retail inventory visibility. Directly comparable to HIVE's retail shelf-replenishment and inventory-scanning use cases, though Simbe is mobile-base rather than humanoid.
• Apptronik: Apptronik builds the Apollo humanoid robot for industrial and supply-chain applications. Directly comparable to HIVE in targeting embodied-AI humanoid deployments for labour-shortage use cases in retail and industrial settings.
• Agility Robotics: Agility Robotics develops the Digit humanoid, focused on warehouse logistics and industrial tasks. Comparable to HIVE's industrial/logistics-focused partnership with Grundfos and its RaaS deployment model.
• NEURA Robotics: NEURA Robotics develops the 4NE1 humanoid and is HIVE's partner for European deployment. Directly comparable as a humanoid platform targeting the same service and industrial verticals across Europe.
• 1X Technologies: 1X Technologies develops humanoid robots (NEO) for service and home environments, combining proprietary hardware with embodied AI. Directly comparable to HIVE in targeting service-sector labour with humanoid general-purpose robots and pursuing similar enterprise/applied use cases.
• Figure AI: Figure AI builds humanoid robots (Figure 02/03) for commercial deployment and applies its own embodied AI stack to enterprise use cases. Overlaps with HIVE's vertical-specific solutions for retail and industrial workforces.
• Sanctuary AI: Sanctuary AI builds the Phoenix humanoid robot with an embodied AI platform (Carbon) targeting labour-intensive service work. Overlaps with HIVE on the embodied-AI software stack for service-sector humanoid applications.

Broad incumbents

• Boston Dynamics: Boston Dynamics is the established leader in dynamic humanoid robotics (Atlas) and pivoted toward commercial deployments. Comparable in targeting enterprise humanoid use cases, and HIVE's Chief Robotics Architect was a six-year veteran of Boston Dynamics' Atlas controls team.
• Tesla (Optimus): Tesla's Optimus humanoid program targets commercial labour automation at scale, leveraging Tesla's AI and manufacturing capabilities. Broadly comparable as an incumbent-backed humanoid general-purpose robot effort targeting industrial and service workforces.
• Unitree Robotics: Unitree is the hardware supplier for HIVE's humanoid fleet (H2, G1, R1, G1-D) and also sells directly to consumers and enterprises globally. Comparable as a broader incumbent in humanoid robotics, with overlapping product roadmap and direct hardware overlap.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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 Hive Robots