Amazon Acquires Startup Behind 'Sprout' Humanoid Robot

The $50,000 robot can dance, walk around, and interact with humans in social settings.

Mar. 25, 2026 at 11:00am

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Amazon has acquired Fauna Robotics, the startup behind the Sprout humanoid robot. The 1.5-foot-tall, rectangular-headed Sprout is designed to be a friendly addition to homes and schools, with the ability to dance, grab objects, and move around. The deal will bring Fauna's founders and employees to Amazon, as the e-commerce giant looks to expand its consumer robotics offerings.

Why it matters

Amazon is already a major player in robotics, with over 1 million robots deployed in its warehouses. The acquisition of Fauna Robotics and the Sprout robot adds a more consumer-focused, interactive robot to Amazon's portfolio, as the company looks to make further inroads into the home robotics market.

The details

Fauna Robotics introduced the Sprout robot in January 2026, marketing it as a software developer platform for academic and corporate research labs exploring home robotics. Early customers included Disney. The $50,000 Sprout can dance, grab toys and teddy bears, and move around, but it cannot lift heavy objects. Amazon said the Fauna team will now operate as Fauna Robotics, an Amazon company, and will work on 'new ways to make our customers' lives better and easier'.

  • Fauna Robotics introduced the Sprout robot in January 2026.
  • Amazon acquired Fauna Robotics in March 2026.

The players

Fauna Robotics

The startup behind the Sprout humanoid robot, which was acquired by Amazon.

Rob Cochran

The CEO of Fauna Robotics, who announced the company's acquisition by Amazon.

Amazon

The e-commerce giant that acquired Fauna Robotics and the Sprout robot.

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What they’re saying

“Incredibly excited to share that Fauna Robotics has officially joined the Amazon family”

— Rob Cochran, CEO, Fauna Robotics

What’s next

Amazon has not disclosed any specific plans for the Sprout robot or Fauna Robotics team, but the acquisition is expected to bolster Amazon's consumer robotics efforts.

The takeaway

Amazon's acquisition of Fauna Robotics and the Sprout robot demonstrates the company's continued push into the consumer robotics market, as it looks to expand beyond its warehouse automation expertise and bring more interactive, home-focused robots to customers.