Valuations for Most Robotics Startups Will Fall By 2030, Says Vinod Khosla

Vinod Khosla has been one of the most optimistic investors in robotics, predicting the field will have a “ChatGPT moment” in the next two years. But he is also warning that too much investment and lofty valuations in the hottest robotics startups mean a big shake-out is coming. 

“I would say more than half will be below their current valuations by 2030,” he said in an interview, while adding that the ones that are not “will have huge multiples.”

Of course, it’s generally true that most venture capital bets don’t pan out, but Khosla’s comments are notable in light of similar warnings in China about its world-leading robotics industry. Last year, China’s economic planning agency warned that over 150 companies are working on creating humanoid robots, a number so great that it risks creating a bubble in the sector. Humanoid giant Unitree had a rocky debut on the Shanghai Stock Exchange last month, prompting Chinese regulators to tighten approvals for humanoid startups seeking to go public, The Information reported.