Motion Raises $2M for Robots-as-a-Service in Belgium

Brussels-based startup Motion has raised $2 million in pre-seed funding to expand a subscription-based model for deploying humanoid robots in European factories, according to WorkNation. The round was led by Extantia Capital, with participation from Norrsken Evolve.

Motion describes its offering as a Humanoids-as-a-Service platform, letting factories use humanoid robots without purchasing or managing the machines directly. Instead of a large upfront capital purchase, customers pay a monthly fee that bundles data collection, robot selection, training, IT setup, fleet management, financing, insurance, compliance and maintenance, according to WorkNation.

The company currently runs five paid pilot programs with industrial, warehouse and logistics customers in Belgium, where its robots handle tasks such as loading goods into crates, packing containers and placing parts on conveyor belts alongside human staff, WorkNation reported.

Hardware-Neutral Approach

Unlike rivals such as Agility Robotics and Germany's NEURA Robotics, which manufacture their own humanoid hardware, Motion does not build robots itself. Instead, it selects whichever robot it judges best suited to a given task and manages deployment through its own software platform, per WorkNation's reporting.

This brand-neutral, service-based structure is meant to lower the financial and operational barriers that can keep manufacturers from adopting robotics, treating the technology more like an operating expense than a major capital investment, according to the article.

Addressing a Labor Shortage

Motion's pitch arrives as European manufacturers report persistent hiring struggles. A 2026 ManpowerGroup survey of 39,000 employers found that 72% of manufacturers had difficulty filling positions, particularly for machine and plant operator roles, WorkNation noted. The company argues this shortage could worsen as Europe tries to expand domestic manufacturing in sectors like batteries, heat pumps and grid equipment.

Founder Alexander Stevens previously started Greenomy, a Brussels-based ESG and CSRD compliance software company acquired by Position Green in September 2025. With Motion, he is applying a similar software-driven model to robotics deployment, according to WorkNation.

Scaling Plans

The new funding will help Motion convert its five existing pilots into larger deployments and expand its robot fleet. The company aims to have hundreds of robots operating across the Benelux region within the next year, starting in Belgium before expanding elsewhere in Europe, WorkNation reported.

Global humanoid robotics startups raised roughly $8.6 billion in 2026, nearly double the 2025 total, according to Dealroom figures cited in the article, with Goldman Sachs projecting the sector could reach $38 billion by 2035.

Sources: WorkNation — original article.