Mecka AI approaches $500m valuation in sequoia-fueled deal amid surge in robot training data demand

Mecka AI, a startup specializing in collecting and analyzing human motion data for robot training, is approaching a $500 million valuation in a new funding round led by Sequoia Capital, according to two informed sources. This follows a $60 million raise in March 2026, led by Framework Ventures. TechCrunch has not yet confirmed the exact size of the latest round, which is still under negotiation. Founded in 2024 by Josh Gao, Mogen Cheng, Jason Chong, and Duy Nguyen, Mecka aims to address the lack of real-world data for robotics by capturing everyday human interactions. The company, named after 'mecha,' seeks to replicate the success of data platforms like Scale AI for robotics. As of early June 2026, Mecka projected an annual run rate of $100 million by year-end. Other startups, such as XDOF, are also securing significant valuations for similar data-driven approaches in robot training. Mecka’s co-founders, without robotics backgrounds, identified the need for physical-world data to advance general-purpose robots. While the company hasn’t disclosed its customer list, many robotics firms and AI labs rely on Mecka’s data. The startup pays individuals to record tasks using sensors and smartphones. The broader trend highlights the growing importance of real-world data in AI development, with companies like Scale AI and Micro1 expanding beyond language models.