🇺🇸 USA · founded 2021
US start-up for emotionally engaging small humanoids, shut down in March 2026
Headquarters
USA
Employee
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Models here
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Cartwheel Robotics was founded in 2021 by Scott LaValley, who had previously spent around ten years working on Boston Dynamics' Atlas. The US start-up developed small humanoid robots with deliberately child-like proportions, backed by approximately 3 million US dollars in total funding. In March 2026, the company filed for insolvency; LaValley joined Google DeepMind.
The Yogi prototype drew inspiration from toddler proportions, featuring a large head and rounded shapes designed to create a friendly appearance. A functional prototype was built within a year; a second prototype named Speedy was also developed. Yogi never reached commercial mass production.
Cartwheel exemplifies the challenges facing small humanoid start-ups: despite a well-established founder and clear product vision, 3 million US dollars proved insufficient to bridge the gap between prototype and mass production. The company no longer exists.
Yogi
Small Humanoid · Prototype
Speedy
Second Prototype
Founded by Scott LaValley, former Boston Dynamics engineer.
Insolvency filing in March 2026; company dissolved.
Currently, products are sourced in Switzerland through international resellers. No official Swiss distributor is listed.