Kodiak Robotics vs Figure AI

By valuation, Figure AI is the larger company at $39B versus $2.5B — a 15.6x difference. Size can also be measured by team: Kodiak Robotics employs 300 people while Figure AI has 450 employees.

Figure AI has raised more in total funding at $1.9B, compared to Kodiak Robotics's $518M — a gap of $1.4B. Combined, the two companies have completed 8 known funding rounds.

Figure AI leads with an Awaira Score of 95/100, while Kodiak Robotics sits at 70/100. That 25-point gap reflects real differences in funding, scale, and traction — it's not a vanity metric.

Kodiak Robotics was founded by Don Burnette in 2018. Figure AI was founded by Brett Adcock in 2022. Visit each company's profile on Awaira for a full founder biography.

Kodiak Robotics: Kodiak Robotics develops autonomous trucking technology for long-haul freight transportation. Founded in 2018, the company designs software and hardware systems that enable heavy-duty trucks to operate without human drivers on highways. Kodiak's core technology focuses on perception, planning, and control systems specifically optimized for commercial trucking operations, addressing the logistics industry's driver shortage and operational efficiency challenges. The company has developed a modular autonomous driving platform deployable across different truck platforms and has conducted extensive testing on public roads in multiple U.S. states. Kodiak's approach emphasizes highway autonomy rather than urban delivery, positioning it within a competitive autonomous vehicle market that includes companies like Aurora, Waymo, and TuSimple. The company achieved a $2.5 billion valuation following significant funding rounds, accumulating $518 million in total capital. Kodiak has partnered with logistics operators and fleet companies for real-world testing and deployment. The autonomous trucking sector targets substantial addressable markets given the scale of U.S. freight transportation. Growth prospects depend on regulatory approval, infrastructure development, and successful commercial deployment at scale. The company's trajectory reflects investor confidence in autonomous heavy-vehicle technology despite remaining technical and regulatory obstacles. Kodiak focuses exclusively on highway autonomous trucking rather than diversifying into urban or mixed-use autonomous vehicles. Figure AI: Figure AI is a robotics company founded in 2022 that develops humanoid robots designed for industrial and commercial applications. The company focuses on creating general-purpose robots capable of performing complex physical tasks in real-world environments. Figure AI's primary technology centers on advanced robotics, artificial intelligence, and machine learning systems that enable autonomous operation and human-robot collaboration. The company has raised $1.9 billion in funding across multiple rounds, achieving a valuation of $39 billion as of its Series C stage, reflecting significant investor confidence in the humanoid robotics sector. This valuation places Figure AI among the most valuable robotics startups globally. The company's approach emphasizes practical deployment in industries facing labor shortages and operational challenges. Figure AI competes in the growing humanoid robotics market alongside companies developing similar technologies. The company's competitive positioning is strengthened by substantial capital resources enabling rapid research and development. Figure AI has demonstrated prototypes and engaged with potential enterprise customers across manufacturing, logistics, and service sectors, though specific customer details remain largely confidential. The company's growth trajectory reflects the broader acceleration in AI-enabled robotics investment. Figure AI's development timeline suggests advancement toward commercial deployment, with the robotics industry expecting increased real-world implementations in the coming years. Figure AI has achieved unicorn status within two years of founding, indicating rapid progress in humanoid robotics commercialization despite the sector's technical complexity.

Kodiak Robotics got there first, launching in 2018 — that's 4 years of extra runway. Figure AI didn't arrive until 2022. In AI, that kind of head start means more training data, deeper customer relationships, and a bigger talent moat.

Kodiak Robotics has about 300 employees; Figure AI has about 450. A bigger team usually means more revenue or heavier VC backing, but in AI, small teams can build at massive scale.

Yes — they're direct rivals. Both Kodiak Robotics and Figure AI compete in AI Robotics, targeting many of the same buyers. If you're evaluating one, you should be looking at the other.