Robotics firm 1X has identified a major potential buyer for its consumer-grade humanoid robot: a portfolio company of one of its own investors.

The company announced a strategic partnership to manufacture thousands of humanoid units and begin deliveries to portfolio companies of EQT, a large Swedish multi-asset investor whose venture arm, EQT Ventures, is among 1X’s backers.

Under the agreement, 1X will supply up to 10,000 of its 1X Neo humanoid robots to more than 300 EQT portfolio companies between 2026 and 2030, primarily for use in manufacturing, warehousing, logistics, and other industrial settings.

1X will enter into individual agreements with each interested EQT portfolio company, the company confirmed to TechCrunch.

This collaboration is especially noteworthy because the Neo was originally marketed as a personal-use humanoid robot, touted as “the first consumer-grade humanoid designed for life at home.” Unlike peers such as Figure, which position their robots for commercial deployment, 1X initially emphasized domestic applications for the Neo.

While 1X does offer an industrial variant called Eve Industrial, this deal specifically involves the Neo model.

When the company opened pre-orders in October for the $20,000 robot, its announcement highlighted home-based functionalities—such as performing household chores and interacting with family members.

This new agreement, however, represents a distinctly different use case.

That shift may reflect the ongoing challenges of selling humanoid robots for home use over the near term, while industrial environments present more immediate commercial opportunities. The $20,000 price point also inherently limits the pool of potential consumer buyers.

Adding to adoption hurdles, the Neo includes a privacy-sensitive feature that many users may find uncomfortable: human operators at 1X can see through the robot’s cameras into a user’s home.

Moreover, due to their size and balance limitations, humanoid robots may pose safety risks around pets and young children. Multiple venture capitalists and robotics researchers told TechCrunch earlier this summer that widespread adoption of humanoids is unlikely within the next few years—and could take as long as a decade.

1X declined to disclose the exact number of Neo pre-orders but stated through a spokesperson that reservations have “significantly exceeded” internal targets.