morph, a London-based deep-tech startup founded by surgeon-turned-AI-founder Dr Jean Nehme, came out of stealth this week with what it calls the worlds first shapeshifting soft robotics cells platform a bet that physical AI will need new materials, not just smarter models.
Octopus-Inspired Cells, Not Humanoid Frames
Where most of the current physical AI race chases human-form robots, Morphs platform embeds sensing and adaptive control directly into reconfigurable deformable materials. The cells change morphology and stiffness in real time and can be configured across multiple products. Inspired by the adaptability of the octopus, Morph is using reinforcement learning paired with high-fidelity physics simulation to translate concepts into deployable, body-safe hardware.
Backed by 8VC, Pharrell Williams and Equinox
Morph confirmed backing from 8VC, Pharrell Williams, Copper, Harvey Spevak of Equinox Group, Qubit Health Capital, Valia Ventures and Blue Lion. The amount raised was not disclosed but follows months of speculation around Nehmes next venture after Medtronics 2020 acquisition of his previous company, surgical AI pioneer Digital Surgery.
From Athletes to Industrial Safety
Morphs first applications target human performance, injury prevention and mobility support, before scaling into healthcare, automotive and industrial safety. The company plans to operate as a B2B software, design and fabrication partner with industrials, framing its cells as a hardware substrate for adaptive consumer and enterprise products.
Sitting At The Frontier Of Embodied AI
The launch lands in the same week that the wider physical AI research community is gathering at CVPR 2026 in Denver, and alongside enterprise AI infrastructure rounds like Coralogixs $200M Series F. It is also another data point in a year when humanoid funding leaders such as Japans Atom raised $19M for non-humanoid robot species underscoring that the embodied AI race is no longer just about androids in factories.
Reporting based on coverage from BusinessWire, Axios and morphs investor announcement.