Mecka AI Raises $60M From Sequoia to Collect Robot Training Data

Mecka AI has raised a $60 million Series B led by Sequoia, with Nvidia and Microsoft's M12 participating. The startup pays people to record themselves doing everyday tasks, such as making coffee or fixing cars, while wearing body sensors and using smartphones.

Mecka wants to be for robotics what Scale AI and similar data labeling companies became for large language models. Rivals include XDOF, and LLM data providers are moving into robotics too.

Why it matters: data, not hardware, is the main bottleneck for general purpose robots. Investors are now funding the picks and shovels of that data race.